Volvo Cars taps Škoda chief Klaus Zellmer as next CEO

Volvo Cars announced Sunday that its board of directors has appointed Klaus Zellmer as President and Chief Executive Officer, with the veteran automotive executive set to assume the role no later than October 1, 2027.news.cision

Zellmer, 59, currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto, where he has led the brand to become one of Europe's best-selling carmakers, delivering record results in 2025 and further growth in the first half of 2026. Before Škoda, he held senior roles at Volkswagen Passenger Cars and spent more than 20 years at Porsche, including stints as CEO of Porsche Deutschland and Porsche North America.news.cision

A Leadership Transition Long in the Making

The appointment follows a period of leadership flux at the Gothenburg-based automaker. Håkan Samuelsson, who first led the company from 2012 to 2022, returned in April 2025 to stabilize the business and develop a future strategic roadmap during what the company described as "very challenging times for the automotive industry". Samuelsson will work with the board to ensure a seamless handover to Zellmer.news.cision

"Klaus Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organisations through transformation and changing market conditions," said Eric Li, Chairman of Volvo Cars.news.cision

Steering Through a Critical Period

The CEO change comes as Volvo Cars pursues its largest-ever product offensive, with plans to launch 13 new cars by 2030 and double its market share. In 2025, the company sold over 710,000 cars, with electrified models accounting for 46 percent of the total.globalbankingandfinance+1

Zellmer said in a statement that he was drawn to the company's legacy of safety and design. "After almost 100 years, Volvo Cars' ability to reinvent itself time and again is both a remarkable achievement and an ongoing challenge," he said. "I look forward to contributing to the company's continued development and to shaping its next chapter together".news.cision