Scania launches China venture platform focused on electrification and autonomous transport

Scania is launching Venture & New Business China (VNBC) to develop and pilot new business opportunities with local customers and partners. The platform will initially focus on the energy transition and autonomous transport. Kelly Fu has been appointed Regional Lead for China Venture & New Business, Scania Group.

VNBC will explore technologies and business models through strategic partnerships, customer collaborations and new ventures. According to Scania, the aim is to support its current business in China while developing capabilities for an increasingly electrified and autonomous transport market.

The initiative builds on Scania’s expanding local operations, including its Scania and NEXT ERA commercial offerings and capabilities in research and development, procurement and production.

The Nantong and Rugao region, home to Scania’s third industrial production hub, will serve as an important location for testing and piloting solutions with customers and partners. VNBC will also seek collaboration with local governments and other partners across China.

“China combines the scale of the world’s largest truck market with one of the world’s fastest-moving technology and innovation landscapes,” says Kelly Fu. “For Scania, that creates an opportunity not only to serve customers here but also to build new solutions together with local partners. We will start with local customer needs, bring together complementary capabilities, test solutions in the market and scale those that create real commercial value.”

Gustaf Sundell, Executive Vice President and Head of Ventures and New Business at Scania, says partnerships will allow the company to test technologies and business models in real-world applications and use the findings to develop future transport solutions.

Kelly Fu brings experience in digital mobility and heavy transport

Fu’s background spans investment banking, digital mobility, commercial-vehicle technology and new business development. She spent six years at DiDi, including as General Manager of its Beijing Office, and worked in investment at G7, where she played a key role in the company’s merger with E6.

Most recently, she has focused on start-ups and emerging solutions in heavy-duty battery-electric and hydrogen transport.

“Scania’s development in China is a long-term commitment,” says Camilla Dewoon, Executive Vice President of Scania Group and Head of Scania Group China. “China is an important market for Scania, both commercially and strategically.”

Dewoon says VNBC will combine local market knowledge with Scania’s global capabilities to develop partnerships and explore new transport solutions.