Volvo and Gothenburg, Sweden, are nearly synonymous. You can’t get more than a few steps off an airplane at the Göteborg Landvetter Airport without seeing Volvo displays, including a large image above the baggage claim carrousels that proclaims: “Welcome to Gothenburg, the City of Volvo.”
The brand ingrained in Sweden’s second-largest city took another big step in April when the two companies that share the logo—Volvo Group and Volvo Cars—opened a five-story, 22,000 square-meter (72,128 sq.ft.) cultural meeting place that celebrates Volvo Trucks, cars, and other equipment first built here nearly 100 years ago. The building will be a new Gothenburg landmark situated in the center of Gothenburg’s new entertainment strip on the edge of the bustling European downtown.
Roger Alm, Volvo Trucks president, said the building is about the global Volvo brand, its customers, and its home city here on the Kattegat shores of Sweden. “This is what Volvo is all about and so is Gothenburg,” he said during a media preview of the building a few days before it officially opened.
“So when we have customers come into Gothenburg, for example, we will always bring them to World of Volvo. Or we will have our product launches here, we will have our other product launches here as well. So this building of World of Volvo is very important about building and promotional activities that we will do for our customers around the world and reinforcing our Volvo brand.”
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The circular Volvo Building, designed by Danish architect Henning Larsen, will feature two exhibition areas, two restaurants, outdoor plazas, roof terraces, shopping, six conference rooms, an event hall for concerts, lectures, and more, a broadcast studio, lounge, a co-working space, and a Volvo product experience area. Parts of the building will be open to the public for free.
Larsen aimed to create a light and airy Scandinavian feel using natural materials. The building will host exhibitions, shows, and events in its various spaces.
The building was designed with sustainability in mind. It features multiple energy-saving measures, including a green roof with vegetation and solar panels. The building was constructed using recycled materials and is LEED-certified, signifying its commitment to sustainability. The companies anticipate attracting over 100,000 visitors annually, showcasing the building's green features and innovative design.
Transportation journalists from around the globe were treated to early tours of the property in April, featuring many classic and modern Volvo Trucks and equipment. Here is a look at Volvo’s classic and new trucks, along with some of the features within World of Volvo.
