ABB builds on e-mobility business: VW Commercial Vehicles deploys 800 industrial robots to manufacture new electric vehicles

ABB has received an order for 800 industrial robots from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to support production of a new generation of electric vehicles at its plant in Hanover, Germany.  

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is modernizing its Hanover factory and is installing state-of-the-art facilities to build the all-electric ID. Buzz van, which will begin production in 2022. ABB’s robots will be installed in the body shop to undertake a range of body construction tasks.

“We’re excited to extend our long-standing business relationship with Volkswagen by supporting their expansion into e-mobility. ABB’s robotic solutions will provide Volkswagen’s production processes with unprecedented levels of flexibility, to help them adjust to trends and changing customer requirements,” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation. “The dramatic expansion of the EV-segment requires new and innovative manufacturing solutions. With our deep experience in this sector we are helping our automotive customers master this important and strategic transition towards more sustainable transportation.”  

In addition to robots and application-specific equipment, ABB offers the automotive industry standardized manufacturing cells and the design, planning and implementation of complete production lines. Via the ABB Ability™ platform, customers also have the opportunity to benefit from various digital services including process optimization, robot fleet management and predictive maintenance.  

This year, ABB has launched a number of new innovative technologies that support automotive manufacturers in increasing productivity and improving their environmental performance, such as its PixelPaint solution for customized automotive painting. PixelPaint uses an inkjet head to eliminate overspray, ensuring two-tone paint and individual designs are applied in one pass, without masking and de-masking. This reduces cycle times by around 50 percent and improves sustainability, with 100 per cent of the paint applied to the bodywork.

ABB will supply 800 industrial robots to the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle plant in Hanover, Germany, where they will be used primarily to construct the body of the new electric ID. BUZZ van.