“Volvo Cars was the first big premium-car manufacturer to go fully electric,” says Stefan Fesser, CEO of Volvo Car Gent. “We announced the start of our journey back in 2018. Other brands were still dedicating their attention to internal combustion when we shifted gears to electrification with Ghent as our pioneer plant.”

“It made sense to start off in Ghent, as this is where we produce our smaller ranges – and those were first on the list for electrification,” Stefan Fesser continues. “So, we invested heavily to revamp our Ghent-based site and move from an internal combustion build site to a fully electrified plant. That’s how both the first and second fully electric Volvo cars came to be manufactured in Flanders.” 

So why did Volvo Cars choose Flanders for its electrification experiment? “Simple: we have extremely skilled people here, and the site has a long tradition of expertise,” Stefan Fesser explains. “Business success always starts with having the right people on board: employees who are motivated, eager to upskill and tackle the transformation – from engineers to blue collars.”

The strategic location of Flanders was also a major bonus according to the CEO: 

But it doesn’t end there. “Flanders also offers us the possibility to set up innovative and rewarding partnerships,” adds Stefan Fesser. “To pioneer new technologies and applications, you need strong partners by your side. You can’t do it alone. Ghent University, for example, is one of our long-standing partners for internships, product development and engineering. But we also work closely with other institutions: incubators, research centers and even the city of Ghent.”

“And of course,” the CEO continues, “there’s our close collaboration with North Sea Port Ghent as well: it’s not just a port, it’s also a business hub and a platform for partnerships – especially for developing sustainable alternatives together.” 

Underlining just how important Volvo Cars’ dedication to Flanders is, the company received a nomination for the 2022 Foreign Investment of the Year Trophy presented by Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). It wasn’t Volvo Cars’ first time at the Foreign Investment Trophy event, though. The car manufacturer took home the Lifetime Achievement Trophy back in 2016. 

“Volvo Cars’ continuous investments in Ghent only add further proof to the fact that the automotive industry has a sustainable future in Flanders,” says Lothe Verstraete, Deputy Director Inward Investment Greater China & Korea at FIT. “In partnership with Flanders’ universities and strategic research centers such as Flanders Make, the company is creating an ideal framework for continuous and pioneering innovation in the sector.”