A new unit, Venture & New Business China, will pilot energy transition and autonomous transport solutions with local partners, led by former DiDi executive Kelly Fu
China is the world’s largest truck market and one of its fastest-moving technology environments, particularly in battery-electric and autonomous transport. Scania has decided it needs a dedicated team there to learn, test and build.
The Swedish manufacturer has launched Venture & New Business China (VNBC), a platform to identify, develop and pilot new business opportunities through strategic partnerships, customer collaborations and new ventures. Kelly Fu has been appointed Regional Lead for China Venture & New Business, Scania Group.
Energy transition and autonomy first
VNBC will initially focus on two areas with strong potential to transform heavy transport: the energy transition and autonomous transport. That includes building ecosystem partnerships and exploring the business models needed to take new solutions to market.
The unit builds on Scania’s growing footprint in China, including the Scania and NEXT ERA commercial offerings and local research and development, procurement and production. The Nantong and Rugao region, home to Scania’s third industrial production hub, will serve as a testbed for pilots with customers and partners.
“China combines the scale of the world’s largest truck market with one of the world’s fastest-moving technology and innovation landscapes,” said Kelly Fu. “We will start with local customer needs, bring together complementary capabilities, test solutions in the market and scale those that create real commercial value.”
A dual role
Gustaf Sundell, Executive Vice President and Head of Ventures and New Business at Scania, described VNBC as supporting Scania Group China’s growth today “while building the capabilities needed to strengthen our position in an increasingly electrified and autonomous transport ecosystem over time.”
Fu brings experience from investment banking, digital mobility and commercial vehicle technology. She spent six years at ride-hailing company DiDi, including as General Manager of its Beijing office, worked in investment at logistics technology firm G7 during its merger with E6, and has recently focused on start-ups in heavy-duty battery-electric and hydrogen transport.
For European manufacturers, the move acknowledges a reality: in electrified and autonomous heavy transport, some of the fastest learning now happens in China.
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