1902: First truck

Vagnfabrikens’ first truck, dating from 1902. According to a 1903 exhibition catalogue, the truck could carry 1.5 tonnes of cargo and had a top speed of 12 km/h. The competitor Scania’s first truck, also dating from 1902, carried 1.5 tonnes of cargo and had a 2-cylinder 12-hp engine placed under the driver’s seat.

Corporate milestones

1891: Vabis is established
02 Mar 1891 Vagnfabriks Aktiebolaget i Södertelge (Vabis) is established in December 1891.
1897: First completely Swedish-built car
02 Mar 1897 The first completely Swedish-built car is born. The maiden drive takes place in early 1898.
1900: Scania acquires bicycle maker
02 Mar 1900 In 1896 the English bicycle makers Humber & Co had established a subsidiary in Malmö, Sweden.
1902: First truck
05 Mar 1902 Vagnfabrikens’ first truck from 1902. According to a 1903 exhibition catalogue, the truck could carry 1.5 tonnes of cargo and had a top speed of 12 km/h.
1905: First industrial engine
03 Mar 1905 Scania’s very first industrial engine is delivered to the fire brigade in Stockholm, Sweden, to be installed in a water pump.
1909: Adventurous 520 kilometre trip
03 Mar 1909 A Scania truck type E with a 24 hp engine undertakes the adventurous 520 kilometre trip from Malmö in the south of Sweden to the capital Stockholm.
1911: First Swedish-built bus
03 Mar 1911 Local operator Nordmarkens Automobiltrafik in the westernmost part of Sweden takes delivery of the first bus built in the country.
1911: Scania-Vabis is created
03 Mar 1911 Scania-Vabis is created, merging Maskinfabriksaktiebolaget Scania in Malmö and Vagnfabriksaktiebolaget i Södertelge under the leadership of Per Alfred Nordeman.
1912: First fire truck
22 Oct 1912 In 1912, Scania-Vabis delivered this fire truck to Norrköping, Sweden. It was equipped with a 4-cylinder, 60 hp engine. Maximum speed was 40 km/h.
1921: Financial difficulties
03 Mar 1921 The depression following World War One has a severe impact on Scania-Vabis. In 1921 the company runs into financial difficulties.