Protesters claimed that Volvo no longer works toward net-zero emissions by 2040 and actively worked to weaken climate regulations in both the USA and Europe, including through the industry organization EMA. According to demonstrators, EMA supported President Trump in dismantling climate work in the USA. Volvo responded by standing by its ambitious climate goals and investing historically large amounts in technology development and industrialization of fossil-free transport solutions.
The company stated that acting from within is not double-dealing, and its experience is that it is often more effective to take responsibility and influence from within while being clear about their own positions. Volvo's reason for being in interest organizations and working with influence in these contexts is that they want the transition to fossil-free to be given the best realistic conditions possible, and it evaluates its memberships annually to ensure they are not in any organization that is against the Paris Agreement. Contextually, electric trucks account for about 2 percent of all truck sales, and Volvo remains heavily dependent on selling diesel vehicles.
Volvo noted that all combustion of fossil fuels has a generally negative impact, and it is not geographically limited or attributable only to diesel. The company was aware of the demonstrators outside the annual meeting and stated that the opinion community with them is 100 percent.