Scania celebrates its 125th anniversary

Scania is celebrating 125 years of innovation in 2016. From its founding as a privately owned wagon-building company back in 1891 to today’s connected vehicles, Scania has stood steady through hostile take-over attempts and financial crises. And today, that successful journey continues.

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Here’s a brief rundown of Scania’s history, from its beginnings in 1891 through to today,:

1891: The privately owned wagon-building company Vabis is established in Södertälje and sets about producing open goods wagons and transport wagons. Some 20 years later, Scania-Vabis is created through the amalgamation of Vabis with the Malmö-based, privately owned machine-manufacturing company Scania.

1923: Scania-Vabis designer August Nilsson develops a four-cylinder, overhead-valve engine. The engine’s power and reliability are of major benefit in trucks and buses.

1936: Scania-Vabis develops its first diesel engine, something that impresses the trade press during test drives. “To my surprise, I could hardly hear the engine,” wrote one journalist. “However, I certainly felt its effect as the bus shot forward like an arrow.”

1961: Scania-Vabis builds on its success in Brazil, opening its first ever production facility outside Sweden in São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo.

1969: A legend is born! Scania introduces a 350 hp, 14-litre V8 turbocharged engine. It is the most powerful truck motor in Europe at the time and pioneers Scania’s low-rev philosophy with a high-torque output at low engine speeds.

1980: Scania launches the 2-series, the first modular commercial vehicle range

1988: The new 3-series is launched and the following year takes the International Truck of the Year award. Scania is now able to tailor trucks according to customer specifications.

1995: The 4-series is launched and the following year also receives the International Truck of the Year award.

2000: Scania’s millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line.

2003: Scania’s Young European Truck Driver competition makes its debut. Numerous winners have since been crowned.

2009: Scania launches the Scania Touring, a new coach built in partnership with Chinese bus bodybuilder Higer. Scania and Higer has joined forces to produce buses in China for the world market – a pioneering step forward in bus manufacturing.     

2010: Boasting 730 hp, Scania’s new V8 engine is the most powerful in the world without having to compromise on fuel efficiency.

2011: Two years before it becomes legally compulsory, Scania introduces Europe’s first Euro 6 truck.

2013: New Streamline models for long distance transport are launched.

2015: Scania delivers its 150,000th truck with activated connectivity.

Scania is contributing to global sustainable transport, making it much larger than just its products. During 2016, the company’s most important asset – its employees – will also be in focus.

There’s a definite pride associated with working at Scania. Together, we have shaped our past and, together, we are building the future.