Photo: Adam Cai
Volvo have announced that they will end all production of diesel-powered models by early 2024, at Climate Week NYC today.
This makes the car manufacturer the first legacy automaker to take this step. The measure was taken as part of their pledge to sell only fully-electric cars by 2030 and to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.
Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars, said:
“Electric powertrains are our future, and superior to combustion engines: they generate less noise, less vibration, less servicing costs for our customers and zero tailpipe emissions.
“We’re fully focused on creating a broad portfolio of premium, fully electric cars that deliver on everything our customers expect from a Volvo – and are a key part of our response to climate change.”
This milestone follows the carmaker’s decision last year to exit the development of new combustion engines. In November 2022, Volvo also sold their stake in Aurobay, the joint venture company that harboured all of their remaining combustion engine assets.
The company also said “We’re all-in on electrification because it’s the right thing to do” in a press release covering the announcement.
The recent Global Climate Stocktake report issued by the United Nations underlined the urgency of the climate emergency faced by humanity, as well as the need for action.
Jim Rowan added:
“What the world needs now, at this critical time for our planet and humanity, is leadership. It is high time for industry and political leaders to be strong and decisive, and deliver meaningful policies and actions to fight climate change. We’re committed to doing our part and encourage our peers as well as political leaders around the globe to do theirs.”
Chief Sustainability Officer of Volvo, Anders Kärrberg, will attend an event organised by the Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) Coalition at this year’s Climate Week NYC. Launched at the COP27 climate summit, the A2Z Coalition provides a multi-stakeholder platform for signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Vehicles, of which Volvo are one.
The A2Z platform allows them to collaborate and coordinate actions with others towards the coalition’s collective target of ‘making 100 per cent of global new car and van sales free of tailpipe emissions by 2040, and no later than 2035 in leading markets’.
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