ABB Robotics × Volvo Cars: The 1,300-Robot Order for Electric Vehicle Plants
ABB agreed to supply more than 1,300 robots and functional packages to Volvo Cars for its next generation of electric vehicles. Deployment was scheduled to begin in 2024 at Volvo’s Torslanda plant in Sweden and Daqing plant in China. ABB has said its new OmniCore-controlled robots can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Order size | More than 1,300 robots and functional packages |
| Production plants | Torslanda, Sweden, and Daqing, China |
| Deployment start | 2024 |
| Potential energy savings | Up to 20% |
| Manufacturing tasks | Adhesive dispensing, flow drilling, riveting, spot welding and ultrasonic welding |
| Planning software | ABB RobotStudio |
ABB: Two European Engineering Companies With a Shared History
ABB was formed in 1988 through the merger of Sweden’s ASEA, founded in 1883, and Switzerland’s Brown Boveri, founded in 1891.
ASEA developed the IRB 6 in 1974, described as the world’s first commercially available microprocessor-controlled all-electric industrial robot. This engineering history helped establish ABB as a major supplier of industrial automation equipment.
Today, ABB’s robotics technology supports manufacturing operations across industries, including automotive production, electronics and industrial machinery.
Volvo Cars: From Gothenburg in 1927 to Electric Vehicles
Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson founded Volvo Cars in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1927. The company developed a reputation for vehicle engineering, safety and manufacturing.
Chinese automotive group Geely, led by Li Shufu, acquired Volvo Cars in 2010 for approximately US$1.8 billion. The Torslanda plant near Gothenburg remains an important part of Volvo’s manufacturing history.
As automakers expand their electric vehicle ranges, production lines must accommodate new vehicle platforms, battery-related structures and different manufacturing requirements. Industrial robots allow manufacturers to automate complex operations with consistent precision.
How ABB Robots Support Electric Vehicle Manufacturing
ABB’s robots and controllers perform repetitive and technically demanding jobs during vehicle-body production. These include joining metal panels through spot welding and riveting, applying structural adhesives, performing flow drilling and carrying out ultrasonic welding.
RobotStudio software allows engineers to model and test production cells virtually before installing equipment in the physical factory. This approach helps identify potential problems and plan the rollout while limiting disruption to existing production.
The aim is to design a manufacturing cell, test it digitally and then deploy it efficiently across multiple production areas.
ABB’s OmniCore control platform also supports more coordinated robot operation. ABB’s stated energy-saving potential of up to 20% is particularly relevant to manufacturers seeking to reduce factory energy consumption.
The Major Twist: SoftBank’s Planned Acquisition of ABB Robotics
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Buyer | SoftBank Group |
| Announced price | US$5.375 billion, equivalent to approximately US$5.3 billion in net cash to ABB |
| Announcement date | 8 October 2025 |
| Expected closing | Mid-to-late 2026, subject to regulatory approvals in the EU, China and the US |
| Robotics division workforce | Approximately 7,000 employees |
| 2024 robotics revenue | US$2.3 billion, down 7% |
| Share of ABB sales | Approximately 7% |
| Previous plan | A planned April 2025 spin-off and listing, subsequently cancelled |
The proposed transaction places ABB Robotics at the centre of SoftBank’s strategy around physical AI, which connects artificial intelligence with robots and real-world industrial tasks. The expected closing timeline was mid-to-late 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Timeline of ABB and Volvo Cars
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1883 | ASEA founded in Sweden |
| 1891 | Brown Boveri founded in Switzerland |
| 1927 | Volvo Cars founded in Gothenburg |
| 1974 | ASEA developed the IRB 6 industrial robot |
| 1988 | ABB formed through the ASEA and Brown Boveri merger |
| 2010 | Geely acquired Volvo Cars for approximately US$1.8 billion |
| 2024 | ABB’s robot deployment for Volvo’s next-generation EV production was scheduled to begin |
| 8 October 2025 | SoftBank announced the planned acquisition of ABB Robotics |
People Behind the Companies
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Morten Wierod | ABB CEO since 2024 |
| Marc Segura | ABB Robotics president at the time of the Volvo announcement |
| Masayoshi Son | SoftBank founder, driving the company’s physical AI strategy |
| Li Shufu | Geely founder and Volvo Cars’ owner; born in 1963 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many robots is Volvo Cars buying from ABB?
ABB agreed to supply more than 1,300 robots and functional packages for Volvo Cars’ next generation of electric vehicles.
Which factories are involved?
The programme covers Volvo’s Torslanda plant in Sweden and Daqing plant in China.
Who is buying ABB Robotics?
SoftBank Group announced a planned acquisition valued at US$5.375 billion on 8 October 2025. The expected completion was mid-to-late 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
ABB’s robotics expertise and Volvo Cars’ electric vehicle manufacturing plans illustrate the growing role of industrial automation in next-generation vehicle production.
