Volvo set up a tech hub in Singapore to further their work on electric vehicles (EV). Officially announced in 2023, the lab opened office last January 2025. It will serve as a research and development (R&D) centre for 15 employees and engineers. The office spans 9,432 square feet and can be found on Kallang Avenue, Singapore. (afma.org.au)
THE TECH HUB
The facility is equipped with a lab and office space to support the high-tech work Volvo aims to achieve. The company intends for the lab to produce advancements in robots, electronics engineering, software development, artificial intelligence (AI), power electronics, and data analytics.
“The new Tech Hub will be a key centre for data and analytics, software and advanced manufacturing development in line with our ambition to be a leader in new technology and a fully electric car maker by 2030,” the company said in their official press release.
This is the company’s third tech hub in Asia, with the first two located in Shanghai, China and Bangalore, India. Prior to this, Volvo recently opened another tech hub in Krakow, Poland with similar intentions. According to the car maker, its global tech hubs will “work closely” with one another to advance their globalised tech goals.
SINGAPORE’S EV CATCH-UP
Volvo received the support of Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) when it first announced the facility’s budget and construction.
“We welcome Volvo Cars’ decision to set up its Tech Hub in Singapore. This is testament to Singapore’s attractiveness as an innovation hub for global mobility companies to develop solutions for the regional and global market,” said EDB’s Executive Vice President, Cindy Koh. She remarked that Singapore’s smaller land mass limits the country from establishing manufacturing plants. Instead, the city-state chooses to contribute to the industry through research, robotics, and AI.
“As the technology continues to mature and, more importantly, when the public gains confidence in the safety of autonomous vehicles, we will look to scale up,” said Koh.
Koh noted the rise of EV sales in Singapore, specifically the 60 per cent improvement on-year from 2022 and 33 per cent in 2023. Currently, Volvo’s EV sales comprise 58 per cent of its total sales in the city-state. This bodes well for the country’s goal of transitioning to EVs and eliminating combustion vehicles by the year 2040.
The EDB observed that there are several factors that could hinder the EV transition in Singapore. “Many of us can relate to the global challenges facing the automotive sector, such as increased competition, the slower-than-expected take-up in… EVs and how governments are actually imposing import tariffs,” Koh stated at the tech hub’s opening ceremony.
Though details of EDB’s support in the construction of the tech hub were not disclosed, the facility is surely a step forward for Volvo and Singapore.
