Volvo Reopens Torslanda Plant in Sweden

After temporarily shutting down their manufacturing plants, Volvo Cars has recently restarted production at its Torslanda plant in Sweden last Monday, April 20, following a few weeks of downtime due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The company has started to welcome back office workers to its Swedish offices starting this Monday.

In the past few weeks, both the plant and offices have been prepared to be as safe as possible for people to return in a way that won’t be an issue to their health. Volvo Cars has also taken the decision to reopen following a dialogue with relevant labor unions.

Following a constant, close dialogue with all the company’s partners and suppliers, Volvo aims to secure continued production amid ongoing yet reducing disruptions in the supply chain. Production volumes in the Torslanda plant have also been adjusted to meet the current demand in the market as well as to fulfill existing orders before the shutdown began.

“We have a responsibility towards our employees and our suppliers to restart operations now that the situation allows it,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Cars.

“The best thing we can do to help society is to find ways to restart the company in a safe way, thereby safeguarding people’s health and their jobs.”

Before the return of staff last Monday, Volvo has assured that all facilities have been cleaned extensively, while sanitation and cleaning routines have been intensified and voluntary temperature and pulse oximeter checks are being offered at main entrances. In recent weeks, Volvo said, company officials have reviewed every single working station in the Torslanda plant from a health and safety perspective, and where social distancing is not possible, other protective measures have been put in place.

“In Swedish office buildings the layout in all meeting rooms, office spaces and restaurants has been adjusted where necessary to allow for social distancing, for example by ensuring that desks are placed appropriately and limiting the number of people allowed in meeting rooms and restaurants,” the company said.

As for the other sites and manufacturing plants in Volvo Cars’ global manufacturing network, the Ghent, Belgium plant has also reopened this Monday but at reduced production output. The company currently plans to reopen its South Carolina plant in the United States on May 11th.

"The engine plant in Skövde, Sweden and the body component manufacturing site in Olofström, Sweden will continue to plan their production on a weekly basis and adapt according to needs in the other plants," Volvo says in an official statement.

"Office workers in other markets will continue to follow local guidelines, but Volvo Cars health and safety officials hope that learnings from the Swedish facilities can be implemented elsewhere as well."

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