Climate-hazardous car type - the key to Volvo's success: "Rims bad"

Axel Wenblad has worked with the environment in both government and business. Between 1990 and 1994 he was environmental manager at Volvo. He is worried that sugars are becoming increasingly popular in the world. Over the years, the vehicle type has been criticized for consuming more fuel and emitting more carbon dioxide.

- I think it is deeply unfortunate. We must reduce the impact on the climate in all areas and car transport is one of the more important, says Axel Wenblad, Chairman of the Board of the World Nature Fund WWF.

Today, Volvo has a stated ambition to be a company with a clear focus on sustainable development. At the same time, the company sells more and more milk. SVT News West has been reviewing Volvo's sales year by year from 2006 until today. And the trend is clear. Between 2009 and 2018, sales of suckers tripled. Since around 2007, 2008, around 25 per cent of sales have been sold, the suvars today account for close to 63 per cent.

So far this year, Volvo Cars has sold just over 395,000 suvar. New record.

SVT News West has sought Volvo Cars CEO and environmental manager for an interview. They have declined. What is offered is a reply to an e-mail or a taped telephone interview with a press speaker.

- First and foremost, it is a global trend that extends across many countries and many manufacturers. Customers are increasingly demanding sugars and we want to meet our customers' demand. That being said, we naturally have a responsibility for carbon dioxide emissions for all our car models. And we take that responsibility by investing heavily in electrification, ”says Karin Wik, press speaker at Volvo Car Sweden.

Over the past five years, Volvo Cars has set a new sales record annually. According to vehicle researcher Mikael Wickelgren, Suvarna has been very important for Volvo Cars' sales success.

In the EU, the average carbon dioxide emissions for new cars are now increasing. According to a report from the environmental organization ICCT, Volvo's emissions in 2018 increased by an average of 8 grams / kilometer. The largest increase of all car manufacturers in the report.

"I think Volvo must take further steps to reduce it through electric cars, hybrids and by influencing customers to choose smaller models," says Axel Wenblad, chairman of the board of the World Nature Fund WWF.

And emissions from suvar have increased dramatically in the world. Between 2010 and 2018, the total emissions of sugars increased more than emissions from heavy industry, according to a report from the International Energy Council. According to the report, an SUV consumes on average 25 percent more energy than a medium-sized car.

In order to reduce emissions from their cars, Volvo will invest in electrification. Within the EU, electrified vehicles accounted for six percent of Volvo's sales last year. It was not a pure electric car, but hybrids. But in a few years, the idea is that it will look different.

- The ambition is that as early as 2025, half of our sales will consist of clean electric cars, says Karin Wik, press spokesperson for Volvo Car Sweden.

Two weeks ago, the EU announced a climate emergency. Axel Wenblad thinks the world should go from big sucks to smaller, fuel-efficient cars. Because if the cars were built with the environment in focus, he is convinced that the cars would look completely different from today's vehicles.

- They wouldn't be high-rise for example. We know that from tests. In the 90s, a lot of work was done to reduce the air resistance of cars. If you look at some suvars today they are completely square. It is not a way to get low air resistance. It has been forgotten or left behind today.