SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO, BRA.- Every five minutes, a truck rolls off the Scania Brasil production line . However, behind that pace lies an operation that begins long before final assembly and involves the manufacturing of engines , transmissions , axles, and cabs , as well as a complex coordination of workers, suppliers, and technology.
Located in the state of São Paulo, the São Bernardo do Campo plant is one of the Swedish company’s industrial facilities. Its distinguishing feature is that it not only assembles vehicles but also handles a significant portion of the processes necessary for their manufacture, from component production to the final assembly stages.
During a tour of its facilities, carried out within the framework of the tenth edition of Queen On The Road , Scania showed T21 the areas of engine manufacturing, chassis and cab painting, where each process is part of an industrial chain that must function in a coordinated manner.
From engine to final assembly
Before a Scania truck hits the road, its story begins among engines, transmissions, axles, and cabs taking shape in different areas of the factory. In São Bernardo do Campo, much of that process takes place within a single industrial complex, where each component must arrive on time to ensure uninterrupted production.
During the tour, visitors learned how engines are manufactured and assembled, how chassis are worked on, and how cabs go through various stages, including painting, before being incorporated into the vehicle. Behind each unit lies a series of processes that, while seemingly independent, are all part of the same operation.
Suzana Martin, Vice President of Powertrain Production at Scania Brazil, with 31 years of experience, explained that the plant operates with a modular system that allows for the development of more than 1.5 million configurations through different combinations of engines , transmissions, cabs, and wheelbases. In other words, not all trucks that leave this facility are the same: their characteristics are tailored to the needs of each market and transport operation.
And the figures give an idea of the scale of this factory’s operations. During 2025, approximately 24,000 vehicles were produced, of which 12,700 remained in the Brazilian market and 11,300 were exported, according to data shared by the company.
Technology, logistics, and the people behind every truck
While the production lines advance, another operation occurs almost unnoticed: the movement of materials that keeps them supplied. During the visit, autonomous component transport systems , part of the factory’s internal logistics, were observed.
In addition, there is a network of external suppliers and warehouses. Scania has a facility located approximately five kilometers away to receive components, as well as a spare parts center in Vinhedo, a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.
Furthermore, the operation also incorporates measures to make better use of its resources. According to information presented during the tour, approximately 70% of the treated water is reused in production processes , while biomethane is one of the energy alternatives incorporated by the company.
But amidst the machines, engines, and technology, there’s something else that deserves to be told: the people. This plant employs workers with hearing impairments who are integral to the industrial operation, a reality that allows us to view vehicle manufacturing from a different perspective.
The inclusion of these workers has a history. By 2024, the company had 112 employees with some form of disability, 77 of whom had hearing loss.
Most of them performed operational functions. To facilitate their integration, Scania had established training partnerships with the National Service for Industrial Training (Senai), in addition to promoting mentoring programs, Brazilian Sign Language training (Libras), and interpretation tools that facilitated communication within the factory.
However, the challenge doesn’t end with simply opening doors to employment. It also involves creating opportunities for these workers to develop professionally, take on new responsibilities, and continue growing within the industry.
And perhaps that’s one of the most valuable stories to come from a trip to São Bernardo do Campo. Because behind every truck that rolls off the production line, there aren’t just engines, technology, and automated processes. There are also people who, with different skills and backgrounds, make it possible for those trucks to reach the roads.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Karina Quintero / @GrupoT21
