Master thesis - battery value chain

Master Thesis at Volvo Group Purchasing – Current state of the battery value chain

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?

The Purchasing Energy Storage System (ESS) team
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 be a part of developing and setting the course for our society’s future electric transport solutions together with us.

As part of Volvo Group Purchasing, the Purchasing ESS team is responsible to drive the business relationship with existing and potential supply partners and ensure the performance of the commodity from Quality, Delivery, Cost, Features, Technology, Sustainability and Risk Management (QDCF-TSR) standpoint. We consider the supply chain as a network of multiple players and one of our top priorities is to establish resiliency in the supply chain.
You'll be supporting a team of purchasing professionals located in Gothenburg, though being composed of multi-cultural profiles.

Description of thesis work
The master thesis will be performed in close collaboration with segment leader within the Purchasing ESS team, but also with other stakeholders within the Volvo Group.

Topic: With the electrification of the transportation industry, the automotive supply chain is changing at a magnitude and speed never seen before. The battery value chain is one of the ecosystems that is very active with the expansion of traditional battery manufacturers outside Asia, the outbreak of new entrants’ such as battery cell manufacturers in Europe and North America not forgetting the fast vertical integration happening upstream and/or downstream in the value chain. In this context, the Purchasing ESS team would like to get a deeper understanding of the battery value chain from mining to recycling and its dynamics in order to predict its future state. Eventually as an OEM and with our strategic partners, we want to have the business knowledge to know how, where and when to act in this complex and fascinating ecosystem.

Here are two ideas of our expectations for this project:
1. Mapping of the battery value chain
You are expected to make a full mapping of the value chain from mining to recycling. That implies identifying the various players and their strategic priorities in terms of geographical expansion, capacity plan and partnership as well as vertical integration of upstream and/or downstream activities.
2. Volvo Group’s strategic in the dynamic battery value chain
Based on a clear visibility of the value chain, we would like you to look at its dynamics, dependencies and challenges that underpin its future state. What is the right position and strategy for the Volvo Group in the dynamic battery value chain? How to achieve this position?
We would be happy to engage in a dialog and potentially redefine the scope of the research with you.

Suitable background
The ideal student(-s) will possess good communications skills in English, shows a high level of initiative, is self-driven, has excellent analytical capabilities.
Knowledge within the automotive industry and battery value chain is not mandatory but will be considered as an advantage.

Are you curious to hear more about the position? Or the department? Or do you have other questions? Contact any of us:
Julien Dumazert (julien.dumazert@volvo.com), Purchasing Segment Leader Batteries
Daphne Peres (daphne.peres@volvo.com), Raw Material Electromobility Specialist

Thesis Level
Master thesis

Number of students
1 or 2 students

The thesis can start September 2022 and run for one semester.

Language
English

Please note:
- This assignment is a student thesis. In order for your application to be considered you should currently be a university student eligible to complete a Master thesis as part of your university program.
- Students can apply by themselves or in an already formed group.
- Below presented topics are to be defined based on existing information and suggestions by all involved parties.