Volta Trucks has confirmed the start of production of the 16-tonne all-electric Volta Zero at Steyr Automotive, the company’s partner in contract manufacturing, in Steyr, Austria.

Following the Design Verification and Production Validation prototypes started in 2022, the first series production customer-specification vehicles have now entered the production line.

The initial batch of vehicles will be used for the Volta Zero Driving Experience Programme. This test drive programme, where customers will be loaned a truck for an extended period, will allow fleet operators to understand how the production-specification all-electric medium-duty truck will integrate into their operations.

Following the start of production, the trucks produced will undergo rigorous and extensive quality assurance and testing, with the first trucks ordered by customers expected to be dispatched in Q3, 2023.

Co-Founder and chief manufacturing and logistics officer of Volta Trucks, Kjell Walöen, said: “The first full-production Volta Zero going into the production line here at Steyr is the most substantial milestone the company has achieved to date. In just 2.5 years, less than half the time existing truck manufacturers take, we have moved from launching a concept, through the engineering, development and quality phases and now the start of production of the final specification models that will be driven by customers, making our urban environments safer and more sustainable.”