Volvo CEO to EU: Europe will be loser if it cuts ties with Google, Microsoft and Amazon

Automotive leaders have issued a warning to the European Union (EU), arguing that the bloc’s aggressive push to cut ties with US Big Tech will severely backfire on European businesses. Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars, warned that “Europe would be the only loser” if Brussels imposes restrictions or trade barriers on US technology giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta. As per a report by The Financial Times, top executives fear that forcing companies to abandon established US cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) and software platforms will isolate the region and handicap its largest industries.Instead of turning away from the US, Samuelsson argued that Europe should be building deeper ties with American industries to create a unified Western front.“I think it’s more important to have the relationship with the American industry and [for Europe to] join in the firewall to China,” Samuelsson stated, adding that while European alternatives to US tech would be welcome, they must earn their place through free-market competition rather than government mandates.Other automotive heavyweights echoed the sentiment. Ned Curic, Chief Technology Officer at Stellantis, the automotive giant behind Fiat, Peugeot and Jeep, explained that trying to phase out American tech will drive up development costs. The European car industry is already financially strained by massive investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and fierce competition from Chinese rivals.“It will drive expenses for us and... it will eventually drive shrinking of the markets,” Curic warned. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume also cautioned regulators against stifling corporate innovation, saying, “When you talk about AI and data... we need some freedom to develop.”The push for ‘tech sovereignty’The backlash from the automotive sector comes in response to the European Commission’s newly unveiled “tech sovereignty” package. Driven by fears that shifting US foreign policies under President Donald Trump could force a global ‘tech decoupling’, the EU is trying to push for homegrown technologies. The chatter peaked last week after the US government blocked AI startup Anthropic from exporting its advanced “Mythos” and “Fable” AI models, citing national security.Under the current EU proposals, public officials would use a strict four-level certification framework to grade technology based on its exposure to foreign influence. The European Commission has defended its plan, claiming the sovereignty package is designed to unlock local innovation and make the region more resilient while remaining open to trusted partners.Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.