Volvo joins “Accelerating to Zero Coalition” to boost industry’s transition to full electrification

KUALA LUMPUR: Committed to becoming a leader in the fast-growing luxury EV market, Volvo plans to go all-electric by the end of the decade. The Geely-owned brand introduced its new flagship electric car, the EX90, earlier this month and has now announced its collaboration with the “Accelerating to Zero Coalition.”

The Swedish automaker has become the founding member of the Coalition which was recently launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt. 

Built on last year’s Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Vehicles at COP26, the new programme aims to enhance the pace of the zero-emission mobility transition. The Coalition will work towards making global car and van sales 100% free of tailpipe emissions with leading markets like Europe, China, Japan, and the US hitting the target by 2035. It also involves the electrification of corporate fleets and the formation of a comprehensive charging infrastructure.

The “Accelerating to Zero Coalition” comprises a broad group of stakeholders and addresses the need for an international platform for global zero-tailpipe emission vehicle (ZEV) leadership. While appreciating its formation, Volvo Cars chief executive Jim Rowan encouraged more manufacturers to sign the Declaration and join the Coalition.

On a related note, the luxury carmaker has also joined more than 200 other business enterprises and civil society organisations in signing a call, organised by the We Mean Business Coalition. It urges national governments to increase their climate ambition and delivery.

Volvo is also endorsing the Call on Carbon initiative, which urges governments to introduce an effective policy framework for carbon pricing.

 “We recognise the role carbon pricing has in helping tackle climate change,” said Anders Kärrberg, head of sustainability at Volvo Cars. “When announcing our internal carbon price of 1,000 SEK for every tonne of carbon emissions at COP26, we became the first carmaker to implement a global carbon pricing mechanism, covering its complete value chain emissions.”

“By endorsing the Call on Carbon, we are once again demonstrating our willingness to contribute to lead the entire automotive industry towards a more sustainable future. We must urgently work against re-orientate financial mechanisms to help us stay within the limit of 1.5 degree global warming. This can both add stability for investors, as well as support a just transition for affected workers and farmers, families and communities that will be affected as a result of such changes.”

Also read: All-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric open for booking