European Automakers Face Pressure as Volvo CEO Defends Emissions Ban
The European Union’s plan to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 has sparked growing resistance from the automotive industry, but Håkan Samuelsson, the CEO of Swedish carmaker Volvo, is standing firm in his support for the measure. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Samuelsson warned against backing down from the plan, saying, “If the European auto industry wants to stay at the forefront, we need to create a strong European home market for electric cars. And for that, we need a credible end date for the combustion engine.”
Samuelsson’s stance puts him at odds with other car manufacturers, who are urging the EU to reconsider the ban in light of slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles. The European Commission is currently reviewing the 2035 timeline, which would allow the sale of new gasoline-powered cars only until that date.
Despite the potential challenges, Samuelsson is confident that Volvo can adapt to the new reality without difficulty, stating, “For Volvo, this won’t be a problem, I’m sure of it.” The 74-year-old executive, who has previously led the company from 2012 to 2022, has returned to the top spot at Volvo in April, with the Chinese conglomerate Geely as the majority owner.