In 2016, Scania celebrates 125 years of continuous development. Since its founding in 1891 as a private railway carriage manufacturing company, it has successfully withstood competition and financial crises. Today, in the era of connected vehicles, it continues its successful journey into the future.
Here are the milestones in Scania’s history, from its beginnings in 1891 to the present day:
1891 – Vabis is founded in Södertälje, specializing in the production of railway carriages. 20 years later, it merges with the Scania company from Malmö, which manufactured bicycles, cars, and trucks, among other things. This is how Scania-Vabis was born.
1923 – August Nilsson, a Scania-Vabis engineer, designs a 4-cylinder, overhead-valve engine, whose power and reliability ensure the success of the company’s trucks and buses.
1936 – Scania-Vabis develops its first diesel engine, described with enthusiasm by a trade press journalist: “To my surprise, the engine was barely audible. However, I clearly felt the effect of its operation – the bus shot forward like an arrow.”
1961 – The successes achieved by Scania-Vabis in Brazil result in the launch of the first factory outside of Sweden. The new plant in São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo, produces trucks, bus chassis, and industrial and marine engines.
1969 – Birth of a legend: Scania introduces a new, turbocharged 14-liter V8 engine with 350 hp. At the time of its presentation, it is the most powerful truck in Europe. The new engine is distinguished by high torque available even at low engine speeds.
1980 – Scania introduces the 2-series, the first range of modular commercial vehicles.
1988 – The 3-series debuts and receives the International Truck of the Year award a year later. The development of modular design makes it possible to produce vehicles strictly tailored to the buyer’s requirements.
1995 – The 4-series appears, which is awarded the title of International Truck of the Year the following year.
2000 – The millionth Scania vehicle rolls off the assembly line.
2003 – The first edition of the Young European Truck Driver competition begins. Since then, as part of the Scania Driver Competition organized worldwide, many young professionals have reached for the title of driving champion.
2009 – The Scania Touring coach, produced in cooperation with the Chinese company Higer, debuts. Scania and Higer join forces to jointly manufacture buses sold worldwide, which is a pioneering step in improving production methods.
2010 – The latest Scania V8 engine reaches 730 hp, becoming the world’s most powerful powertrain used in trucks. High performance is accompanied by low fuel consumption.
2011 – Scania introduces the Euro 6 engine, two years before the new emission standard comes into force.
2013 – The new Scania Streamline, designed for long-haul transport, appears.
2015 – Scania has produced 150,000 trucks equipped with a telematics system.
Scania is committed to the development of sustainable road transport not only by offering modern products, but also in many other ways. In the jubilee year of 2016, it will focus on its most valuable resource: its employees.