The history of Scania AB dates back to 1891. The main office is located in a Swedish town Södertelge, but the manufacturing facilities are extended over all the continents: thus, there are plants in Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Argentine, Brazil, Poland and Russia. The company has managed to preserve its specialization in trucks, buses, industrial and marine engines production from the very beginning of its activity up to the present days. Besides, Scania manufactures chassis for other enterprises. The Volkswagen AG auto-group (around 70% of shares), MAN (17% of shares) and several minoritary shareholders are the owners of the company.
History
Scania has been producing trucks since 1902, and the first of those trucks was made on the base of petrol-powered engine. In 1908 a 4 tons 20 HP car won an award, but the serial manufacturing of automotive vehicles didn’t begin then since there was a lack of demand. Actually, the Scania-Vabis Company was set up in 1911 as the result of the integration of «Maskinfabriksaktiebolaget Scania» and «Vagnfabriksaktiebolaget» in Södertelge. In 1915 the new company produced a small number (if to compare with contemporary volumes of production) of individual cars (76 cars), trucks (74 trucks) and buses (just 1 bus produced). In addition, approximately 30% of the production went to Russia. Since 1921 the company has occupied its market niche being a trucks and buses supplier for the state posting system.
In 1925 Scania-Vabis introduced the new generation of trucks with closed bodies and 4-cylinder OHV engines. The high professional capabilities of the constructors let the company enter the market of specialized engines for boats. In 1926 and 1927 the company developed 4- and 6-cylinder engines, able to reach 60 and 100 HP.
Eventually, Scania-Vabis managed to produce the first Bulldog bus (both the engine and the driver are located in the cabin) in 1932, in equivalent to the American ones. The cooperation of the company with the public utility sector organizations of Stockholm contributed to the stable selling and constant economic advancement in the 30-40s. Besides, Scania-Vabis used to be the supplier of special vehicles, military vehicles and tanks for the armed forces of Sweden. All in all, in 1944 the first standard civil truck was produced. It was fitted with an individual 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder petrol-powered engine, assembled according to a circuit module, elaborated in 1936, what allowed the usage of standardized components. In 1954 the Regent truck became one of the most popular models with the commercial trucking companies. In 1969 after several years of engineering elaborations a new DS 14 engine, reaching 350 HP and with the swept-volume capacity of 14 liters, was presented. In the 1960s with the placement of the manufacturing facilities of Scania in Brazil and the Netherlands the company started to expand geographically. Besides, it obtained several components production plants in Sweden.
The present expansion made the production of a new kind of trucks – an LB141 truck with an 8-cylinder 375 HP V-like engine – possible. The testing of the vehicles with new engines let the modernized and more effective models enter the market.
In the 80s the production of the trucks was based on modularity what decreased the expenses on manufacturing. What’s more, all kinds of models now were able to be assembled on special demands.
The modern look of the vehicle appeared in the 80s, too. Trucks with the GVW of 16-36 tons started to be manufactured. The popular standard series 3 entered the market.
Apart from transport vehicles, Scania used to produce vehicles suitable for construction tasks. The company focused on the production of its own components – engines, cabins, back axles and driving gears.
Up to the 21 century Scania has been positioning itself as a producer of the most powerful engines and the most well-known vehicles, particularly T models and the following R models. The production of engines has become a hallmark of the company. Together with Cummins Scania has been developing the system of high-pressure fuel injection (XPI). This let V8 620 HP engines enter the market. In 2010 the most powerful engine for trucks – a 730 HP engine – entered the market, too. Scania R 730 has become the most powerful line-haul truck in the world.
Model range
As of date, the company offers the trucks of the 3 series – P, G and R.
Scania R
R-series is designed for heavy line-haul transportation. The trucks are fitted with Euro 6 V8 engines with 9, 13 or 16 liters capacity, reaching from 250 to 580 HP. The vehicles are equipped with Ad Blue systems, which neutralize the burnt gas. The trucks are notable for the advanced active and passive security systems, such as Scania Driver Support and Scania Active Prediction, Brake Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Adapive Cruise Control. Foreground cameras are also fitted in. Such equipment is fitted in R-series vehicles and can be fitted in G-series vehicles.
Scania G
G-series is designed for long distance and regional load transportation, but this model is suitable for construction tasks, as well. The modifications of the model are fitted with 3 sleeper cabins, a suitable for day-time cabin and a short cabin. The trucks are equipped with the engines reaching up to 490 HP.
Scania P
P-series is intended for urban and local light load transportation. Like other models, it’s suitable for construction tasks. The trucks are notable for their cornering ability and the economical efficiency of the engine. By the way, the engines reach up to 450 HP. There are 5 modifications of the cabins: there are both sleeper cabs and day-time shortened variations.
The hallmark of the vehicles is the Scania Opticruise system, which is able to adjust the functioning of the gearbox, the engine and the suspender in an optimum way. This system has been created to help in conducting the vehicle in difficult driving conditions, for instance, when the car is moving down- and uphill, when it’s moving with a heavy load, etc.
Scania buses
Scania produces two types of buses – tourist coaches and city buses. City buses posses a high cornering ability, economical efficiency and eco-friendly innovations. A beefed-up chassis is fitted in such vehicles. Citywide, OmniCity and OmniLink models fall into this category.
Scania OmniExpress, Higer, Touring and Irizar tourist coaches comply with all comfort and eco requirements. Scania buses all share one specific feature if to concern the design: if you look at the vehicle from the front side, it may seem that the vehicle smiles to you. It’s an old specialty of Scania buses.
Eco-friendliness of the technologies of Swedish manufacturer should be mentioned, too. In the 80s Scania plunged itself into the development in this direction. The company has been working on the construction of engines, working on eco-fuel, such as biodiesel (based on colza), natural gas and biogas.
