Scania Logo

Scania Brand History

Scania traces its origins to the Swedish region of Skåne, from which the company name is derived. The brand began as Maskinfabriks Aktiebolaget Scania in Malmö in 1901 and was formally established under the Scania name in 1911. Its enduring symbol is the griffin, taken from the coat of arms of the province of Scania and representing strength, speed, alertness, courage, and royalty.

The griffin head, also called Gripen, has remained the core emblem across more than a century of corporate changes. After decades of mergers the company became fully independent in 1995 and has operated as standalone Scania since then.

Scania Logo Evolution

1. 1901–1911
2. 1911–1969
3. 1969–1984
4. 1984–1995
5. 1995–2017
6. 2017–Present

1901–1911: First Scania Logo

The earliest Scania logo was created for Maskinfabriks Aktiebolaget Scania. It combined a stylized bicycle pedal crank base with a griffin head placed above the wordmark.

• Design: Stylized pedal crank serving as base for griffin head
• Colors: Blue circle, gold lettering, red griffin head
• Changes: Introduction of the griffin symbol drawn from the Skåne coat of arms
• Context: Used during the predecessor company period before the 1911 merger

This version established the visual foundation for the Scania emblem that would evolve over the following decades.

1911–1969: Scania-Vabis Era

The 1911 merger with Vabis produced the Scania-Vabis company name and triggered the first major update to the Scania logo. The griffin became larger and more prominent while the wordmark changed to reflect the new corporate identity.

• Design: Enlarged griffin head combined with bolder lettering
• Colors: Deep blue background with gold lettering and red griffin head
• Changes: Stronger visual emphasis on the griffin symbol
• Context: Represented the merged Scania-Vabis entity that lasted until 1969

During this period the griffin symbol grew in prominence and became firmly associated with the brand’s commercial vehicles.

1969–1984: Saab-Scania Period

The 1969 merger with Saab created the Saab-Scania corporate name. Despite the combined company identity, trucks continued to use a standalone Scania wordmark that featured a clean, modern look.

• Design: Simple wordmark without the full griffin emblem on vehicle applications
• Colors: Rich blue lettering
• Changes: Shift to minimalist sans-serif capital letters
• Context: Corporate name was Saab-Scania while Scania branding remained visible on trucks

This era emphasized simplicity and modernity in the Scania logo while the griffin continued to appear in other brand materials.

1984–1995: Modern Griffin Introduction

Artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd designed the 1984 logo that established the circular emblem format still recognizable today. The griffin head was enlarged and placed within concentric ellipses.

• Design: Circular emblem surrounded by two thin-line ellipses
• Colors: Blue background, red griffin, white lettering
• Changes: Introduction of the refined griffin base design used in later versions
• Context: Created during the Saab-Scania period but became the foundation for the independent brand

This Scania emblem marked a significant modernization while preserving the heraldic griffin symbol.

1995–2017: Independent Scania Refinement

Full independence in 1995 allowed Scania to refine its visual identity. The pedal crank and griffin emblem was updated and the wordmark was positioned directly beneath the circular symbol.

• Design: Cleaner composition with refined griffin and crank elements
• Colors: Traditional red griffin with blue and silver elements
• Changes: Removal of overloaded elements and adoption of the 1969 sans-serif typeface for the nameplate
• Context: Created after separation from Saab to establish a distinct standalone identity

The 1995 redesign produced a sharper, more focused Scania logo that emphasized clarity and heritage.

2017–Present: Contemporary Refresh

A 2017 refresh by Brand Union gave the Scania logo greater depth and modern appeal. The griffin received subtle three-dimensional modeling while the typeface was customized for improved legibility.

• Design: Enhanced three-dimensional griffin head within the established circular format
• Colors: Red griffin with gold or silver crown
• Changes: Updated custom typeface and refined proportions of the emblem
• Context: Latest evolution maintains strong ties to the original heraldic symbol while meeting contemporary design standards

The current Scania emblem balances heritage with modern refinement and remains one of the most recognizable icons in the commercial vehicle industry.

The Enduring Griffin Symbol

The red griffin head with crown forms the unchanging core of the Scania logo across all eras. Early versions used a gold crown to convey royalty and courage while later applications adopted a silver crown to represent strength, speed, and reliability.

The symbol is drawn directly from the coat of arms of the Swedish province of Scania and has been thoughtfully updated through each period of logo evolution. This consistent use of the griffin has helped make the Scania badge one of the most distinctive marks in the heavy vehicle sector.