Volvo Trucks North America subjected its all-new Volvo VNL to one of the most extreme vehicle validation programs in the world: cold weather testing in the unforgiving winter landscape of Fairbanks, Alaska, where temperatures routinely drop to 40 degrees below zero. The goal was to ensure the next generation of Volvo’s flagship truck delivers unmatched performance, reliability, and comfort—no matter the conditions.
“Alaska is one of the harshest places on Earth to operate a truck, and that is exactly why we are here,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “We test in extreme environments so when our customers face unpredictable conditions, they can count on their Volvo to perform.”
Each winter, Volvo’s cold weather testing team drives more than 3,000 miles from Colorado to Alaska to conduct real-world testing that goes far beyond the lab. Over several months, the all-new VNL truck is pushed through a wide range of driving scenarios and temperature swings to validate vehicle performance and comfort. From long-haul highway routes to stop-and-go city driving, each scenario is designed to mirror the demanding environments customers face every day and simulate real-world customer operations.
Professional drivers, many with decades of experience navigating Alaska’s toughest terrain, provide detailed daily feedback to Volvo’s test team. That insight, combined with real-time performance data, helps engineers fine-tune every aspect of the truck, from powertrain responsiveness to in-cab comfort.
One critical testing procedure, known as a “cold soak,” involves leaving the truck outside overnight with the engine off until every component reaches subzero temperatures. After 12 hours at negative 20 to negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit, engineers expect the truck to start up and operate exactly as a driver would need it to in the real world.
“The all-new VNL was designed to change everything and that includes how we approach testing and refinement in real-world conditions - to challenge our trucks and gain insights that would be impossible to replicate in a lab,” said Voorhoeve. “What we learn in Alaska helps us deliver a truck that is not only innovative but proven where it matters most: on the road, in the real world, and in the hands of our customers.”
The all-new Volvo VNL was designed specifically for North American landscapes, drawing inspiration from five uniquely American “biomes”—urban, desert, prairie, coastal forests, and Arctic tundra. This environmental influence ensures the truck is ready for coast-to-coast operations that can span 3,000 miles and multiple climates.
The Volvo Trucks team pushed the all-new Volvo VNL through a wide range of driving scenarios and temperature swings to validate vehicle performance and comfort.
VIDEO: Volvo Trucks — Cold Weather Test of the VNL
July 17, 2025
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Volvo Trucks North America, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, is one of the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers in North America. Its Uptime Services commitment is delivered by a network of nearly 400 authorized dealers across North America and the 24/7 Volvo Trucks Uptime Center. Every Volvo truck is assembled in the Volvo Trucks New River Valley manufacturing facility in Dublin, Virginia, which meets the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, 14001 standard for environmental care and holds a dual ISO 50001/Superior Energy Performance certification at the platinum level, indicating a sustained excellence in energy management. Volvo Trucks North America provides complete transport solutions for its customers, offering a full range of diesel, alternative-fuel and all-electric vehicles, and is part of the Volvo Trucks global organization.
Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for discerning professional customers with its full range of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Customer support is provided via a global network of dealers with 2,200 service points in about 130 countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 12 countries across the globe. In 2024 approximately 134,000 Volvo trucks were delivered worldwide. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Trucks’ work is based on the core values of quality, safety and environmental care.