The recent transition from an individual brand focus to one TRATON GROUP has also seen a key shift in central service divisions, such as Finance. Product Cost Controlling teams, which also used to be separate, brand-specific entities, are now part of a fully integrated, cross-functional product cost organization. Sub-teams, including powertrain, e-mobility and CAB electronics are now all market-focused to serve the whole TRATON GROUP.
Embracing change and sharing knowledge
Emma Karlsson became Head of Product Cost CAB/EE in June 2025. She and her team have been adjusting to the ongoing changes – and driving them further forward. Product cost controllers from Scania and MAN were the first to join the new setup and those from International and the team at Volkswagen Truck & Bus in Brazil will follow soon. Karlsson is convinced the new combined TRATON GROUP approach is the right way. She says, “We can now rethink how we work and create bridges between Finance, R&D and other cross-functional divisions in the future to share knowledge and set up new processes. This is what I’m most excited about.”
Combining experience and learning together
The new structure aligns with TRATON’s vision of transforming transportation together, with clear benefits of greater collaboration across the Group. The integration of brand functions into a unified organization sends a clear message: In a world where efficiency and collaboration are the keys to future success, transformation is essential.
And, as with all teams undergoing major change, the product cost controllers have also embarked on an exciting learning journey together. Each are finding out from one another what has worked well to address challenges in the past – with a view to retaining this valuable knowledge – and which old processes it is time to let go of. Karlsson says of this, “It has taken some time for us to take off the brand hat and realize that our old way of doing things wasn’t always the best way. But now we have this wonderful unique opportunity to combine all our experience and expertise, take all the positive lessons and create something really good together.”
Shifting the perspective towards a new shared vision
Karlsson’s team, based across two locations, Södertälje in Sweden and Munich in Germany, are already enjoying the advantages of working as one TRATON GROUP by gaining deeper insights into the various business areas through the new Group-wide perspective. Recognizing common challenges and requirements has revealed possibilities for streamlining processes for improved efficiency and cooperation. “For example,” says Karlsson, “we have initiated a lot more Make or Buy analyses, as well as conceptual option evaluations, while benefitting from the commonalities of effects on the product cost, and how we track and monitor changes or deviations in the process.”
As TRATON continues to develop technologies for the future in CAB and electronics, the demands placed on teams are also shifting. Now, all functions are involved at a much earlier stage of project development than in the past, the pace of projects has increased, while cost and risk analysis have expanded. Karlsson says of TRATON’s next chapter and beyond, “Now all functions have a shared view of what we want to achieve, and how. I think, as development gets faster, there will be more benchmarking and competitor analysis across the markets. This is how we will maintain our volume share and secure our margin in the future.”
