Volvo Cars is set to integrate Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform into its engineering processes for electric vehicle development. Founded in 1927 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo is fully committed to transitioning to an all-electric lineup and aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
In October 2024, Volvo reported global sales of 61,686 vehicles, marking a 3% increase from the previous year, driven mainly by its electrified models in Europe. Although sales fell in the US and China, the demand for electrified vehicles remained strong. The company saw a 40% annual growth in electrified models—both fully electric and plug-in hybrids—which accounted for 48% of total sales that month, with fully electric cars making up 22%.
Volvo recognizes that simply electrifying cars isn’t enough; the company emphasizes the need to rethink sustainability across its operations and society. They’ve been utilizing Dassault Systèmes’ Catia applications but chose to deepen their partnership to realize their vision of being a fully electric automotive company. This partnership allows Volvo to migrate data from Catia and other systems to a unified platform that enhances collaborative vehicle design and development.
The 3DExperience platform aims to streamline collaboration and provide data-driven approaches to tackle complexities in the electric vehicle sector. With this software, Volvo engineers can enhance quality, improve part reuse, manage issues more effectively, and refine testing and validation cycles. Specific features include the Efficient Multi-Energy Platform, Global Modular Architecture, Smart, Safe & Connected technologies, and Sustainable Multi-functional Vehicle design.
Moreover, Dassault highlights the potential for Volvo to boost its revenue pipeline by cutting down on engineering time and costs while maximizing part reuse and product quality, all while addressing regulatory requirements. Laurence Montanari, vice-president of transportation and mobility industry at Dassault Systèmes, noted that automakers face pressure to introduce new products quickly and cost-effectively. He praised Volvo Cars for its ability to create unique vehicle experiences and emphasized the importance of advanced technology solutions that blend hardware and software development. The 3DExperience platform is set to support this goal.