1961: The man behind the modular system
Sverker Sjöström becomes Scania-Vabis’ first technical director. An expert on strength of materials, he had been recruited to the company in 1947 to help solve quality problems. Dr Sjöström’s work provides the platform for Scania’s modular product system. Developed and refined during the following decades, it is to become one of the company’s most important success factors.
Corporate milestones
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02 Mar 1891
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02 Mar 1897
1897: First completely Swedish-built car
The first completely Swedish-built car is born. The maiden drive takes place in early 1898. -
02 Mar 1900
1900: Scania acquires bicycle maker
In 1896 the English bicycle makers Humber & Co had established a subsidiary in Malmö, Sweden. -
05 Mar 1902
1902: First truck
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. -
03 Mar 1905
1905: First industrial engine
Scania’s very first industrial engine is delivered to the fire brigade in Stockholm, Sweden, to be installed in a water pump. -
03 Mar 1909
1909: Adventurous 520 kilometre trip
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. -
03 Mar 1911
1911: First Swedish-built bus
Local operator Nordmarkens Automobiltrafik in the westernmost part of Sweden takes delivery of the first bus built in the country. -
03 Mar 1911
1911: Scania-Vabis is created
Scania-Vabis is created, merging Maskinfabriksaktiebolaget Scania in Malmö and Vagnfabriksaktiebolaget i Södertelge under the leadership of Per Alfred Nordeman. -
22 Oct 1912
1912: First fire truck
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. -
03 Mar 1921
1921: Financial difficulties
The depression following World War One has a severe impact on Scania-Vabis. In 1921 the company runs into financial difficulties. -
05 Mar 1932
1932: First forward-control “Bulldog” bus
Scania-Vabis delivers its first forward-control “bulldog” bus. The design is inspired by US bus maker Twin Coach in Ohio. -
05 Mar 1934
1934: Last year Scania shows a loss
The last year that the company shows a loss. Even during periods of sagging markets for trucks and buses, Scania has shown good earnings. -
09 Nov 2021
1939: First unitary engine - "Royal"
Scania-Vabis unveiled the “Royal” unitary diesel engine. This was the first engine to use standardised components. -
22 Oct 1940
1940: First electric bus delivered
Scania-Vabis T31, an electric bus in Stockholm. From 1940 to 1951 Scania-Vabis delivered over 120 bus chassis to Stockholm’s public transport company. -
05 Mar 1940
1940: First women in the factory
The first women are employed in the Scania-Vabis’ factory, initially on inspection and similar duties. -
09 Nov 2021
1941: First 50 years - new strategy going for growth
The owners realised that the company possessed exceptional strengths with its innovative capacity, successful products and largely institutional customer base. -
05 Mar 1948
1948: General agent for Volkswagen
Scania-Vabis becomes the Swedish general agent for Volkswagen. -
26 Oct 1949
1949: The "400,000 kilometre engine"
In 1949, Scania-Vabis launched direct fuel injection in its diesel engines, considerably increasing fuel efficiency. -
22 Oct 1951
1951: First turbocharged diesel engine
Scania-Vabis is the first diesel engines maker in the world to apply turbo technology in serial production. -
05 Mar 1956
1956: More than 50 percent in exports
Scania-Vabis passes the magic 50 percent export mark. -
05 Mar 1957
1957: Subsidiary in Brazil
Scania-Vabis starts a subsidiary in Brazil to overcome import restrictions, which threaten to exclude the company from the company’s largest export market. -
25 Oct 1961
1961: Introduction of Super-charged truck engine DS10
With ten years experience of turbo diesel engines Scania-Vabis launches the first super charged truck engine DS10. -
05 Mar 1961
1961: The man behind the modular system
Sverker Sjöström becomes Scania-Vabis’ first technical director. An expert on strength of materials, he had been recruited to the company in 1947. -
25 Oct 1964
1964: New central laboratory opens
Scania's new central laboratory opens. Later nick-named The Hill, Scania's laboratory activities are, for the first time, concentrated in one place. -
25 Oct 1964
1964: New plant in Zwolle, the Netherlands
Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands inaugurates Scania-Vabis new 27,000 square-metre assembly plant in the old Hanseatic town of Zwolle. -
26 Oct 1966
1966: Acquires Be-Ge's plant for truck cabs
Cab manufacturer Be-Ge Karosserifabrik in Oskarshamn was acquired in 1966 and cab production began under Scania-Vabis’ own auspices. -
25 Oct 1966
1966: Scania 75 years - new head office
Celebrating the company's 75th anniversary in 1966, a new head office was also inaugurated in Södertälje. -
26 Oct 1968
1968: New factory in Luleå
A key philosophy within Scania-Vabis was to manufacture all vital components inhouse. -
05 Mar 1969
1969: Introduction of the legendary V8 engine
Introduction of the new 350 hp 14-litre turbocharged V8 engine. Scania’s V8 engines are to become legendary in the transport business. -
05 Mar 1961
1969: Scania-Vabis merges with SAAB
Scania-Vabis merges with Saab, the Swedish car and aircraft manufacturer to form a new company, Saab-Scania. -
26 Oct 1971
1971: Epoch-making “silent bus”
Scania introduces a new, environmentally-oriented city bus, CR111 M "silent bus", with the same noise levels as a car. -
02 Nov 1974
1974: Group assembly is introduced
To address high personnel turnover Scania makes major efforts to improve the physical working environment to make shop-floor work more attractive. -
26 Oct 1976
1976: New production facility in Argentina
Scania's Latin American expansion continues, with the opening of a new production facility in Tucumán, Argentina. -
01 Jan 1980
1980: Introducing the GPRT range
Scania introduces the GPRT range (2-series) – the company’s first entirely modularised product range. -
02 Nov 1982
1982: K chassis one of Scania’s most successful
The rear-engined K chassis is introduced for buses and coaches. The new range is to become one of Scania's most successful bus chassis. -
05 Apr 1984
1984: The griffin reappears in Scania's logo
The griffin makes its long-anticipated comeback in the company’s logo as Saab-Scania reverts to using a trademark as a corporate symbol. -
26 Oct 1987
1987: Scania Technical Centre opens
The Scania Technical Centre opens, comprising 34,000 square-metres of office space and 48,000 square-metres of laboratories and testing facilities. -
29 Oct 1989
1989: First ethanol buses
Towards the end of the 1980s, the first exhaust emission standards were presented in Europe, which were voluntarily adopted by the heavy vehicle manufacturers. -
26 Oct 1999
1991: Celebrating the 100th anniversary
Scania celebrates the company's 100th anniversary. The event features a spectacular show that is viewed by 65,000 invited guests over a period of three months. -
26 Oct 1991
1991: New Streamline cab range
With the new Streamline cab range, Scania takes a unique step forward in refining aerodynamics. -
26 Oct 1993
1993: Scania Retarder made history
Controlled by a dash-mounted lever or via the brake pedal, the automatic downhill speed control was an innovation much appreciated by drivers. -
26 Oct 1995
1995: 4-series line-up unveiled
The 4-series product line-up is unveiled. With its clean, bulging lines penned by Italian automobile styling house Bertone, the 4-series paves the way for Scania's styling into the 2000s. -
26 Oct 1995
1995: Scania again an independent company
As Saab-Scania is divided into two companies, Scania again becomes an independent company. -
01 Jan 1996
1996: 4-series receives Truck of the Year Award
Scania’s 4-series receives the prestigious International Truck of the Year Award. -
26 Oct 2000
2000: 1.000.000th vehicle rolls of the line in Zwolle
Scania’s millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line in Zwolle, the Netherlands. Eleven production units in five countries were involved in making the truck. -
27 Oct 2000
2000: Introducing new production philosophy
A team of production specialists was invited to spend a couple of months working at one of Toyota’s car production plants in the US. -
01 Jan 2003
2003: First Young European Truck Driver competition
Michele Sandri from Italy wins the first round of Scania’s Young European Truck Driver. -
20 Jan 2004
2004: Launch of the R-series
The launch of the R-series and, later, the PRT-range in 2004 is the start of an era with a clearer identity for the different cab models. -
27 Oct 2005
2005: From Euro-IV to Euro-V with SCR
Scania is the first heavy vehicle manufacturer to produce engines that meet the European Union’s emission standards. -
27 Oct 2005
2005: Introduce XPI together with Cummins
Scania enters into a joint venture with America’s Cummins to produce a new high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system for diesel engines. -
27 Oct 2006
2006: New bus generation
In conjunction with the launch of a new bus range, Scania presents a new market strategy focused on product segmentation based on customer needs. -
18 Oct 2006
2006: Scania Truck Gear
Scania moves into the world of fashion with the launch of the Scania Truck Gear Collection. -
01 Jan 2007
2007: Unveils a new ethanol powered hybrid bus
Scania unveils an ethanol powered hybrid bus that cuts fuel consumption by at least 25 percent and carbon emissions in fossil fuels by up to 90 percent. -
30 Nov 2021
2009: New R-series awarded Truck of the Year
Five years after its launch and with more than 200,000 vehicles delivered worldwide, a new version of Scania’s top-of-the-line R-series is introduced. -
15 Oct 2010
2010: New powerful V8 with 730hp
Scania’s new V8 boasts 3,500 Nm of torque and 730 hp, making it the most powerful truck engine in the world. -
27 Oct 2011
2011: Connected vehicles as standard
Scania Fleet Management took a giant leap in 2011, when Scania decided to fit the Scania Communicator as standard on all vehicles sold in Europe. -
27 Oct 2011
2011: Introducing complete Euro 6 range
Two years ahead of the legislative deadline, Scania introduces Europe’s first Euro 6 trucks, with 6-cylinder 13-litre engines producing between 440 and 480 hp. -
01 Mar 2012
2012: Fossil free internal transports
In March Scania switched to fossil-free fuel in its internal transport services. -
28 Oct 2012
2012: Introducing 1,000 hp V8 marine engine
Scania introduced the powerful 1,000 hp V8 marine engine with a “test and ride” in the Stockholm archipelago for selected customers and media. -
28 Oct 2013
2013: New Streamline range
Scania launches its new long-haul Streamline range. Improvements in aerodynamics and the powertrain cut fuel consumption by up to 8 percent. -
21 Feb 2014
2014: A fully owned subsidiary to VW
Volkswagen announced a public offer to the shareholders of Scania to tender all shares in Scania to Volkswagen at a price of SEK 200 in cash per share. -
28 Oct 2014
2014: Scania first to launch a watch
Scania took the lead in wearable technology – fusing fashion and high tech – with a smart wristwatch that communicates with trucks. -
02 Nov 2015
2015: 150,000 trucks connected
Scania supplies its 150,000th truck with activated connectivity. The customer is Aconcagua transportes in Argentina. -
28 Oct 2016
2016: Launch of New Generation trucks
The new range of long-haulage trucks is launched in 2016, featuring a brand new modular cab range. -
29 Oct 2017
2017: The XT range introduced
The remainder of the new truck generation followed in 2017. The Scania XT truck range was an eyecatcher, with its distinct colour scheme and robust adaptations. -
29 Oct 2018
2018: Investment in battery cell manufacturer
To speed up the development of the electrification of the transport industry, Scania announces a EUR 10 million investment into a partnership with Northvolt. -
04 Nov 2018
2018: VW Truck and Bus became TRATON
In 2015, Volkswagen AG creates Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH to bundle its brands and in 2018, Volkswagen Truck & Bus became TRATON GROUP. -
24 Sep 2019
2019: AXL – a cabless, autonomous concept truck
Scania introduces the latest member of its autonomous family: AXL, a fully autonomous concept truck that has no driver cab. -
10 Jun 2019
2019: Innovative concept for urban transport
Scania presents NXT, a vision for electrified and sustainable transport fit for the cities of 2030 and beyond. -
30 Sep 2022
2019: Scania stops for Climate Day
On 20 September, in the run up to the UN Climate Change Summit in New York, Scania held a company-wide Climate Day. -
30 Sep 2022
2020: Efforts to help during the pandemic
Corona pandemic put all parts of society to a straining test and Scania offered support in many ways. -
20 Sep 2022
2020: First battery electric truck launch
In September, Scania took a significant step forward in our electrification journey, with the launch of our first commercially available fully electric truck. -
05 Apr 2023
2020: New V8 range provides ultimate power
Scania introduced its new four-pieced V8 range, crowned with the yet most powerful: 770 hp, delivering 3700 Nm of torque. -
20 Sep 2022
2020: Science Based Targets approved
Scania becomes the world’s first heavy vehicle manufacturer to set Science Based Targets, challenging business-as-usual in the industry. -
01 Sep 2021
2021: 64-tonne electric truck
The first fully electric 64-tonne Scania truck is put on the road in customer operations. -
31 Mar 2023
2021: Launch of new Scania Interlink
The Scania Interlink was launched, mainly for use in urban environments and intercity traffic. -
31 Mar 2023
2021: Responsible trucking
Scania joined the CSR Europe initiative to team-up with other leading transport buyers and suppliers, to release the Truck Transport Social Guidelines. -
25 Mar 2024
2021: The new Scania Super powers profitability
As Scania marks its 130th anniversary, the new Scania Super is launched - once again redefining the limits of combustion engine performance.