Questions & Answers

Answers

Every six weeks or so we have a webcast for all 9,000 people in Product Creation. Everyone attending is encouraged to send in questions. We answer as many as we can live and try to answer the remaining questions after.

All questions from our employees and the answers to them are shared internally – some unfortunately too exciting for LinkedIn. So below follows a selection!

Take care!

//Henrik 

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Q: How smart is a "SUV only" product strategy when SUV's will have a shorter electric range than their sedan twins (ref. XC40 BEV vs PS2)

A: We do not have an “SUV only” product strategy, however we do have a high part of our volume and profit coming out of our SUV-cars (XC40, XC60, XC90) today. That is partly because the SUV has become the new family car, the car that is versatile and practical in the daily puzzle-of-life picking up and dropping off children as well as for weekend-trips or taking the family skiing for a longer period. And far from surprising we see our traditional family estates drop in pricing power and volume, year-by-year. But I see the future of SUV’s (or we can call it the next main family car) change a lot, exactly because of the reasons you mention – range and efficiency. The SUV / Family car of tomorrow will be lower. The wheelbase will be longer. What today is a high and upright grill crowning a long extended and high hood, expressing power and dominance over “less important” travellers on the road, will change to carry the values of sustainability, efficiency and life in harmony with others. 

Q: Polestar was launched as the electric brand in the group, but now also Volvo will go all electric. How relevant is it still to have Polestar as a separate brand?

A: In my perspective – working for Volvo – I can see many opportunities for Polestar as a brand to attract different customers than we do. Of course, being electric will not be unique in a world where all new cars are electric, which I am fully convinced we will see before the end of the decade, latest announced is Audi from 2026. Who is actually left? Where Volvo will always take the inclusive view, inviting to all family members, I can see Polestar be more exclusive and distinct in design and performance for customers who value that above versatility and ease-of-use.

Q: Are there any plans for any more restructuring in the company?

A: I don’t see stagnation survive in the world of rapid change and disruption. We will continue to change and continue to transform to be better and to create better products.

Q: Personally, I always want to read what is new and changed when I update my gadgets. Do we provide our users with a comprehensive and easily accessible change log with each OTA update?

A: Yes, actually the best I have ever read.

Q: Do you think that we listen enough to our customers in terms of needs, wishes and opinions about our cars? If not, how should we improve in this area?

A: Sorry to rephrase the question – Do we measure and capture enough (anonymized) customer data, to understand real-life usage? No, we don’t do that yet. We should, very soon! The most interesting part to learn verbally from customers is their life. What are the daily little struggles to overcome? What hinders or limits life to be – call it “seamless” or “flawless” or “uncomplicated” or…… Figure out how we can solve that for them. But don’t ask what they think of the non-smart phone, because they will not tell you about a yet-to-be-invented iPhone, they will tell you that they’d like it with bigger buttons, easier to push. Listen to that and be gone.

Q: A question to Henrik regarding our purpose "Freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way". What does personal mean to you in this context?

A: Very good question! To me it means a car that understands my needs. A car that works exactly as I want it to, without ever going into settings or opening a user manual. A car that does not inform me of things I don’t need to know. A car that I never need to take to a workshop, call a friend or talk to a chatbot to figure out how to operate. A car that I bought or subscribed to without a price negotiation. A car that was delivered in ten days or less from my decision to buy. I needed no explanation at hand-over and I could remain clueless of its VIN or any other secret code or password to start using. There is no physical key that is too bulky or heavy for the front pocket of my pants, nor too small to keep track of or get lost. It cannot be stolen, and it cannot collide with anything. Ever. It is a pretty good car – and very personal.

Q: Is it still a good idea to aim for Volvo being a software-driven company considering the disruption given by the current lack of electronic hardware? Shouldn't Volvo keep/increase its presence in the hardware manufacturing (maybe together with other companies) to guarantee that this doesn't happen again?

A: I believe in deeper vertical integration also on electronic hardware.

Q: Green, do you believe in frunks or competitive attribute performance?

A: Hahaha!! I personally don’t believe in frunks. I don’t see the reason as to why I need to have both front and rear storage in my car. I would be happier if the one storage I had would be easier to access and potentially even more practical (it is fairly practical today) to stuff with big or small things, without the look of a bowling strike at arrival. BUT, I do trust our research that says that some people do – which leaves me ambiguous to the question of how we should address it. Either no frunk – or an ultra-accessible and easy to use frunk. The compromise between is just terrible for all of us. P.s. the notion of storing a charging cable will disappear – how many travel around with the fuel pump hose todayQ