Volvo have revealed plans to open a brand new Tech Hub in Krakow, Poland’s second-largest city. It will be a key software development centre and play a crucial role in our strategic ambitions to be a fully electric brand by 2030 and a leader in new technology, not least through in-house software development.
The Tech hub will carry full responsibility for developing complete and key features on their new fully electric cars, which are core to Volvo’s purpose as a brand.
Volvo engineers in Krakow will join the global pool of talent to boost their innovation speed by developing software for key areas for Volvo Cars – from core safety technology based on Volvo’s deep understanding of what causes accidents, to their perception and driver assistance algorithms and software for autonomous driving.
Other engineering challenges include developing next generation connected features, or supporting all their development work through data analytics. If you want to help shape the future of mobility, Volvo’s new Krakow site will be the place to be.
Volvo intend to have their new Tech Hub operational by the end of this year, with around 120 bright engineering minds in place. By mid-decade, they aim to employ between 500 and 600 people in Krakow, complementing and closely linked to their core engineering centres in China and Sweden, as well as their other tech hubs around the world.
SOFTWARE-DEFINED
As their recently revealed, all-electric Volvo EX90 SUV demonstrates, the automotive industry is rapidly changing and their forthcoming fully electric cars will all be software-defined.
The Volvo car of the future will be fully electric, increasingly sold online, powered by cutting-edge core computers running in-house developed software and become better over time thanks to regular over-the-air software updates.
That makes in-house software development key to achieving their strategic ambitions, which include being a leader in new technology and a pure electric car brand by 2030. To accelerate their transformation, they’re recruiting thousands of engineering talents around the globe and the Krakow hub will be another piece in that puzzle.
“We’re a purpose-led and technology-driven company, so our new generation of Volvo cars will be more than just transport,” said Jim Rowan, our chief executive. “They’ll be computers on wheels, designed to be updated over the air with new software. That means our Krakow tech hub and growing our in-house software development capabilities are key to our future success.”
Naturally, Volvo picked Krakow after careful deliberation. They know the country well – having had a presence in Poland for around 30 years – and the city is an emerging tech centre, with a broad network of tech firms in the region. It also has a large telecom sector, an industry which has been a rich source of recruits at other locations where they have engineering centres.
On top of that, while other large, global tech companies also have a presence in Poland, many haven’t discovered Krakow just yet. They’d be the first car maker with a significant engineering presence, which makes it a perfect location for their new Tech Hub. Now they’ll start to build networks and find talent, so the new office can be up and running by the end of the year.
“Our ambition is to attract and recruit top talent globally by being present in strategically important locations,” said Hanna Fager, our chief people officer. “Our new Tech Hub in Krakow is a perfect example of that. So if you’re interested in shaping the future of mobility with a brand that’s at the forefront of technology development, and inspired to be part of nurturing our strong culture and values, Volvo Cars is the place for you.”
They currently operate Tech Hubs in Stockholm and Lund in Sweden, as well as in Bangalore in India and also have large engineering centres in Shanghai, China and Gothenburg, Sweden. While each of these locations has its own focus area, together they make up a crucial network of innovation centres strategically spread around the globe.
For engineering talent interested in joining the team at the new Tech Hub in Krakow, head over to their jobs page and apply now! They are currently hiring embedded software engineers, system architects and testers.
