Volvo Cars is significantly cutting CO2 emissions in its logistics operations by switching transports between its manufacturing plants and new car depots from trucks to trains.
Especially in Europe, where trucks are still ubiquitous in transporting new cars to distribution depots and retailers in individual markets, the company is in the process of reducing emissions by replacing more and more transports by trucks with rail transport.
For example, by implementing rail transport, Volvo Cars reduced CO2 emissions by almost 75% on the route between its Ghent, Belgium-based manufacturing plant and a purpose-built depot in northern Italy.
On another route, from Ghent to a second depot in Austria, emissions were cut by almost half since switching to rail transports.
Both initiatives form part of the climate action plan that Volvo Cars revealed this year.
Under the plan, the company aims to reduce its lifecycle carbon footprint per car by 40 per cent between 2018 and 2025, which will require a 25% reduction in operational emissions, including logistics.
The 2025 plan is one tangible step towards Volvo Cars’ ambition of becoming a climate-neutral company by 2040.