Volvo Cars boss blasts laggard EU states

European Union states, particularly those seeming to want to derail a zero-tailpipe emission target for new passenger cars and vans by 2035, have been given a rev up by Volvo Cars president and chief executive Jim Rowan.

“Now is not the time for backtracking and blocking of science-based climate targets for our industry,” he explains.

“Now is not the time to put domestic political interests ahead of the health and welfare of our planet and EU citizens, and indeed of future generations. Now is the time for strong, decisive and progressive policy and leadership.”

Rowan points out that Volvo Cars is committed to being a fully electric car company by 2030. It also aims for climate neutrality by 2040.

“We are aware of our obligation to help protect the planet,” says Rowan.

“We call on EU Governments to show that they are too.”

Rowan says that EU governments and the European Parliament last year reached an historic agreement on setting a zero-tailpipe emission target for all new passenger cars and vans by 2035, which represents a de facto ban on the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles.

“The agreement was rightly heralded as the EU showing global climate leadership at a critical time for our planet and humanity,” Rowan adds.

“The parliament confirmed this agreement on February 14. Member states were supposed to do the same in early March.

“However, now a few of them are attempting to derail the process. This is a deeply worrying and disappointing development.”