Master Thesis Battery Supply Chain - Group Trucks Purchasing

Background of thesis project
The transport industry is developing in a higher pace than ever before and we at Volvo Group want to shape the future of transportation. We are fully committed to the Paris agreement targets and our long-term ambitions are clear. We will become 100% fossil free, 100% safe and 100% more productive. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do in the Volvo Group.


You love our planet, you love to drive change and you love to move forward. By 2030 more than 35% of our global shipments of vehicles should be electric. Furthermore, we want to lead the way to a fossil free society. Would you love to shape this future of transportation together with us?


To enable this exciting future, we are looking for master thesis students to join us in defining Volvo Group sustainability agenda in the Battery Purchasing team. Join us and make a difference for our society!


The Purchasing Battery team
You will be part of a passionate team, creating business value in an open and multicultural, dynamic environment with highly innovative products. We are team players, with energy and creativity, who drive change and strive for the best in order to deliver results. We like challenges, having fun and are committed to customer and Volvo Group success. We work closely together with our cross functional stakeholders both in the internal and external ecosystem and we believe we are here to make a difference. After finalizing your master thesis with us we assure you that you will have a strong CV for a career within Purchasing and a proven expertise in new technology management.




Suitable background of students
The ideal student(-s) will possess good communications skills in English, shows a high level of initiative, is self-driven and has excellent analytical capabilities.


Knowledge within the automotive industry and battery value chain is not mandatory but is an advantage.


Description of thesis work
The master thesis will be performed in close collaboration with segment leader within the Battery Purchasing team but as well with other stakeholders within the full Volvo Group.


The Battery business is characterized by a dynamic environment with fast moving technology, new business models, varying demands from customers and a full focus on quality, safety, and sustainability amongst others. We strive to be in the driver seat of this development, and this is where you come into the picture. We are looking for you who are eager to bring your knowledge from the academia and combine it with real business insight to support us in developing and setting the course for our society’s future electric transport solutions. With this in mind, we have identified the following area for your research during the spring:
Mapping of the mid-term (5-10 years) opportunities and hurdles to establish local supply of battery cell ingoing material (and what are the political implications?)?



However, feel free to pitch your own topic if you have a better idea which you think we need to prioritize to be the world leader in battery purchasing!




Thesis Level: Master

Language: English


Starting date: January 2023


Number of students: 1-2


Tutor
Oskar Robertsson (oskar.robertsson@volvo.com), Purchasing Segment Leader Batteries