The Big Question: Jak Volvo może konkurować z chińskimi pojazdami elektrycznymi?
„Nie ma tak naprawdę żadnej ochrony w postaci ceł. Jedyną ochroną dla naszej branży jest to, że się dostosujemy i staniemy się bardziej konkurencyjni” – powiedział dyrektor generalny Volvo Euronews.
CZYTAJ WIĘCEJ : http://pl.euronews.com/2025/07/07/the-big-question-jak-volvo-moze-konkurowac-z-chinskimi-pojazdami-elektrycznymi
Zasubskrybuj nasz kanał.Euronews jest dostępny na Dailymotion w 12 językach
00:20w którym się spotkałem z kilku najważniejszych nazwiskach.
00:25Jestem Elina Butler,
00:27Today I'm joined by Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars.
00:32So let's start off with a broad look at the auto sector here in Europe.
00:36What are the key trends, but also the major challenges?
00:40I think three new things, three challenges.
00:44One is the position we have on the Chinese market, it's getting much tougher.
00:49New Chinese competitors, especially the new electric cars coming in on the market.
00:54That's something new for the European brands in China.
00:59They are losing market share to the Chinese, especially in the electric ones.
01:05And the other is, of course, all of the talks now about tariffs
01:09that change how we can export cars to the U.S.
01:12We have been big exporters of cars from Europe to both China and to U.S.
01:17That has changed and we need to adapt to a new situation.
01:21And on top of that, the third one is, of course, electrification.
01:25We need to electrify because of the climate challenge.
01:31But I think also electric cars are a better solution for customers.
01:36Back in 2021, Volvo announced that it would be all electric by the end of the decade.
01:47Now you've scaled that down, aiming for a 90% electric and plug-in hybrid mix by 2030.
01:55Can you tell me about that decision?
01:57Our future as a company, I think, still is as an all-electric company.
02:04And what we see now, maybe we're a bit over optimistic that this could be restored already 2030.
02:11I mean, in some regions, the charging infrastructure is not yet there.
02:18So I think we need to rely on the possibilities to drive on a combustion engine when you lack charging possibilities.
02:27So I think to have a credible end date for combustion cars need to be combined with a very credible date also for investments and expansion of the charging networks.
02:41Otherwise, of course, it will not be possible to be all electric 2035.
02:48And another of Volvo's major aims is safety.
02:52So actually, I believe that it was one of your engineers who invented the three-point seatbelts back in the 1950s.
02:58Can you tell us how you're prioritizing safety at the moment?
03:02Safety is always a part of our brand.
03:06We do much more than the standards require.
03:09And of course, we use modern technology AI to be even better.
03:15Best example is, of course, if we're going to have self-driven cars or cars with advanced autopilots,
03:21that's really where you need AI to really recognize everything on the road and have very natural control of the car.
03:30But also in the safety areas, I'm very proud of our new seatbelts, which adapt now to the body size of the passengers.
03:39That's something that, of course, makes the seatbelt even better.
03:43And will you be sharing this technology with other firms or would you keep it to yourself to support Volvo's competitiveness?
03:52No, I think we have an opinion of sharing that.
03:56I mean, if we can save life and make cars safer, we are very open to share that with anybody who wants to use it.
04:03Now, let's talk about tariffs.
04:06U.S. President Donald Trump has put a 25 percent duty on imported cars and car parts.
04:14How is that affecting Volvo?
04:16It's very difficult then, of course, to export cars out of Europe, at least with the profitability, because cost increase, of course, when you bring them in.
04:28So, we need to always react.
04:30One is to hope that the European Union could strike a deal with the U.S. about a reasonable tariff system for the car sector.
04:40I don't think it's overoptimistic either to believe that there is a possibility for such a deal, but independently of that, I believe also we need to produce more locally.
04:53So, we are strengthening our Americas region, not just to sell imported cars, but also to build more cars in the U.S., and we are very happy to have a factory in Charleston, South Carolina,
05:06and we now looking into utilizing that more, adding a car line to our lineup there.
05:12So, we need now to find a bit sort of bread and butter model that can sell in high volumes, which we can deliver faster to our customers,
05:22and, of course, reduce stock and transportation costs.
05:25So, local production is not only a cost increase, it has advantages also.
05:31So, even if the tariffs would come down to a more reasonable level, we still need to use our factory more than we do today.
05:40And Chinese EV firms are competing for customers in Europe, but are you worried that a glut of Chinese cars could potentially make their way to Europe?
05:51If they are diverted away from the U.S. because of tariffs?
05:55We will have very tough competition from new Chinese EV players, and then the sooner we get used to that,
06:03and the sooner we start developing our cars, the better.
06:07There is really no protection in form from tariffs or other ways.
06:12The only protection for our industry is that we shape up, and we need to be more competitive.
06:18And in China, you're facing fierce competition from firms like BYD that offer low-cost models.
06:26Can you effectively challenge these firms for market share in China?
06:31Yeah, for sure, we will try to do that, and so we need to be better there.
06:37And I think to be better, we need also to make the business in China a bit more regional.
06:43We need to listen more to the local people in the region and adapt a bit to local habits and local taste,
06:52and also have some cars that are special maybe for the Chinese market.
06:59And looking ahead, how do you see the future of personal transport?
07:04Electric cars with advanced autopilots is both from convenience and environment a good solution for long-range travel,
07:14a very personal way of traveling.
07:16But, of course, it does not solve the problem with congestions on the roads.
07:22So I think we also, of course, need other concepts.
07:25I think high-speed trains, for example, is a very convenient way of traveling long distances in Europe.
07:34That has to be developed and expanded, I think.
07:39But looking into our electric cars with autopilot, we are well prepared for future convenient transports.
07:48Thank you so much for sharing your insights for The Big Question.
