TERRA MOVER works in conjunction with a scouting vehicle and autonomous haulers.
Terra mover
Strategic Design (TD1)
2026
Terra Mover is a ground-based rescue and logistics vehicle developed as part of VOLVO TERRA, a proposal for a dedicated humanitarian and disaster-relief division within Volvo. Designed to address one of the biggest challenges following an earthquake, restoring access to affected areas, Mover enables rescue teams to navigate damaged infrastructure, clear blocked routes, and transport personnel, equipment, and essential supplies where they are needed most. Working alongside Terra Wayfinder, an amphibious vehicle designed for flooded and inaccessible environments, Mover forms part of a coordinated disaster-response system focused on improving mobility during the critical first hours of a crisis. The project demonstrates how Volvo's expertise in construction equipment, transport, and logistics could be leveraged to create more resilient and effective emergency-response operations.
Mission: Coordinated Mobility
Strategic Design | 2026
In this project, students were asked to propose brand-led vehicle concepts for crisis logistics as part of Volvo Construction Equipment's future vision for 2036. Working as strategic design teams, students explored how mobility solutions could support disaster response and recovery while acting as positive brand ambassadors in crisis-affected contexts. The aim was to identify meaningful opportunities where Volvo CE's expertise, sustainability ambitions, and brand values could create value for customers, communities, and society through resilient and scalable mobility systems.
Process
The course began with team-building activities and the establishment of team contracts to support collaboration throughout the project. Students then immersed themselves in Volvo CE's brand, products, and strategic ambitions through a study visit, lectures, and workshops. This phase focused on understanding real-world challenges in disaster response, identifying stakeholder needs, and defining key project parameters.
During the Sense-Making & Strategy phase, each team developed its own strategic framework, design brief, and work plan, outlining target users, design opportunities, project goals, and milestones. This foundation enabled teams to explore distinct directions while ensuring alignment with Volvo CE's values and long-term vision.
The Exploration & Presentation phase encouraged a design workflow that combined 2D and 3D development. Students engaged stakeholders throughout the process to validate requirements and ensure concepts reflected both brand identity and practical needs. Supported by tutoring, lectures, and collaborative ideation sessions, teams developed and communicated their proposals through visualisations, presentations, and design narratives.
Outcome
The outcome was a series of speculative vehicle concepts and coordinated mobility solutions designed to strengthen disaster response and crisis logistics in 2036. Each proposal aimed to demonstrate how Volvo CE could extend its role beyond construction equipment by contributing to resilient, sustainable, and human-centred mobility systems. Final concepts were presented through team pitches, supported by slides, posters, and high-quality 3D visualisations, making a compelling case for further development and future implementation.
Kaloyan Petrov
Master's Programme in Transportation Design
In collaboration with:
The vehicle is designed to cope with the harsh conditions and allows for easy maintenance.
Dimensioned to allow steering on its own while clearing the roads in conjunction with other vehicles.
TERRA MOVER parked after clearing the roads towards the more critically affected area. Design detail: pushing points in the rear for additional torque.
Scoop and conveyor belt ramp can be lifted to allow the Terra Mover to steer independently in the last mile to the disaster zone.
TERRA MOVER in working environment.
The vehicle can be used for a variety of applications, including road construction and maintenance.
