Volvo to go leather-free in new EV line

Volvo will be adding an ecologically friendly feature to its new electric vehicles, pledging on Thursday to go completely leather-free.

The Swedish automaker previously announced plans to make all of its cars electric by 2030, but those vehicles will now be “fully devoid of leather” starting with the newly launched C40 Recharge.

In addition to scrapping leather from its cars, Volvo said it is looking at other high-quality and sustainable sources to use in its automobiles.

“We have a vision of where we need to go in the future, with the first step to ensure we harness sustainable, natural and recycled materials,” said Robin Page, head of design at Volvo Cars. “The next challenge is to change what we do with these materials, whether that’s making car parts that last forever, re-enter the circular economy or go back into the earth.”

By 2025, Volvo aims to have at least 25 percent of material in new vehicles coming from recycled or bio-based and renewable sources. The goal, the company said, is part of a larger plan to be a fully circular business by 2040 where the sustainability of its input materials can be actively traced.

Volvo is among the many automakers both in the U.S. and abroad striving toward lowering or eliminating emissions from vehicles through steps like battery development or releasing new hybrid trucks. 

The Biden administration recently announced its goal of having at least 40 percent of U.S. drivers behind the wheel of an electric vehicle by the same year by 2030.