Volvo Trucks announced that it has tripled the number of Certified Electric Vehicle Dealerships in North America, growing from 12 locations in May 2022 to 36 locations in 19 states in May 2023.

To date, Volvo Trucks has delivered 251 VNR Electric trucks from its New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia.

The Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership program was designed to provide the sales and service ecosystem needed to support customers in the deployment of Class 8 battery-electric trucks. Additional certified locations in three new states – Alabama, Delaware, and Oklahoma – as well as 56 more dealership locations in process were announced during a press event on Tuesday, May 2, at ACT Expo. 

“We want to go fast with a 150-mile range vehicle because we cannot wait,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, during a press conference, referring to the company's thinking when it went to market with the first version of the VNR Electric in 2020. “The climate cannot wait. Sustainability cannot wait. We cannot wait," he said of the mindset at the time.

Today the majority of the VNR Electric trucks sold are 6x2 six-battery-pack models, with a range of up to 275 miles. But Voorhoeve said that strategy of going to market with a model with less range and following up with improved versions "has led to a situation where Volvo is leading this shift to a zero-emissions future.”

Volvo announced the certification of these new dealerships:

• Bergey’s Truck Center – New Castle, Delaware 

• Bruckner Truck Sales – Tulsa, Oklahoma  

• Burr Truck & Trailer Sales – Vestal, New York 

• Nextran Truck Center – Fultondale, Alabama; Lake City, Florida; and Tampa, Florida 

• Western Truck Center – West Sacramento, California 

“Volvo Trucks is proud to be leading the deployment of Class 8 battery-electric trucks across North America, but we are even more proud to have been the first OEM to understand the need to create a robust and total ecosystem of support for Class 8 battery-electric trucks.” said Voorhoeve.

The Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership program was introduced in 2020 as part of the Volvo LIGHTS Project, during which TEC Equipment, Volvo Trucks’ largest West Coast dealer group, supported the first Volvo VNR Electric demonstration trucks. Three years later, Volvo Trucks has certified 36 dealers in 19 states and three Canadian provinces. Fifty-six additional locations are in the process of becoming Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealerships, which will add 18 new states for a total of 37 U.S. states and one new province for a total of four Canadian provinces. 

What Is a Certified EV Dealership?

To become EV-certified, dealerships must complete rigorous training and facility upgrades.

Sales teams at Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealerships are prepared to consult with customers that are considering investing in the Volvo VNR Electric model. They have access to a variety of resources and digital tools designed to help customers decarbonize their fleet and maximize vehicle performance and benefits.

In addition, service teams at Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealerships are fully trained and equipped to safely perform preventative maintenance and repairs for battery-electrics trucks in operation and support the Volvo Gold Service Contract. 

The Volvo Gold Contract, Volvo Trucks’ premier service offering for the Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric model, is a turn-key solution. It includes the full Uptime Services bundle for the Volvo VNR Electric, combining Volvo Trucks’ battery monitoring service with its trusted Remote Diagnostics, Volvo Action Service and ASIST, via the 24/7 Uptime Center. 

Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealerships provide scheduled and preventive maintenance, towing, and vehicle repair, including servicing the vehicle’s energy storage unit and the complete electromobility system, to ensure peak vehicle uptime, performance, and productivity.

Updated 3/4/2023 to clarify remarks about go-to-market range