Volvo CEO says there are no ifs, ands or buts about move to EVs

New Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan has set a high standard for the first model that debuts under his leadership. He wants the replacement for the XC90 to get Volvo “recognized as a very credible next-generation electrified car company.” The new flagship SUV is a key part of the automaker’s rapid shift toward becoming an electric-only brand, a move that is guiding every hiring, investment and design decision the company makes -- including its pending exit from industry group ACEA. Rowan is confident that going all-electric will also pay dividends in the U.S. -- where some rivals expect the transition to be slower -- because he figures that if Tesla did it, why can’t Volvo? He discussed this and more with Automotive News Europe Managing Editor Douglas A. Bolduc.