AstraZeneca has completed the transition to an all-electric vehicle fleet in Switzerland, with approximately 100 electric cars now in operation. The British pharmaceutical company, known for its COVID-19 vaccine, stated that the Swiss market is among the first within the group to achieve full electrification ahead of schedule. Globally, AstraZeneca has deployed over 10,000 electric vehicles.
The transition included supporting employees with home charging infrastructure. “Knowing that the switch to electric cars poses challenges, we have supported our employees in installing wallboxes in their homes,” said Ioana Crisan, Chief Financial Officer of AstraZeneca Switzerland. The company also revised local guidelines to facilitate the shift.
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Electrifying its fleet is part of AstraZeneca Switzerland’s broader sustainability efforts. The company has minimized business air travel in line with strict emissions targets, while its headquarters in Baar operates on renewable energy, including geothermal probes, hydropower, and solar panels.
“Healthy people need a healthy planet,” said Lars Peters, Market Access Director and Sustainability Officer at AstraZeneca Switzerland. “By reducing harmful emissions with a wide variety of measures, we are promoting cleaner air, which not only benefits the climate but also helps reduce environmentally-related respiratory diseases and other health problems.”
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AstraZeneca aims to become ‘CO2-negative’ by 2030, targeting a net reduction in emissions across its global operations. The company joined the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative in 2019, committing to fully electrify its fleet by 2030. In 2023, it was among 30 major companies calling on the EU to mandate that all newly registered corporate vehicles be electric from 2030.