Volvo CEO to visit Korea to look for battery partners

• Published date: 07 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan is scheduled to visit Korea next week, and the trip is drawing attention to see if the automaker intends to increase cooperation with major domestic battery companies LG Energy Solution (LGES), Samsung SDI and SK On, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

Rowan is scheduled to visit Korea from March 12 through 14, on what will be his first trip here since he took office in March last year.

"The purpose of the CEO's visit is to inspect major markets after taking office," a Volvo Korea official said.

Rowan is one of the people leading Volvo's transition to electric vehicles (EV). During his visit to Korea, he will be able to discuss ways to cooperate with domestic battery makers. Volvo is pushing for a complete EV transition by 2030. As part of that plan, the automaker plans to release a new EV each year.

Volvo C40 electric vehicle / Courtesy of Volvo Korea

Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan

Currently, the automaker has released two electric models ? C40 and XC40 ? which are both equipped with LGES batteries, and there is speculation that Rowan could meet with LGES executives, including CEO Kwon Young-soo, to expand cooperation in future models.

But LGES said it is not aware of any meetings planned between the top executives.

"We do not have the CEO's schedule, but I haven't...