1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 2: Volvo Cars third quarter profit roses the automaker betterfit benefitted 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 2: from the effects of its one point nine billion dollar 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 2: cost saving program. That's even as Volvo Cars sales are 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: down eight percent this year through September. So to bring 6 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 2: it all together and please to welcome the Automaker's CEO 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: Hocant Samuelson to the program. Good morning, Hokan. Thank you 8 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: so much for making time for us. As I say, 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: you've done well nonprofit here, but sales less, so less, Rosie. 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: Are you concerned about demand? Well, how's your outlook change 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: going forward? 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: Now? I'm quite confident because we know really why we 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: were down in cell. We had very high sales of 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: our smallest electric car last year, and that was made 15 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: in China and then we need to move it to 16 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: Europe and localize it in Belgium, and then we lost 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: production capacity. But now we are back using that car, 18 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: so I'm not too nervous about the volume. I'm more 19 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: concerned that we continue with our actions on profitability, coming 20 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: back to a solid cash flow. That's my number one priorities. 21 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: Well, you hint at the fact that you're more exposed 22 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: to US harffs than many European rivals. You've moved some 23 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 2: production already. Is there going to be more of that, 24 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: more moving production? 25 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: Yes, I don't think you should call it moving production, 26 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 1: but we will increase the utilization in the factory in Charlestone. 27 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: We need to introduce more cars, but they will be 28 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: new cars that they will not be moved from Europe. 29 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: But we need to really utilize the factory to a 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: much higher degree than we do to date. And that's 31 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: really a very important part of our turnaround in America 32 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: as well. We need to be industrially present. We need 33 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: to be an American company in the producing closer to 34 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: our customers. 35 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 2: But of course you do have a Chinese owner. And 36 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: I believe you're waiting for feedback from the US Commerce 37 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: Department on whether you'll be allowed to sell future models 38 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: into the US. Have you heard anything back yet from 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: the Commerce Department? 40 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: Now, there is a constant dialogue with our legal expert 41 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: with the people in the department, and there is no urgency. 42 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: I think this is for Modular twenty seven or something. 43 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: But there is a process going on, and I must 44 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: say I'm not too nervous about that. We have been 45 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: in the US for seven years, and we will continue 46 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: being present in the US. 47 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 2: Okay, not too nervous. But you're fully confident, are you 48 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: that the administration is going to grant you this exemption? 49 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: I think you can never be fully confident about anything 50 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: these days. But that's not what keep me awake nights. 51 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:01,839 Speaker 2: Keep you awake at night then, hokan. 52 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: No, I am, I'm too old for that, so I 53 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: sleep rather well. I'm quite confident about the future of 54 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: our company, and I'm really glad to be back. And 55 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: I think with our result of seven point four, I 56 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: think hopefully that is still a sign of a turnaround 57 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: of the company. Maybe it's too early to say, but 58 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: it's still very positive, combined with also positive singless on 59 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: the sales side. September was the first month where we 60 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: are back into growth. 61 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: Well. We've also been reading about how Europe's auto industry 62 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: is exposed to chip disruptions, potentially from China because of 63 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: the new export restrictions on China made semiconductors from Dutch 64 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: chip maker experience. Has that affected Volvo cars at. 65 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: All, No, but not yet, but we are of course 66 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: this will affect our suppliers, so it's not supplied directly 67 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: to us, but we are monitoring this very closer. And 68 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: I think this is almost coming back in time to 69 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: the pandemic where a similar situation, and I think we 70 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: learned and to really be hands on and really together 71 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: with our suppliers looking into exactly how the supply of 72 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: the ships are coming in. So we are monitoring it 73 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: and very difficult to say anything more today. This is 74 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: a problem the whole industry is facing, so we are 75 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: definitely not alone with it. 76 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: Okay, really great to talk to you this morning. How 77 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: come Samuelson, the CEO Evolvo Cars off the back of 78 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: their results. Thank you so much for making time for 79 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: daybreak here this morning.