Dec. 14, 2025 | Bonus Episode: Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson’s vision for cars of the future
About this episode
Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson shares insights on the future of automotive powertrains, emphasizing the shift towards electric vehicles and the role of long-range plug-in hybrids as a transitional solution. He discusses the importance of leveraging synergies with parent company Geely to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, particularly in software development and hardware components. Samuelsson highlights the necessity of adapting to regional demands, especially in China, while maintaining Volvo's commitment to sustainability and innovation in the automotive industry.
Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson talks about the automaker’s powertrain strategy moving forward, its relationship with parent company Geely and more.
Volvo
"...Volvo car CEO, Hulk on Samuelson."
Volvo makes cars that are popular for being safe and stylish. They’re also moving toward electric models.
Volvo is a Swedish automotive manufacturer known for its focus on safety, design, and increasingly electric vehicles.
plug-in hybrid
"Long range plug‑in hybrids are built primarily as an electric car that has some combustion to charge the battery..."
A plug‑in hybrid is a car that can run on electric power for some distance, but also has a gasoline engine to keep it going if the battery runs low.
A plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery that can be charged from the grid.
range extender
"Range extenders seem to be growing in interest. People want them in China."
It’s a little gas engine that kicks in when the electric car’s battery gets low, so you can keep driving instead of stopping to charge.
A range extender is a small internal combustion engine or generator that charges the battery of an electric vehicle when its charge runs low, effectively increasing driving range.
all electric 2030 roadmap
"I mean, if you go back five years in time, our ambition was to be all electric 2030."
They aim to stop making gas cars and only sell electric ones by 2030.
The company’s strategic plan to transition fully to electric vehicles by the year 2030, phasing out internal combustion engines.
mechanical drivetrain to the wheels
"You could have with or without mechanical drivetrain to the wheels."
It’s the part of a car that moves the wheels when you drive, like gears and axles.
Refers to the traditional transmission and drive components that physically transfer power from an engine to the vehicle’s wheels.
Geely
"And then of course, we will look into, can we learn and take some parts from our Gili brothers"
It’s a Chinese car company that makes cars and owns Volvo.
Geely is a Chinese automotive manufacturer known for producing affordable vehicles and owning Volvo.
Kelly Bluebook
"Inventory challenges, seasonal slowdowns, Kelly Bluebook, instant cash offer has the solution."
Kelly Blue Book helps people figure out how much a car is worth and gives reviews to help buyers decide. It’s often used by dealers and consumers alike.
Kelly Blue Book (KBB) is a leading automotive valuation and research company that provides pricing, reviews, and market data for new and used vehicles.
Autotrader
"Offer accelerator, this powerful new add-on gives dealers the flexibility to source smarter and acquire faster. With offer accelerator, you can tap into extra trade and opportunities from autotrader and kbb.com on demand."
Autotrader is a website where you can search for cars to buy or sell. It lists lots of vehicles and helps you compare prices.
Autotrader is an online automotive marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of new, used, and certified pre‑owned vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
"Like you just mentioned, there's that great opportunity to leverage as you already have and you've proved with the XC60, the relationship with GLE."
The GLE is a big, comfortable SUV from Mercedes-Benz that comes with lots of tech and safety features. It’s a good choice if you want luxury and room for passengers or cargo.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a mid‑size luxury SUV that offers spacious interiors, advanced driver aids, and a choice of powerful engines. It’s part of Mercedes-Benz’s G‑Series lineup.
second generation hybrid
"[594.0s] What can we do really to lower our cost and I know mentioned two examples. Local software in China, second generation hybrid."
A second‑generation hybrid is a newer type of car that uses both a gasoline engine and electric motors to run. It’s more efficient and cleaner than the first hybrids people used in the 2000s.
A second‑generation hybrid refers to vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine with electric motors and a battery pack, typically using advanced power‑train architectures developed after the first wave of hybrids. They offer improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions compared to early models.
air conditioning compressors
"[615.0s] They'll remember the figure right now but we discussed here this morning air conditioning compressors."
The air conditioning compressor is a machine inside your car that helps make the cabin cool. It squeezes the cooling fluid so it can move through the system and chill the air.
The air conditioning compressor is the heart of a car’s HVAC system; it compresses refrigerant and circulates it through the condenser, evaporator, and expansion valve to cool or heat the cabin.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.