Volvo To Reduce Car Lifecycle Carbon Footprint By 40% In The Next Six Years

Volvo has just launched what they claim is one of the most ambitious plans in the industry, which would see them reduce their lifecycle carbon footprint per car by 40% between 2018 and 2025.

This would mark the first step towards the automaker’s goal of becoming a climate neutral company by the year 2040. Their ambitions range from all-out powertrain electrification, to tackling carbon emissions as part of their manufacturing network.

“We are transforming our company through concrete actions, not symbolic pledges,” said CEO Håkan Samuelsson. “So at Volvo Cars we will address what we control, which is both our operations and the tailpipe emissions of our cars. And we will address what we can influence, by calling on our suppliers and the energy sector to join us in aiming for a climate neutral future.”

In order to achieve this massive 40% (per car) CO2 footprint reduction by 2025, Volvo is looking to fight on multiple fronts, with one goal being to generate 50% of its global sales from fully electric cars by 2025, which in turn would result in a 50% reduction in tailpipe carbon emissions per car between now and that same year.

Meanwhile, other short-term ambitions include a 25% reduction of CO2 emissions related to their global supply chain, a 25% share of recycled plastics in new Volvo models and a 25% reduction of carbon emissions generated by the automaker’s overall operations, including manufacturing and logistics.

Also read: Volvo And Geely To Merge Internal Combustion Engine Operations

As of this year, every new Volvo model launched will be electrified. Next in line is a fully-electric version of the XC40 crossover, dubbed XC40 Recharge – which will pioneer a new philosophy within the company, where Volvo will disclose the average lifecycle carbon footprint of each new model.

Also, Recharge will be the new moniker for all chargeable Volvo models with either a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain.