From left: Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt, Coretura CEO Johan Lundén and Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström. (Daimler Truck)
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Daimler Truck and Volvo Group laid out the game plan for their truck operating system joint venture June 17.
The truck and bus manufacturers said the JV, to be known as Coretura, would release its first products by the end of the decade.
Both expect to spend at least $100 million over the next five years developing the products, or “a three-digit million amount,” as Volvo put it.
Initially unveiled in October 2024, the partnership aims to build a standardized and open software-defined vehicle platform and dedicated commercial vehicle operating system.
The impact on U.S. trucking when the products arrive will be substantial.
The partners’ four North American brands supplied 57.9% of Class 8 retail trucks sold in 2024, according to Wards Intelligence data.
Daimler Truck is the parent company of Freightliner and Western Star, while Volvo Group is the parent company of Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks.
Coretura also will offer other truck manufacturers the opportunity to buy the operating system for the vehicles they build, the companies said.
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The partners said Coretura’s mission will include the specification and procurement of centralized high-performance control units at scale for commercial vehicles that are capable of handling large amounts of data.
They added that such capabilities will allow a decoupling of software and hardware development cycles, allowing end customers to purchase and update digital applications wirelessly “over the air,” with the aim of enhancing safety, efficiency and customer experience.
Over-the-air updates decrease downtime for drivers. VTNA and Mack made remote software updates standard in March and February, respectively. Not least for the new flagship VNL and Pioneer tractors each launched over the past 18 months.
Coretura’s wider goal is to address increasing demands for connectivity, safety and efficiency in the trucking industry. (Daimler Truck)
Operations at Coretura began at the start of June. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, the company started with around 50 employees. Coretura will have a four-member executive management team consisting of two members from each of the shareholders.
Johan Lundén was appointed CEO. Lundén previously was responsible for strategic product planning, project and innovation management at Volvo Group.
“This joint venture blends the agility of a startup with the stability and expertise of our major shareholders. We are proud and energized to lead the digital transformation in the commercial vehicle industry — backed by strong shareholder support and committed to shaping the industry’s future,” said Lundén.
Coretura’s wider goal is to address increasing demands for connectivity, safety and efficiency in the trucking industry.
“With Coretura, we are setting a clear strategic focus on software development for commercial vehicles. This is a big and really exciting step — not just for us, but for the entire industry and our customers,” Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström said.
“Coretura represents a natural step forward in the evolution of commercial vehicles. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and collaborative innovation, we’re setting the stage for a new era of connectivity and efficiency in the industry,” Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt added.
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“This venture underscores our commitment to not only advancing our products but also paving the way for sustainable and intelligent transportation solutions,” Lundstedt noted.
Daimler Truck and Volvo Group also are collaborating on two other JVs: hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer Cellcentric and public commercial vehicle charging infrastructure provider Milence.
Cellcentric emerged in February 2021 out of an initial JV formed in November 2020.
Cellcentric in January said it had bought land in the southwest German city of Weilheim an der Teck for building its full-scale production facility. Commercial production also is expected to begin toward the end of the decade.
The company began pilot hydrogen fuel cell production at its existing nearby Esslingen facility in June 2024.
Milence — in which fellow truck manufacturer Traton Group also is a partner — aims to build Europe’s largest public truck charging network.
The JV currently operates 21 charging hubs in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Spain. By 2027, Milence expects to have 71 sites across 10 European Union states and multiple electrified freight corridors.
The first freight corridor, which is 700 kilometers (435 miles) in length, links Barcelona in northeastern Spain and Lyon in southeastern France.
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