Series Production of Autonomous Mining Trucks Launched

With the production of the first Volvo FH Autonomous at the Säffle plant in Sweden, Volvo Autonomous Solutions has completed a key transition from development to the series production of autonomous mining trucks.

Transition from prototypes to industrial assembly
Volvo Autonomous Solutions has initiated the industrialization of autonomous mining trucks by manufacturing the first Volvo FH Autonomous within the regular production environment at the Säffle plant. The facility has been known for decades for its manufacturing quality and is now integrating autonomous vehicle systems into established production processes. The Volvo FH Autonomous was developed specifically for autonomous material transport in demanding operating environments and combines the Volvo FH vehicle platform with autonomous hardware and software from Volvo Autonomous Solutions.

The move from prototype builds in R&D environments to series assembly in a production plant is a prerequisite for consistent quality, industrial scalability and long-term operational reliability of autonomous vehicles.

Technical design for autonomous mining operations
The Volvo FH Autonomous is designed for series production and is equipped with high computing capacity and a comprehensive sensor suite. This includes LiDAR, radar and camera systems, as well as inertial measurement units (IMUs), which together enable redundant environment perception and precise vehicle localization. The system architecture is engineered for robust performance in demanding environments such as open-pit mines and underground operations, where dust, vibration and changing light conditions are common.

The successful integration of these systems into industrial manufacturing demonstrates that the Säffle plant can meet the complex requirements of autonomous vehicle production while maintaining flexibility and established quality standards.

Manufacturing expertise and industrial collaboration
The production of the first Volvo FH Autonomous is based on close collaboration between Volvo Autonomous Solutions and the Säffle plant. Autonomous systems, electrical and electronic components and vehicle-specific adaptations have been integrated into existing production and quality processes. The objective is to ensure OEM-level standards in reliability, safety and serviceability for autonomous vehicles.

Phased scaling and market expansion
Previous generations of the Volvo FH Autonomous are already in commercial operation, including deployments at Brønnøy Kalk in Norway, where more than one million tonnes of material have been transported, and at Boliden’s Garpenberg mine. The initial build in Säffle now marks the start of a planned, phased increase in production capacity.

With this approach, Volvo Autonomous Solutions is addressing growing demand for safe and reliable autonomous transport solutions in the mining sector, particularly in the Nordic countries. The goal is to make autonomous trucks available at greater scale and establish them as a dependable transport option for safety-critical, high-productivity operating environments.

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