JUNE 2026

Dear friends of SACC-DC,

When it became clear, in the very last minute, that the Swedish football team had qualified for the World Cup in the US (along with Mexico and Canada), many Swedes were reminded of the magical summer of 1994, when Sweden won the bronze medal. During this year’s tournament, the Swedish team performed as they often do - mixing weaker performance with moments of top-class play. Somehow, they made it through the group stage and into the knockout phase. Unfortunately, the summer of 2026 did not match the success of 1994. Sweden was clearly outplayed and lost fairly to an excellent France team in their first knockout match. In other words, Swedes must continue to hope and dream that Isak, Gyökeres, Elanga, Ayari, and the rest of the team will one day earn the same legendary status as the heroes of 1994, perhaps in the next World Cup. During the tournament, our board member Peter Borsos, together with friends and family, organized watch parties during the Swedish games. These were greatly appreciated by all Swedes in the DC area. Thank you for organizing them!

Since the signing of the Tech Prosperity Deal (TPD) last month, the agreement has become something of a “talk of the town.” In other words, it has gained significant attention and presents many potential opportunities. In this newsletter, our members Alfa Laval and SAAB share their initial thoughts on the agreement. In addition, the Embassy of Sweden has kindly provided their perspective as well.

In June, I had the privilege of visiting our member company Ovzon, a Swedish firm specializing in satellite telecommunication. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to both Pål Ekberg and Tom Hopkins at Ovzon for welcoming me and for sharing your lessons learned, as well as Ovzon’s journey in adapting from yesterday’s Global War on Terror requirements to today’s far more technologically advanced battlefield demands. The visit also inspired me to conduct these kinds of company visits more frequently. In other words, don’t be surprised if I reach out to you in the near future.

Speaking of member companies, SAS has recently placed the largest aircraft order in its history, purchasing 40 wide-body planes. According to its press release, this marks “a significant step in the airline’s long-term ambition to strengthen connectivity between Scandinavia and the world.” Personally, I’m very excited that all the aircraft are wide-body planes. Since I have kids, this will make the already great travel experience with SAS even more enjoyable. (Read more here)

SAS is not the only member with positive news. In Prince William County, Sandberg Development (owner of Aimpoint, among others) is building its new U.S. headquarters. Construction is expected to take four years, and once completed, it will allow Sandberg Development to double its workforce in the U.S. (Read more here)

Regarding SACC-DC events, planning for both the Crayfish Party and the SACC DC Open is still ongoing. Once again, Volvo Group North America will kindly sponsor the beloved Crayfish event. In this newsletter, we are pleased to share insights from Jonathan Miller of Volvo Group North America about their business in the U.S.

As for the SACC DC Open, we would still appreciate additional sponsorship from our valued member companies. Please remember that sponsorship is not required to participate. However, participation is also not required to sponsor it. 😊

Registration for both the Crayfish event and the SACC DC Open will open this week on our website. Individual members are kindly asked to ensure that their membership has been paid within the last 12 months. As a membership-driven nonprofit organization, SACC-DC must follow up with participants who paid as a member but are not current members.



After this newsletter is published, the SACC-DC staff will take some time off. As usual, this means the newsletter will also take a short break, returning to your inbox at the end of August.

Finally, I wish all members a pleasant summer. I will spend part of mine back home in Sweden - of course traveling with our member company SAS.

Warm regards, 

Robert Andersson

Executive Director

As one of Sweden’s largest industrial players in the United States, Volvo Group North America sits at the intersection of manufacturing, innovation, and public policy. With a broad footprint across multiple states and a strong presence in Washington, D.C., the company plays an active role in shaping conversations around infrastructure, regulation, and the future of transportation.



In this interview, we speak with Senior Vice President Public Affairs Jonathan Miller to gain insights into Volvo Group’s U.S. operations, key policy priorities, and how the company is navigating major shifts in areas such as autonomous vehicles and sustainable transport.

Can you briefly introduce Volvo Group?

We’re a truck, bus, construction equipment, marine, and industrial engine manufacturer, with a captive finance company. Trucks are the main part of our business—about two-thirds globally and in the United States. Our brands here are Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks.

In the U.S., we assemble Mack Trucks in Pennsylvania and Virginia, Volvo Trucks in Virginia, and engines, axles, and transmissions in Maryland, Volvo construction equipment in Pennsylvania, Volvo Penta marine gas engine and sterndrive systems in Tennessee, and Proterra batteries in South Carolina. We also sell Prevost motor coaches, and Nova transit buses assembled in Canada. Altogether, we have about 14,000 employees in the United States, which is our largest market by country globally.

We have production facilities in several states, mostly along the East Coast, where most of our employees live and work. That presence allows us to work closely with elected officials. They tend to listen more when you have constituents in their districts. 

How has your work evolved over time?

When I started, I was doing it all myself. Over time, we have built out a team and brought in external support, which allows us to engage on more issues in more places.

We have had presidents from both parties visit us, and that reflects the importance of our operations. Having Mack Trucks—an iconic American brand—and being headquartered in Sweden, with strong U.S.-Sweden relations, also helps.

What are the key policy challenges today?

Federal Infrastructure funding is a major issue. It relies heavily on gasoline and diesel fuel taxes (which hasn't been updated since 1993). As a result, the Highway Trust Fund is under pressure.

Permitting is another challenge—getting approvals for infrastructure projects can take years, which slows everything down.

What are your main priorities going forward?

Autonomous vehicles are a big focus. We’re already running trucks on highways in Texas, with safety drivers, and working toward fully autonomous operations on designated routes. Safety is our top priority, and we’re taking a deliberate approach with built-in redundancies.

We’re also focused on alternative drivelines. Battery-electric trucks have been on the market for several years, but challenges remain around charging infrastructure, power demand, and cost. We’re also exploring hydrogen and renewable fuels, though each comes with its own challenges.

What advice would you give to students and Young Professionals interested in this field?

Go where policy and business intersect—Washington, Brussels, Stockholm. Work in government, for a trade association, or a think tank. That’s usually the best way to get started.