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The Scottish businessman has not previously worked for a mainstream car maker, however oversaw development of a cancelled electric SUV project at Dyson.
Volvo Cars has appointed Jim Rowan – former head of vacuum and appliance manufacturer Dyson – to CEO and President.
The Glasgow-born businessman will replace Håkan Samuelsson, who has served in the top job since 2012 (shortly after the Swedish manufacturer was acquired by Chinese conglomerate Geely).
With an interim period already underway, the handover will officially come into effect from March 2022.
Jim Rowan has has not previously worked for a mainstream car maker.
However, during the period Rowan was CEO, the Dyson company attempted to mass produce its own electric SUV, codenamed ‘N526.’
Analysts at the time estimated a retail price of almost $US300,000 ($AU415,000) was required to turn a profit.
According to Volvo, the experienced businessman was pursued for his background in “software and digital transformation.”
“I am delighted to join Volvo Cars at such an exciting time for the company and at such a transformational time for both the industry and consumers,” Jim Rowan said.
“The strong track record of Volvo Cars across innovation, safety and quality, coupled with world-class talent and inspiring sustainability and technology capabilities, places it in the driver’s seat for the road ahead.”
He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy.
As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic.
Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.
Read more about William Davis
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