Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Volvo Trucks has announced that it is postponing the start of construction of its planned battery cell factory in Mariestad The parent company Volvo Group intends to manufacture cells there specifically for use in battery-electric heavy commercial vehicles and machines following a change of plan that has since been publicised It is still unclear to what extent the start of series production of the battery cell factory in Mariestad “We don’t know if this will bring any change to the production start/serial production but the aim is to time the ramp-up of production with the demand of battery-electric applications and not build up a much larger operation than the market,” Reuters quotes the company spokesperson as saying the Swedish company hasn’t yet provided any concrete information on the production capacity of the cell factory it has always been stated that the factory’s capacity is to be gradually increased and reach the level of large-scale production by 2030 There are also no more detailed statements on the type of battery cells that will be produced there – for example with regard to cell chemistry or format it was only stated that the battery cells would be developed specifically for commercial vehicle applications and will support “the global introduction of electric trucks construction machinery and electric drives for various applications.” Until now, Volvo Trucks has sourced its battery cells from Samsung SDI. For the FH, FM and FMX electric truck models, the cells from the South Korean supplier are assembled into ready-to-install battery packs by Volvo Trucks in Ghent, Belgium reuters.com, svt.se (in Swedish) I agree with the Privacy policy electrive has been following the development of electric mobility with journalistic passion and expertise since 2013 we offer comprehensive coverage of the highest quality — as a central platform for the rapid development of this technology On behalf of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) Veidekke is to rebuild the Muggebo-Tjos section of the E20 past Mariestad The project is a performance contract valued at approximately SEK 843 million and is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2028 Veidekke's commission includes rebuilding a 12 kilometre section of the E20 along the current route and a new section past Mariestad The road will be designed for a speed of 100 km/h with 2+2 lanes and median separation by guardrails The project also includes reconstruction of the Brodderud interchange a new Hasslerör interchange at the E20/road 26 junction conversion of the existing E20 into a local road a new local road and the renovation and new construction of public and private roads the project links to Veidekke's ongoing construction contract the Hindsberg-Muggebo section on the E20 past Mariestad and extends to the connecting road to the north The contract is included in the Q1 2025 order book Veidekke is one of Scandinavia's largest contractors In addition to undertaking all types of building and civil engineering assignments the group also maintains roads and produces asphalt and aggregates Veidekke emphasises stakeholder involvement and local experience Its annual turnover is approximately NOK 43 billion and half of its 8,000 employees own shares in the company Veidekke is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has posted a profit every year since its inception in 1936 Volvo Group plans to build a battery cell plant in Sweden to mass produce battery packs for its heavy-duty commercial vehicles Volvo says it has already identified “an ideal location” for the factory Mariestad in the Swedish province of Skaraborgs has resulted from “an extensive site localization study” That Mariestad would come out on top has a few reasons: the proximity to Volvo Group’s main powertrain plant in Skövde The company also expects to benefit from the region’s existing industrial and logistics infrastructure and access to renewable energy Volvo Group’s R&D centres and headquarters in Gothenburg are only two hours away Volvo plans to increase capacity and reach large-scale series production by 2030 gradually They will design the battery cells specifically for commercial vehicles but have yet to detail production capacities “There is a strong demand from our customers already today it is our ambition that at least 35% of the products we sell are electric,” said Martin Lundstedt “This ramp-up will require large volumes of high-performing batteries and it is a logical next step for us to include battery production in our future industrial footprint,” he said Lundstedt also mentioned partners but did not disclose who they were Although not part of AB Volvo any longer, Geely-owned Volvo Cars is looking to build its battery cells together with Northvolt. They are reportedly planning a joint factory in Gothenburg As for Volvo Group, the move follows earlier strategic announcements, e.g. their Volvo Trucks business is setting up a dedicated battery assembly in Belgium, as reported “By integrating the battery assembly process in our production flow we can shorten lead times for our customers and secure high-performing batteries while at the same time increase circularity,” said Roger Alm Volvo Trucks’ heavy-duty electric vehicles became available to order in early May The models currently use battery cells delivered by Samsung Volvo Group says it will start series production in Gothenburg in the coming third quarter of this year cision.com Volvo Group announced this month that it intends to establish a large-scale production plant for battery cells in Sweden is engaged in commercial vehicle applications construction equipment (Volvo Construction Equipment) and electric drivelines (Volvo Penta) The company currently produces electric vehicles using battery cells and modules supplied by Samsung SDI The new battery plant will be built together with undisclosed partners we are not sure who will provide the cell technology or even what the target chemistry is after completing an extensive site localization study is interested in the Skaraborg region in Sweden which is considered an ideal location for the plant "The proposed site in the municipality of Mariestad is situated close to the Volvo Group’s current main powertrain plant in Skövde and will benefit from the region’s existing industrial and logistics infrastructure and build on a strong heritage and world-class competence in advanced while having access to Sweden’s rich supply of fossil free energy The Volvo Group’s R&D centers and headquarters in Gothenburg are only two hours away." Volvo Group notes the growing demand for battery electric heavy-duty vehicles and machines The company has already set a target to achieve at least a 35% share of electric products out of its annual sales by 2030 There are two main topics on the table - to secure a large volume (although not that large when compared with the electric car segment) and to get access to cells designed specifically for commercial vehicle applications to maximize performance Later this year, Volvo Trucks will start series production of three new electric truck models in Europe: FH Electric, Volvo FM Electric and Volvo FMX Electric Battery packs for those vehicles will be produced at a new battery assembly plant in Ghent, Belgium, using battery cells and modules from Samsung SDI A single battery pack has a capacity of 90 kWh and depending on the vehicle configuration up to six battery packs can be installed for a total battery system capacity of up to 540 kWh equipped with 540 kWh of batteries are expected to have a range of more than 300 km (186 miles) Why The Slate Truck Doesn’t Use LFP Batteries Waymo Is Far From Done With The Jaguar I-Pace Ford Develops Breakthrough Battery Chemistry After ‘Intense Research’ Ford Isn't Slowing Down Mustang Mach-E Production Stellantis Validates Game-Changing Solid-State Battery After 'Production Hell' The 2025 Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck Is America’s New Range King CATL’s Sodium-Ion EV Battery Loves The Cold  Volvo Group has announced plans to establish a battery plant in Sweden to produce large-scale battery cells for electric trucks.  The battery plant will be built in Mariestad Volvo says the battery cells produced at the plant will be tailored for commercial uses and construction equipment but not passenger cars.  Volvo aims to accelerate decarbonisation goals with the new battery plant as CEO Martin Lundstedt says the company wants at least 35% of its products to be electric by 2030 Volvo Group needs large volumes of high-performing batteries produced through fossil-free energy Volvo will collaborate with local partners in the Skaraborg region to develop the battery plant The site is also only two hours away from Volvo Group's Gothenburg R&D facility enabling access to the region's advanced industrial and logistics infrastructure.  WIKIFLEET is a free collaborative encyclopaedia providing knowledge about car fleet management all over the world Wikifleet The Global Fleet MARKETPLACE is the ONE guide to find fleet & mobility providers worldwide Marketplace directories and magazines in our knowledge center Knowledge Center Want to capture the attention of the International Fleet and Mobility leaders Contact us and become our partner! Contact us Northvolt proceeds with discussions with eight Swedish and two Finnish municipalities to identify the optimal site for a large scale battery production facility local business climate and the ability to attract highly skilled labor have been particularly important in the selection process Northvolt are now proceeding discussions with Gothenburg and with Kotka-Hamina and Vaasa in Finland Electrification and renewable energy storage are key to a carbon neutral society and help free the world’s electricity generation and distribution from coal Northvolt’s aim is to accelerate this transition by building Europe’s largest battery factory The ongoing site-selection process is a central and critical part of the ambitious project “We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest from municipalities and regions across Scandinavia We’ve talked to some forty stakeholders and decided to proceed in discussions with eight Swedish and two Finnish municipalities We’re moving forward swiftly to make sure we’re taking a leading role in the European market” The requirements for Northvolt’s large-scale battery factory are exceptional considering land suitable for industrial activity conditions for environmental and other permits These requirements must be able to be fulfilled within a tight timeframe Northvolt is also evaluating the local labor market Northvolt will hire a large number of highly specialized engineers which adds yet another evaluation criteria as the factory must be located in a region that is attractive to talented professionals A new state-of-the-art industry will be established in the municipality where Northvolt will set up the production facility Northvolt’s assessment is that the battery production alone will employ approximately 2 500 people The overall regional impact will lead to far more job opportunities as the factory will bring an increasing demand for transportation Northvolt will continue with in-depth assessments of the remaining municipalities The aim is to have a decision in place this summer with regards to which sites the company should proceed with for environmental assessments and permitting processes “Let me express the company’s gratitude to all municipalities who have expressed interest in our selection process and to the individuals and representatives of the business community for their enthusiasm Collaboration is necessary to make this project successful We’ve met strong support for our ambitious plan from both the public and private sectors We’re confident that we have a competitive business model in place We have a unique opportunity to build a new industry that will help accelerate the transition into a fossil free society and at the same time contribute to societal development growth and thousands of new jobs,” says Peter Carlsson Northvolt AB ⌁ Alströmergatan 20 SE-112 47, Stockholm, Sweden+46761309427hi@northvolt.com the stray dog who insisted on joining the Swedish World Cup team during an extreme adventure race through Ecuador the dog was determined to stay close to the athletes But that apparently wasn’t enough for the adventurous dog now healed and healthy and living with Mikael Lindnord and his family in Örnsköldsvik he also participated in the charity race Wings for Life World Run Many cheered for Arthur as he ran 18 kilometers (18.6 miles) with Lindnord in Kalmar The celebrity dog joined 100,000 runners in the race that was made tougher by a fierce headwind works as a tour leader and lives much of the year in Nepal she was traveling near the village of Gyaltum Nepal to plan a hike with Swedish tourists Large boulders fell all around the bus she was in She heard people screaming and saw buildings falling apart huddled together with the others and local farmers who cared for each other as one aftershock followed another Adhikari managed to get to Kathmandu and knew she couldn’t return to Sweden on May 10 as planned: The need for help was too great for her to leave Nepal “These people are like my family.” Adhikari quickly collected funds from friends in Sweden through Facebook — funds that will go far It is difficult to get ahold of goods following the earthquake and aid consignments get delayed at the airport; it takes long hours for many sufferers to receive anything at all She went first to the rice farmers in Gyaltum who took care of her after the quake and she'll go with a few friends to other poor villages organic plants and natural resources around it including Frantzén in Stockholm and Daniel Berlin in Skåne-Tranås; Oaxen Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen and Ekstedt Sweden also made the list journalists and other food ambassadors who travel the world to eat Results are based on over 140,000 reviews compiled by the jury (www.opinionatedaboutdining.com) Metsä Group’s tissue and greaseproof paper business is investing in three new state-of-the-art converting lines for folded and rolled tissue paper to its mill in Mariestad The investment will enable large scale high quality hand towel production in Scandinavia In addition it entails efficiency and energy savings as well as improved working environment and safety The investments are part of the company´s expansion and modernisation investment in Mariestad and strategic Future Mill programme aimed at world-class environmental and operational performance Metsä is investing SEK 4.2 billion (EUR 370 million) in the expansion and modernization of the Mariestad tissue paper mill and the new converting lines are part of this extensive project The expansion is focused on sustainable fresh fibre production where the total share of fresh fibre-based products produced at the mill will be 80 % after the expansion is completed in the second half of 2025 has been commissioned to deliver two new converting lines to produce rolled tissue papers for the consumer market and C.G Bretting Manufacturing Co. to deliver one converting line for folded paper towels for professional use The new converting lines have a total capacity of 70,000 tons of tissue paper "The state-of-the-art converting lines with high-efficiency components ensure optimal performance and productivity Our converting lines feature highly automated and high-quality rewinding machines fostering a safer and more efficient working environment the latest folding machine opens doors for us to explore and develop new exciting products Metsä's mill in Mariestad produces tissue products sold under the Serla The new tissue lines are planned to be commissioned in the second and third quarter of 2025 The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the investments Metsä Group’s Tissue and Greaseproof Papers business produces hygiene products for households and professionals and greaseproof papers for food preparation and packaging Our high-quality locally produced brands ­– Lambi Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by around 90,000 Finnish forest owners the municipality of Mariestad presented its plans to build the world's first solar-powered gas station for hydrogen It will be the fuel cell system from PowerCell Sweden AB (publ) that will generate the power to run the station Mariestad opened a hydrogen station and today an agreement was signed to build an innovative system for local solar production of hydrogen It will be the fuel cell system from PowerCell that will generate electricity from hydrogen to make the station self-sufficient on energy "It is urgent to phase out fossil fuels and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide The solution is to use new technology and renewable energy as much as possible The Mariestad municipality's investment is an important step for this development" Mariestad is establishing a complete system where electricity from solar energy is used to produce hydrogen The hydrogen is stored and can thereafter power two PowerCell PS-5 fuel cell systems of 5 kW each to generate electricity and heat to drive the gas station The project is carried out together with Nilsson Energy AB has for long been using PowerCell's fuel cell technology and has very good experience of the PowerCell PS-5 from his own house at the opening of the tank station in Mariestad Chairman of the City Council (M) in Mariestad signs the agreement together with Pontus Lundgren Mariestad's commissioner,oversees the procedure (IMG_5520) Outside the hydrogen station in Mariestad: Pontus Lundgren Project Manager at Test and demonstration site Mariestad Director Marketing & Communications, PowerCell Sweden AB (publ)Phone: +46 (0) 72 502 40 40Email: charlotta.sahlin@powercell.se PowerCell Sweden AB (publ) develops and produces fuel cell stacks and systems for stationary and mobile applications with a world class power density and produce electricity and heat with no emissions other than water they are easily adjusted to any customer need PowerCell was founded in 2008 as an industrial spinout from the Volvo Group The share (PCELL) is since 2014 subject to trade at Nasdaq First North Stockholm with G&W Fondkommission as Certified Adviser Valmet will supply a new tissue production line with the latest technology to Metsä Tissue’s mill in Mariestad The delivery also includes an extensive package of stock preparation The order is part of Metsä Tissue’s development program ”Future Mill” aiming for world class environmental and technological performance in tissue production The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2023 The value of the order will not be disclosed Valmet and Metsä Tissue have a long history of cooperation Recently the PM 10 machine at the customer’s Mänttä mill in Finland was successfully rebuilt In the past few years Valmet has also supplied a series of energy saving and efficiency upgrades to Metsä Tissue’s other mills including Advantage ReDry energy saving solutions we will increase the offering of locally produced sustainable virgin fiber-based tissue paper to the Scandinavian market It enables reliable local deliveries of high-quality tissue to the consumers The new technology brings big environmental benefits we can reduce the process water in the paper making process by 50 percent,” says Esa Paavolainen ”It’s a pleasure to get the opportunity to contribute to the establishment of a completely new tissue mill in Sweden We are honored to be trusted in delivering a tissue line with the latest technology to Metsä Tissue in Mariestad Our long history of collaboration is an excellent foundation for a successful project execution,” says Jari Vähäpesola The new tissue machine will have a design speed of 2,200 m/min and is optimized for low energy consumption and enhanced quality of the final product Valmet’s scope of delivery will comprise a complete tissue production line featuring full stock preparation with bale handling and a Valmet Advantage DCT 200 TS tissue machine with latest technology for high efficiency low energy and water consumption and reduced CO2 emissions Furthermore, the delivery will include Valmet quality control and monitoring system Valmet will also supply start-up clothing as well as master maintenance data services and remote support from Valmet’s Performance Center The new line will add 70,000 tons of tissue made from virgin fiber to the mill’s current production The mill’s total annual capacity will increase to 145,000 tons Metsä Tissue creates a cleaner everyday life It is one of the leading tissue paper suppliers to households and professionals in Europe and one of the leading greaseproof paper suppliers globally Metsä Tissue is part of Metsä Group Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries Our 17,500 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet Valmet’s net sales in 2022 were approximately EUR 5.1 billion Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo has made a decision to invest in world leading environmental performance in tissue production by modernising and expanding Metsä Tissue’s Mariestad tissue paper mill in Sweden The investment will increase the availability of locally and sustainably produced tissue products in the Scandinavian market in which approximately 40% of tissue usage is currently imported The value of the investment is EUR 370 million and it is one of the largest in the tissue business in Europe and the largest within Metsä Tissue. The construction works will start during spring 2023 and the renewed mill is planned to be operational in the second half of 2025 ”Tissue production is local and it is not sustainable to transport tissue products across long distances These daily necessity products need to be available in all situations and sustainable local production helps to safeguard the security of supply in the market This investment aims at just that – availability of sustainable which is currently one of the largest net importers of tissue finished goods in Europe We are proud to develop this business to even more sustainable and locally driven to make what we think are the best tissues in the world available to consumers in all situations” Serla and Katrin tissue products for both consumer and professional use and the current capacity will be doubled to approximately 145,000 t/a After the expansion the mill will have a new modern tissue paper machine with the capacity of 70,000 t/a Also a fully automated warehouse for finished goods and raw material handling will be built as well as a new office facility lower emissions and improved noise and odor plans used as design criteria in the new expansion Through this investment Metsä Tissue will be hiring around 100 people at the mill before the new extension is in operation will be multiskilled production workers with technical competences like Production Engineers and Automation Specialists, will begin already this year the total employment impact is estimated to be around 2,000 person-years Manufacturing at the mill will continue normally during the expansion The event can also be watched on YouTube on Metsä Group’s profile Follow Metsä Tissue: Twitter LinkedIn  The Land and Environment Court in Vänersborg (Mark- och Miljödomstolen vid Vänersborgs tingsrätt) in Sweden has today granted an environmental permit to the modernisation and expansion of the Katrinefors Mill of Metsä Tissue The next step in the process is the preparation of the final investment decision by Metsä Group The decision on the environmental permit is received with contentment at Metsä Tissue who will next analyse the details of the decision and prepare for the decision making related to the investment The company estimates that readiness to decide on the investment will be possible during the first half of 2023 The preparations of the Katrinefors Mill investment is part of Metsä Tissue´s Future Mill Programme to drive world class environmental performance in tissue production The now obtained permit would allow for an increased annual production capacity from today’s 75 000 tonnes to 145 000 tonnes of fresh fibre based tissue papers and provide 50-100 additional jobs to the mill Metsä Tissue would be a forerunning company in investing into the tissue industry in Sweden and Scandinavia helping to safeguard the security of supply in essential hygiene tissue products Katrinefors Mill has a long history and tradition in Mariestad and the mill is a major private employer in the region with strong roots in the Swedish tissue paper industry heritage since 1765 The mill produces the leading tissue paper brands Katrin The investment in the modernisation and expansion of the Katrinefors Mill would be one of the largest in Metsä Tissue’s history We are one of the leading tissue paper suppliers in Europe to households and professionals and one of the leading greaseproof paper suppliers globally Follow Metsä Tissue: Twitter LinkedIn Instagram The rail freight sector in Sweden is currently facing significant challenges The latest development is the interruption of freight traffic along the Mariestad-Värö railway The line was served by Green Cargo trains carrying pulp that was then sent to Germany and Eastern Europe these volumes have now fully shifted to road transport as Green Cargo halted its services Become a member of RailFreight Premium and get full access to all our premium content Log in Marco Raimondi is an editor of RailFreight.com the online magazine for rail freight professionals is taking the first steps in a project to optimise the handling of longer freight trains.… What seemed like a somewhat easy locomotive recovery procedure led to a derailment which will keep the Skopje-Thessaloniki line Rail freight traffic along the Genoa-Milan axis in northern Italy will be disrupted between 1 June and 28 September 2025 due to the renovation of… the rail project between Oman and the United Arab Emirates has awarded key contracts for its construction and exploitation The contracts include construction… Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment Vinod Hindocha and his wife Nilam said they had travelled to Cape Town from their home in Mariestad "We have prepared a laminated photograph of Anni and cards from family members which we will lay at the spot in the township where her body was found,'' said Mr Hindocha A Hindu priest will accompany the couple to Khayelitsha township and is expected to perform a short blessing The shrine will be decorated with lanterns and flowers including a heart-shaped wreath featuring 28 red roses – one for each year of the Swedish engineer's life South African prosecutors have applied for the extradition from Britain of Anni's husband is next due before City of Westminster magistrates' court on 23 March Three days have been set aside for his extradition hearing from 3 May South African prosecutors said they wished to apply for Dewani's bail to be reversed after what they interpreted as an apparent suicide attempt Dewani has denied any involvement in the murder of his wife on 13 November last year during their honeymoon a Cape Town court delayed the trial of two alleged hitmen until 1 June Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni are accused of abducting and killing Hindocha after a car hijacking entered into a plea bargain deal with the South African state and named Dewani as the instigator of the crime Vinod Hindocha is in South Africa for the second time since his daughter's murder but his wife is there for the first time He said being in Cape Town was "incredibly painful and at the same time helpful'' for his wife I don't know how she has survived this ordeal so far," he said By GEORGE ARBUTHNOTT Updated: 16:14 BST says she refused to sit next to her husband on their honeymoon flight The British tourist murdered in South Africa burst into tears and refused to sit next to her husband as they flew off on their honeymoon was shot dead when she and her new husband Shrien were hijacked by robbers as their taxi drove through a notorious township in Cape Town added to the mystery surrounding the case when he telephoned The Mail on Sunday and said: ‘We have heard that the air hostess noticed they were sitting separately and Anni was crying The air hostess apparently asked Anni if she would like to sit with Shrien It is not clear where this information originated from or indeed how it was passed to Anni’s family it is something you will have to check out.’ denied there was any hostility between the couple However her statement did not refute the allegation that Anni had been crying She said: ‘Any suggestion that there was hostility between the couple on the aeroplane or at any other point during the honeymoon is completely false.’ She added: ‘The Dewani family are upset about the Press intrusion into their grief at this very difficult time.’ had failed to return to Cape Town to try to identify the hijackers A South African newspaper has claimed detectives want him to return to South Africa for questioning and two local men have been charged with murder and robbery Mr Dewani has strenuously denied any involvement in the death of his wife the public relations adviser hired by Mr Dewani said his client was not a formal suspect and would not be travelling back to Cape Town He said Mr Dewani was ‘under sedation’ after the shock of what he had been through Yesterday Mr Hindocha described how the murder had damaged his relationship with Mr Dewani He said: ‘If Anni was alive today then our relationship would have been strong like father and son I think he should go back to South Africa and point out the culprits.’ Witness: An air hostess has apparently claimed that Anni Dewani burst into tears on the flight with her husband Mr Hindocha said he flew to Cape Town to join Mr Dewani and his father hours after learning his daughter had been killed ‘Shrien came up to me with tears in his eyes and said “I couldn’t take care of your daughter as I promised.” ‘He then described how they had been kidnapped after he had been thrown out of the window ‘But later they were doing everything without me Shrien was doing all the paperwork in a different room I was shocked that they weren’t telling me what was happening.’ said neither the South African police nor British or Swedish embassies had contacted him in the 10 days since he left Cape Town He also revealed that Mr Dewani had told his daughter before the wedding that he had been engaged before but did not say why it was broken off He said the marriage between Anni and Mr Dewani was not arranged and her family had not paid a dowry to the Dewani family during the lavish wedding held in Mumbai in September which is understood to have cost in the region of £200,000 Mr Hindocha said: ‘We are part of the Lohana caste and dowries do not exist in our culture If I want to give him something it is up to me.’ has strictly denied any involvement in her murder He added: ‘Anni and Shrien were introduced by relatives in England about 14 months ago but my daughter had to make up her own mind I never spoke to Shrien’s family before the engagement – my daughter did not want us to meet the parents until she was sure Mr Dewani is based in Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol where he runs a chain of care homes The couple had planned to settle in the West Country Mr Hindocha described the moment his family heard the taxi carrying Anni had been hijacked He said he spoke to his daughter on the phone just a couple of hours before the attack and she had assured him she was having a ‘lovely time’ ‘Anni’s father-in-law rang around midnight and said “Your daughter is kidnapped but Shrien is fine.” At that moment my wife knew rang and said he had arranged tickets for a plane from Gothenburg where I was to catch my connecting flight to Cape Town and I switched my phone on and called home Before I could say anything they were crying and I knew she was dead.’ First witness: Simbonile Matokazi found Shrien Dewani after the robbery and subsequent murder of the latter's wife A witness who encountered Shrien Dewani minutes after he was dumped by his wife’s killers has cast new light on the millionaire businessman’s account of what happened says the businessman did not appear to have been thrown from the car on to sand Neither does Mr Matokazi’s testimony support the 30-year-old’s later assertion that he was dragged ‘struggling and screaming’ out of the passenger window He said Mr Dewani ‘had a suit on and a nice shirt underneath’ and looked neither ruffled nor bruised Mr Matokazi’s observations were endorsed by a police source closely involved in the investigation ‘The officer who reached him [Mr Dewani] said that it didn’t look like he was hurt,’ said the source ‘It didn’t look like Mr Dewani had been in a struggle After dropping off some friends at the airport Mr Matokazi – who was with his wife – was about to park his car when he saw Mr Dewani staggering between some roadside shacks is there a nearby police station where I can report a hijack because my wife and I were hijacked” I asked a few questions about how long he had been out of the car ‘I asked him what kind of car they were driving and he didn’t know Mr Matokazi said he then called the police My wife was worried that the hijackers would rape his wife but I told her not to say that loud because it would upset him more.’ Mr Dewani claimed that he had been ‘kicked’ out of the car on to sand Asked if he appeared to have been dragged out of the car But Mr Matokazi insisted that Mr Dewani seemed believable: ‘I even said if he was an actor then he must have been a good actor they asked Mr Dewani for the registration number of the taxi and he said he could get it by ringing his family in London The police source said: ‘He tried to phone his family from the officer’s phone but he could only make local calls ‘So Mr Dewani said we must take him straight to the hotel It seems as if maybe the family hired the car for Mr Dewani ‘Every time the officer tried to ask him questions ‘The officer would wait for Mr Dewani to calm down and then ask him again Shrien Dewani was previously engaged to the daughter of a tycoon who founded the Indian budget airline SpiceJet In February 2009 Mr Dewani suddenly cancelled plans for the wedding It was around this time that he began dating Anni after meeting her through a relative in London They married in a lavish ceremony in Mumbai a few weeks ago Her father is multi-millionaire businessman Bhupendra Kansagra – who met Barack Obama when the US President visited India last month Last night Mr Kansagra refused to comment on the engagement between his daughter and Mr Dewani He said: ‘I don’t want to get involved in this Miss Kansagra also refused to comment but a friend of the family said: ‘Shrien suddenly broke off the whole thing and she begged him not to He was a bit too showy and bit too full of himself They are still angry at him for breaking off the engagement The friend added: ‘Shrien was money-orientated Bhupendra Kansagra was one of the founding chief executives of SpiceJet with a fleet of 22 aircraft and 66 more on order Mr Kansagra and his brother Suresh had a 13 per cent share in the company It is believed SpiceJet has a current market value of £160 million Mr Kansagra is now involved in the agriculture They mutually decided not to get married in February 2009 the relationship with his ex-fiancee did not end acrimoniously.’ The comments below have been moderated in advance We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group The Local Europe ABVästmannagatan 43113 25 StockholmSweden 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