Centre X to speed up powertrain innovation
Centre X is a new collaborative initiative in powertrain solutions, bringing together key actors from academia and industry. The goals are advancing energy-efficient transportation, strengthening Swedish manufacturing, and promoting sustainability through innovative manufacturing technologies.
2025-04-08
A powertrain is a system used across several sectors, including the automotive, energy, and machinery industries. In vehicles, it includes the engine, transmission, and drivetrain components. At Centre X (Advanced Manufacturing Solutions for Next Generation Powertrain), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Scania CV AB, and AB Volvo collaborate to develop innovative powertrain manufacturing solutions and applications.
“To remain competitive, the heavy vehicle manufacturing industry depends on research, development, and training. Powertrain manufacturing plays a crucial role in this sector, involving numerous suppliers, which drives the need for continuous innovation and new solutions,” says Professor Andreas Archenti, Centre Director at KTH.
Swedish industry has the potential to lead globally in manufacturing solutions, addressing key sustainability challenges such as resource efficiency, circularity through raw material reuse, and emission reduction. As a hub for automotive manufacturing research, Centre X accelerates technology adoption, strengthens supplier partnerships, expands access to experimental resources and testbeds, and supports knowledge sharing.
As the automotive industry undergoes rapid transformation and hybrid technologies demand greater flexibility and agility in production systems, the partners view trust as a competitive advantage:
“There is a difference between competing with our products and collaborating on how we operate in Sweden. This initiative helps us turn research into industrial benefits while strengthening national resilience and competitiveness,” says Lars-Henrik Jörnving, VP, Head of Global Industrial Development, Scania and industrial initiator of Centre X.
Professor Peter Krajnik, Centre Director at Chalmers, comments on the collaboration between Chalmers and KTH:
“We are not starting from scratch. For 20 years, we have collaborated on projects and as partners, combining expertise—KTH in machining systems and Chalmers in material aspects of machining—at the forefront of production research. Now, we need to further integrate the competence and strengthen the partnerships,” he says.
For the Volvo Group, powertrain technology is a core component across all products. The importance of collaboration extends to all actors in the value chain.
“Centre X acts as a bridge between fundamental research and industry, translating knowledge into real solutions. We need to identify industry needs, establish the right project direction, and ensure research can be applied efficiently. Collaboration is key,” says Thomas Bogren, VP, Manufacturing Engineering Volvo Powertrain.
While Centre X's initial projects target the heavy vehicle manufacturing industry, the portfolio will expand to other sectors that use powertrains, such as the energy and machinery industries.