India Is Not a Back Office — It’s a Core Engine of Our Global Innovation: Jonas Olsson, Head, Volvo Cars India Tech Hub

As the automotive industry undergoes one of its most significant transformations driven by electrification, artificial intelligence, connected technologies, and autonomous mobility, global carmakers are rethinking how and where innovation happens. For Volvo Cars, India has emerged as a strategic technology hub playing a central role in this evolution. Established in 2021, the Volvo Cars India Tech Hub was created to access world-class engineering talent and embed India directly into the company’s global product and technology development ecosystem.

In this conversation, Jonas Olsson, Head of Volvo Cars India Tech Hub, explains why India is far more than a support centre. He discusses how the hub contributes to architecture, data science, AI, manufacturing applications, and cloud transformation, and why India’s scale, agility, and innovation mindset make it critical to Volvo’s long-term strategy in software-defined vehicles, sustainability, and digital mobility.

How does the India Tech Hub support Volvo Cars’ global technology and product development efforts?

We formally established the Tech Hub at the beginning of 2021. The primary purpose was to gain access to talent, which was becoming increasingly scarce in Europe. Volvo Cars has had a presence in India for a long time in both the digital and engineering spaces, mainly through partners. However, we felt it was crucial to establish our own hub to ensure we had in-house talent here. Bangalore was a natural choice, we have an assembly plant here and many of our digital and IT partners are based here as well.

From the start, it was important for us that the hub was not positioned as a back office or legacy centre. We are an extension of the global organisation. We hold responsibilities in architecture, data science, data engineering, and some of our core manufacturing applications. Several solutions developed here contribute directly to our newest car models, launches, and programs. We are fully integrated into Volvo Cars’ global operations.

If you aim to build a strong global capability center, it’s essential to do it right from the beginning. We wanted to offer full-fledged career paths and attract talent in both legacy and emerging technologies. One of India’s advantages is that it remains a relatively affordable market compared to Western Europe. More importantly, the talent pool is unmatched. With over a million engineering students graduating every year, the scale is comparable to the entire European Union. For us, being present in India was critical, but equally important was sending a clear message that India is not a back office; it is a fully integrated part of our global operations.

Cars today are becoming increasingly software-driven. How are you using technologies like AI, cloud, and data to shape Volvo’s connected and autonomous vehicles?

We have a very clear data and AI strategy. We are running multiple proof-of-concept initiatives across the organisation to ensure AI becomes more than just a buzzword. The key question is: how does AI create real value for Volvo Cars? It helps us become more agile and faster, whether in product development, improving internal process efficiency, or enhancing decision-making quality.

India plays a crucial role here. We have a large team working on data analytics, intelligent automation, and AI, supporting these initiatives and shaping our agenda.

Regarding cloud, we migrated most of our infrastructure to the cloud several years ago. This not only provides cost benefits but also gives us access to world-class services without having to build everything in-house. Of course, there are challenges, AI talent is in high demand globally. But again, India makes a difference due to the strong access to skilled professionals.

What makes India so important for technology and innovation?

It’s not just access to talent, it’s also the mindset. Indian society is highly adaptable. You often face unforeseen situations and must find solutions quickly. That agility and ability to always have a “Plan B” drive innovation, creativity, and speed.

One striking example is how quickly India adapted during COVID. Almost overnight, street vendors adopted QR codes and digital payments. Today, you can move around without a wallet, UPI is accepted almost everywhere. In Europe, that’s not always the case. This rapid adaptability, given the scale of the population, is truly impressive. That mindset is a key advantage when it comes to technology and innovation.

How are you using technology to accelerate the shift toward electric and sustainable mobility?

Sustainability is a challenge for all automotive companies. Volvo Cars has maintained a consistent strategy toward electrification. Our latest models are fully electric, and adoption is growing across markets.

However, challenges remain, especially infrastructure. In countries like India, EVs are often considered a second car because charging infrastructure is not yet widely available. You need to be confident that you can travel from point A to B reliably.

Technology supports not only vehicle development but also infrastructure, particularly charging networks. In markets like India, partnerships between private players and government, both state and central, are essential to drive progress.

Beyond infrastructure, technology is crucial for improving battery life, enhancing recycling and upcycling processes, and advancing overall battery technology. Sustainability will continue to be a major focus for all manufacturers.

With increasing amounts of customer data being collected, how are you ensuring cybersecurity?

Data protection is a global priority. Many regions have introduced regulations, India’s Data Privacy Act, GDPR in the European Union, and similar laws in China. For global organisations, managing how data is transferred and processed across borders is a significant challenge. For example, certain data, like Chinese customer data, may need to remain within that country.

Beyond regulatory compliance, cybersecurity threats are constant. Like most organisations, we experience attempted attacks on our networks. We have a robust cybersecurity team working continuously to secure both data and infrastructure.

We also educate our employees, not just about password policies, but about physical security and responsible behaviour, such as safeguarding devices and being mindful of conversations in public places. Cybersecurity involves governance, compliance, and protection against malicious actors. We address all these aspects rigorously.

What key technology trends will shape the industry?

Sustainability will continue to be a major driver, battery technology, recycling, and charging solutions will evolve further. Safety will also remain central. As vehicles become more autonomous, the focus is shifting toward enabling drivers to rely more on intelligent systems.

Today, Volvo cars already include advanced safety features, automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, seatbelt tightening, and various sensors that intervene when needed. As we move further toward autonomous driving, technology must evolve in sync with human needs.

Ultimately, technology exists to serve people, not the other way around

As the global automotive industry races toward an electric and software-defined future, conversations like this underline a critical shift: innovation is no longer confined to traditional automotive strongholds. Under the leadership of Jonas Olsson, the Volvo Cars India Tech Hub is positioning itself not as a peripheral support unit, but as a strategic driver of global technology development.

From AI and data engineering to electrification and cybersecurity, India’s role in Volvo Cars’ journey reflects a broader transformation in how multinational companies view talent, agility, and scale. If the future of mobility is digital, connected, and sustainable, India appears set to play a defining role in shaping that road ahead.