Marque says its climate ambitions no longer align with body representing major European manufacturers.
Volvo Cars has announced it will leave the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) by the end of 2022, citing differences between its zero-emissions strategy and that of Europe’s car lobby group.
The Swedish marque is aiming to have a fully-electric car range by 2030, well ahead of the European Union’s proposal for an effective ban on fossil-fuel cars as of 2035.
The European Union parliament voted in June in favour of the 2035 deadline, after which the ACEA said “any long-term regulation going beyond this decade is premature at this early stage”.
In a statement, Volvo says “we have concluded that Volvo Cars’ sustainability strategy and ambitions are not fully aligned with ACEA’s positioning and way of working at this stage”.
“We therefore believe it is better to take a different path for now,” the carmaker adds. “What we do as a sector will play a major role in deciding whether the world has a fighting chance to curb climate change.”
Stellantis also plans to leave the ACEA by the end of this year as it moves away from traditional lobbying activity and to adopt a new strategy to address the challenges of future mobility.
The ACEA, which was formed in 1991, currently represents Europe’s 15 major car, truck, van and bus makers.
Keyword: Volvo splitting from lobby group