Mr. Samuelsson, you will experience the most exciting Phase of its over 30-year-old Manager’s career?
Yes, the first electric vehicle of Volvo experience, is for me a very special Moment. I’ll probably remember all my life.
Has influenced the global CO2 debate your decision for the electrification of Volvo?
Yes, he will certainly be a vehicle that will replace the Volvo, the topics of internal combustion engines and security through sustainability and electrification. We enter a fast-growing market and claim to be here first and foremost with this.
Is the XC40 Recharge a corresponding Gamechanger for Volvo?
In some ways Yes, because around this important topic, only the summit and the discussions stop, is not enough to meet. Now companies such as Volvo, the real actions are required. We have recognized that it is not the economic growth in the automotive business is a Problem, but its sustainability. Therefore, the electrification with Plug-in hybrids and purely electric drives – more of that in our company. We believe that this step will benefit all.
Håkan Samuelsson, The former Chairman of the Executive Board of MAN AG, since October 2012, head of the Volvo Car Corporation. Photo: PD
it Is launching the correct decision, the first electric vehicle produced by Volvo as a large and correspondingly heavy SUV?
Here you have to pull the entire magnitude considered. Much more important than the shape and Size of the vehicle, the fact that it drives purely electrically is. An electric SUV is always more sustainable than a SUV with a conventional internal combustion engine.
The XC40 Recharge will cost about 70’000 Swiss francs and also in the production have to be expensive. Why build it in China, but in Belgium?
The differences in production costs between Belgium and China are not as big as you would imagine. In China, the work costs are lower, but the transportation and import duties in Europe are the same as the advantage of practically. Europe is quite good to protect the domestic market with duties.
what are the competitors you are targeting with the XC40 Recharge?
It is above all the three German manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes, which we respect, because they are really good. If the Germans want something, then you are very efficient at it. Maybe we are a little more flexible and faster in our range because our range is so large as those of the competitors.
Soon, the three brands-Volvo, Polestar and Lynk & Co from the Chinese Volvo parent company Geely in Europe. What is the strategy behind?
Presumably, the ratio of our brands will be in the future, similar to that between VW, Audi and Skoda in the VW group. Polestar is a level more Premium than a Volvo, something advanced, pure electric, and in the technological developments leading the way. And Lynk & Co is the brand for price-conscious customers. All three share the same vehicle platforms.
to invest when Volvo stops completely, in internal combustion engines?
At Volvo, soon, but, together with our Chinese parent company Geely, we establish a new engine manufacturing company with research in Gothenburg, as well as production sites in Europe and China, which produce exclusively for internal combustion engines for the world market, with a capacity of 600’000 to over two million.
the diesel engine, you are no longer on offer in Switzerland today, Volvo is definitely history?
We present no new vehicle models with diesel engines, our diesel offer will expire with the existing model generations of the V60 or V90. When that is so far, time will tell. It is important for me to say: today’s diesel engines are very clean, but unfortunately also very expensive, even more expensive than our mild-hybrid petrol engines.
what is the future of Volvo in respect of electric mobility?
by 2025, we will reduce the CO2 footprint of our vehicle range compared to 2018 by 40 per cent. Our goal is to be up to 2040 fully CO2-neutral, both in the operation of the vehicles, as well as in their production and raw material procurement.
Then Volvo will offer 2040 only electric cars?
The time from which we will not offer any internal combustion engines and more, depends on the demand and how fast the charging infrastructure in the world is built. Realistically, our hybrid vehicles will be a long time yet years available. Our Vision 2040 provides, however, that we are up to then CO2-free. The means: then, at the Latest, we can offer no gas more.
Created: 21.10.2019, 18:24 PM
