Category: Volvo

8 Ways to Cut Your Fleet’s CO₂ Emissions What to consider when developing a more sustainable company car policy to achieve a smaller environmental footprint? Here’s a helping guide for achieving the ambitions for your fleet. Your current carbon footprintIn order to reduce the carbon emissions from your fleet you will first need to measure your current footprint. What are the CO₂ emissions of your vehicles over the last year of operation? To calculate the CO₂ tailpipe emissions of petrol and diesel cars, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, take the certified fuel consumption for each vehicle in CO₂ g/km, and multiply it with the total distance in kilometres driven for the same vehicle. For plug-in hybrid cars, the CO₂ tailpipe emissions will depend on how much the car is driven in fully electric and hybrid mode, but the certified fuel consumption can be used as a fair estimate. For a fully electric car, the CO₂ tailpipe emissions will be zero. For pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, also remember to include emissions from producing the electricity needed to charge your company cars. To calculate this, multiply the certified energy consumption per kilometre of the car with the total kilometres driven on electricity, and with the yearly average CO₂ grams per kWh of the country the car is charged within. Go for zeroElectric vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions while driving can contribute to huge CO₂ savings for your fleet. Across many parts of Europe, fossil-free electricity is available, thanks to nuclear power or renewable sources like wind and solar. When electricity comes from more polluting sources, the emissions of producing the electricity happen further up in the supply chain. But nevertheless, electric vehicles still maintain a lower overall carbon footprint than their petrol and diesel equivalents – even when using electricity generated from coal or gas. To document the environmental impact of electric cars as transparently as possible, Volvo Cars has since 2019 published comprehensive life cycle assessments of its new electric models. These reports examine the total carbon footprint over the complete lifecycle, including which materials and processes contribute most to the vehicle’s emissions – from raw material extraction and processing to end-of-life disposal. The latest report for Volvo EX90 shows, for example, that the car’s carbon footprint over its entire life cycle is approximately 50 percent lower than that of a Volvo XC90 mild hybrid if charged using the average European electricity mix. If, instead, the car is charged using renewable energy sources such as wind power, the EX90’s carbon footprint is reduced even further, by 17 percent compared to using the European electricity mix. Power upIn addition to zero-emission vehicles in your fleet, the drivers can add to reducing the overall environmental footprint by smart charging, taking advantage of lower off-peak energy rates compared to peak times, creating demand when there is surplus of energy. Luckily, low hourly electricity prices tend to have a high correlation to low CO₂ intensity of the electricity being charged, as renewable sources are often the cheapest to produce. Charging cheap is therefore often the same as charging clean. The new vehicle-to-grid technology is also under development. It’s a true investment in the future, transforming the car’s battery into a portable power plant. A car is often parked for many hours each day, even company cars. With vehicle-to-grid functionality, the car can be connected to an office or home charger, and electricity from the car battery can be used during the hours of the day when electricity prices are at their highest. This functionality allows the car to support the grid when needed, further reducing the need for high-emission and high-cost electricity production. Plug in plug-in hybridsPlug-in hybrid vehicles offer a low-emission bridge toward full electrification for many companies and their employees. However, their environmental benefits depend on drivers actually charging them to take full advantage of their electric range. If a plug-in hybrid car is rarely plugged in, it effectively turns them into inefficient petrol vehicles carrying the extra weight of an unused battery – ultimately leading to increased carbon emissions. For a more sustainable use of plug-in hybrids the company car policy should state that the majority of the daily mileage should be achieved in electric mode with the combustion engine only being used when needed for longer journeys. Tyres matterSelecting tyres with low rolling resistance can significantly reduce fleet emissions. Studies indicate that around 80 percent of a tyre’s total CO₂ emissions come from the impact it has on the car’s energy efficiency during use, rather than the tyre’s production or disposal. When choosing tyres, look for fuel/energy efficiency ratings on tyre labels, along with grip performance in wet or icy conditions and external noise levels. Switching from low to high efficiency-rated tyres can improve energy consumption by several percent, cutting CO₂ emissions for a properly inflated full set. Because maintaining correct tyre pressure is also key. Encourage drivers to check their vehicles’ tyre pressure regularly. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, wear more quickly, increase braking distance and consume more energy. Stay on top of servicingRegular servicing of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid cars keeps them running efficiently and smoothly. Therefore, following service schedules helps reduce fuel/energy consumption and tailpipe emissions while maintaining vehicle performance. Even though there are fewer moving parts in the e-motors of an electric vehicle, and it can be serviced less often, it still needs regular servicing to ensure that for example the battery, brakes and tyres are checked, which can affect emissions. Another benefit of following service schedules, at authorised workshops, is that they can also detect and help mitigate potential future issues before they happen. Smart drivingMapping the shortest route is a good starting point for cutting CO₂, but it’s equally important to avoid traffic-heavy times and congested roads. Vehicles use less fuel and emit less CO₂ in free-flowing traffic. With Google Maps built-in*, available in new Volvo company cars, real-time traffic info and automatic rerouting is there to help drivers reach their destination as efficiently as possible. However, …

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Volvo Cars signs recycled steel deal with SSAB Volvo Cars has signed a new agreement with Swedish steel firm SSAB for the supply of high-quality, recycled and near zero-emissions steel starting from 2025. Volvo Cars is the first car maker to sign a supply agreement for recycled, near zero-emissions steel for serial production deliveries. Initially, the recycled steel will be produced in SSAB’s Iowa mill in the USA, with production moving to Sweden at a later stage. The agreement is an extension of a long-term existing collaboration between the two companies, with the purpose of being at the forefront of the transition to more sustainable steel. In addition to buying recycled and near zero-emission steel, Volvo Cars progresses towards its circular ambitions by also selling scrap steel, helping Volvo Cars to keep materials at the highest value for the longest period of time in a closed loop system. “One of the biggest sources of CO₂ emissions in our production process is the steel we use to build our cars, averaging 25 percent of all material-related emissions for a new Volvo car,” says Francesca Gamboni, our chief supply chain and manufacturing officer. “We work towards achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and cutting steel-related emissions really has the potential to move the needle.” The recycled steel will be used in selected components of the forthcoming, fully electric EX60 SUV, as well as other cars based on Volvo Cars’ next-generation SPA3 car architecture. Crucially, this recycled steel meets the same safety-related requirements as for primary steel in terms of strength and durability. SSAB’s closed loop system recycles scrap steel, significantly reducing  CO₂ emissions and keeping materials and natural resources in use for longer. Compared with traditionally produced steel in Europe, SSAB’s recycled steel generates almost 100 per cent less CO₂ emissions in own operations and is made with a recycled content of almost 100 percent. “Steel is an important material to ensure the safety, strength and durability of our products and traditionally it’s a significant contributor to our carbon emissions,” says Francesca Gamboni. “By signing this agreement, we have taken an important step in reducing the impact on the environment and increase the awareness for using recycled materials within our supplier network.” Volvo Cars is committed to a fully electric future and has the ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. By 2030, the aim is to have reduced CO₂ emissions per car by 65-75 per cent compared to a 2018 baseline, by continuously reducing CO₂ emissions across the value chain.  The agreement with SSAB is an example of this. It also supports Volvo Cars’ circularity ambitions, with the aim to use an average of 30 per cent recycled content across the fleet by 2030, and for new car models released from 2030 to contain at least 35 per cent recycled or bio-based content. Volvo Cars in 2024For the full year 2024, Volvo Car Group recorded a record-breaking core operating profit of SEK 27 billion. Revenue in 2024 amounted to an all-time high of SEK 400.2 billion, while global sales reached a record 763,389 cars.  About Volvo Car GroupVolvo Cars was founded in 1927. Today, it is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales to customers in more than 100 countries. Volvo Cars is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, where it is traded under the ticker “VOLCAR B”.  “For life. To give people the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way.” This purpose is reflected in Volvo Cars’ ambition to become a fully electric car maker and in its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.  As of December 2024, Volvo Cars employed approximately 42,600 full-time employees. Volvo Cars’ head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ production plants are located in Gothenburg, Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou (China). The company also has R&D and design centres in Gothenburg and Shanghai (China).

Volvo Cars and Google expand partnership with Gemini integration and accelerated automotive innovation Volvo Cars today announce​d​ an expanded partnership​ with Google​​™​, to more rapidly deliver the latest Android Automotive OS innovations to customers that own Volvo models with Google built-in. This includes Google Gemini™, which the companies demonstrated together at Google I/O 2025 in a Volvo EX90.​ ​Also, Volvo​ car​s will now serve as one of Google’s reference hardware platforms for future Android development in cars. “For years, Google and Volvo Cars have collaborated closely to bring cutting-edge technology to connected cars,” said Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars, Google. “We’re excited to deepen this partnership, accelerating the pace of innovation that will not only improve the driving experience for Volvo customers but also set new benchmarks for the automotive industry.” With Google’s upcoming launch of Google Gemini in the car, drivers of Volvo cars with Google built-in will be among the first to benefit from the power of the latest conversational AI technology. Gemini in the car can better understand ​what you want while driving through natural conversations​. You can talk naturally to craft messages, translate them into another language before sending, ask questions from the car’s user manual or learn specific details about your destination. This kind of natural conversation can help reduce your cognitive load so that you can stay focused on driving, reducing distractions for everyone onboard. Gemini will replace the current Google Assistant in Volvo cars with Google built-in later this year. Volvo drivers among the first to enjoy new Android features  Through the expanded partnership, Volvo cars now also become one of the reference hardware platformsfor Google’s development work on the Android operating system for cars. This means Google will use Volvo Cars as a lead development partner for ​new ​features and updates, before adding them to the main Android codebase. This allows Google and Volvo Cars to innovate together on new connected experiences​, making sure Volvo drivers will be among the first to enjoy the latest Android features and performance enhancements. It will also ​accelerate advancements in the connected car space for the entire automotive industry and drivers around the world.  “We strive to deliver human-centric technology, and a stunning customer experience is an essential part of this. Through this partnership with Google, we are able to bring the very latest features and capabilities from the leading consumer eco-system into our products first,” says Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars. “With our expanding partnership, we’re collaborating on cutting-edge solutions that shape the future of connected cars.” 

VOLVO EX90 CLAIMS WORLD LUXURY CAR TITLE The all-electric Volvo EX90 is the most impressive new luxury car launched in the past 12 months, says the World Car Awards expert jury Our seven-seater family SUV claims the title of World Luxury Car, convincing the jury with its comfortable and refined interior, advanced technology and distinctive Scandinavian design. The EX90 took the crown as the results were announced at the New York International Auto Show during a World Car Awards ceremony. The jury, made up of 96 car journalists from 30 countries, was won over during extensive test drives where they could fully appreciate the silent yet powerful ride of the EX90, along with its ergonomic and luxurious interior designed for long-journey comfort. “We’re pleased to see the EX90 get the recognition it truly deserves,” says Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive officer of Volvo Cars. “It was up against some tough competition, but this award proves that the EX90 appeals to some of the most demanding customers across the world.” The design approach for the EX90 is straightforward and boils down to some of the underlying fundamentals of Scandinavian design. An important aspect is that form follows function, meaning designing for a purpose. “This award proves that the EX90 appeals to some of the most demanding customers across the world.”   For the EX90, we drew inspiration from yacht design to create sleek proportions. The front end is confident, yet smoothly rounded, allowing air to flow optimally around the car. This design, combined with flush elements such as side glazing, also significantly improves aerodynamics and efficiency. Integrating the LiDAR on the EX90 was an aerodynamic challenge, but worthwhile due to its contribution to safety when combined with cameras, radars and ultrasonic sensors. Together, they provide a detailed image of what’s going on around the car. The LiDAR helps detect vulnerable road users up to 200 metres away, even in complete darkness. The challenge lies in its placement: to maximise its effectiveness, the LiDAR needs to be positioned high on the roof. To reduce aerodynamic drag and maintain the car’s sleek proportions, it’s integrated at the centre of the roofline. It sits just at the top of the windshield, under a low-profile cover – a nearly seamless solution. Another key feature of the electric design is the longer wheelbase and flat floor inside the car, possible thanks to short overhangs and the battery placed low between the wheels. This opens the interior space for passengers and allows for greater modularity and ergonomics, as well as new design possibilities. Inside the cabin, which is among the quietest of the segment, the EX90 introduces new progressive materials that highlight Volvo Cars’ unique perspective on modern luxury. Nordico, for example, is a bio-attributed leather-free upholstery with an elegant look. This smooth material is made from recycled materials and bio-attributed material from forests in Sweden and Finland. The advanced interior LED technology, which reproduces a light spectrum close to natural sunlight, and the back-lit FSC-certified wood decor add to the ambience onboard. Thanks to its true seven-seater configuration, the EX90 comes with a perk that is rare in its segment: ample trunk space. With all seven seats up, the EX90 has a load capacity of up to 310 litres behind the third row. With the third row folded, the storage capacity goes up to 655 litres, which makes the EX90 stand out among many of its peers. With this title, Volvo Cars has won three World Car Awards, including the overall 2018 World Car of the year for the Volvo XC60 and 2024 World Urban Car for the Volvo EX30. In 2018, Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson was the inaugural winner of the World Car Person of the Year award.

Volvo Cars to build EX30 small SUV in Ghent as part of global production capacity boost Responding to strong demand for the car, Volvo Cars has decided that it will start building the new fully electric Volvo EX30 in its Ghent plant in Belgium from 2025, expanding production capacity for its celebrated small SUV. The EX30 was revealed earlier this year to almost universal acclaim and has already won several major awards, including The Sun Car of the Year and the Small SUV/Crossover of the Year award from the Sunday Times. Production of the EX30 started earlier this fall in Zhangjiakou, China and the first cars are scheduled to reach customers later this year. The decision to also build the EX30 in Ghent boosts production capacity for the expected EX30 demand in Europe as well as for global export, and reflects Volvo Cars’ ambition to build its cars where it sells them as much as possible. The decision also adds production flexibility for what the company expects to be one of its best-selling models in coming years. This approach is a proven concept for Volvo Cars, which builds its top-selling XC60 and XC40 SUVs in both Europe and China. “Our ambition is to sell the EX30 around the world at an attractive price point, easing the transition to driving an electric Volvo car for more people while also contributing to company margins,” said Jim Rowan, Volvo Cars’ chief executive. “Adding production in Ghent is a logical move as we aim to capture the strong demand for our exciting small electric SUV across the globe.” Volvo Cars has one of the most ambitious electrification plans in the automotive industry and plans to sell only fully electric cars by 2030. Already by mid-decade, it aims for half of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars. The EX30 plays a crucial role in those plans, as Volvo Cars expects it to contribute significantly to its growth and profitability objectives. This makes the EX30 a cornerstone of Volvo Cars’ ongoing strategic transformation. Joining the XC40 and C40 models on the Ghent production line, the EX30 is the third fully electric Volvo model to be produced in Europe. This strengthens Volvo Cars’ electric car production capabilities in the region and underlines the important role of the Ghent plant in the company’s electrification strategy. Volvo Cars in 2022For the full year 2022, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of SEK 22.3 billion. Revenue in 2022 amounted to SEK 330.1 billion, while global sales reached 615,121 cars.  About Volvo Car GroupVolvo Cars was founded in 1927. Today, it is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales to customers in more than 100 countries. Volvo Cars is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, where it is traded under the ticker “VOLCAR B”.  Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. This is reflected in its ambition to become a fully electric car maker by 2030 and in its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.  As of December 2022, Volvo Cars employed approximately 43,200 full-time employees. Volvo Cars’ head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ production plants are located in Gothenburg, Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou (China). The company also has R&D and design centres in Gothenburg and Shanghai (China).