Volvo Cars has appointed Skoda Auto chief Klaus Zellmer as its next president and chief executive officer, succeeding Håkan Samuelsson no later than October 1, 2027. The leadership transition comes as the Swedish automaker navigates US trade tariffs, slowing electric vehicle adoption, and an expansive product rollout.
Klaus Zellmer Takes the Reins at Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars AB announced on Sunday that Klaus Zellmer, 59, will take charge as president and chief executive officer no later than October 1, 2027. Zellmer, who most recently headed Volkswagen AG’s Skoda Auto AS division as CEO, took up the post of chairperson of the board of management of Škoda Auto on July 1, 2022.
The leadership change was disclosed publicly under the European Union Market Abuse Regulation, with Volvo Car AB submitting the mandatory filing at 12:46 p.m. local time on September 20, 2026. The announcement notes that Zellmer will succeed Håkan Samuelsson, who agreed to stay on to guide the automaker through a complex industry environment and ensure a seamless handover. Samuelsson and the Volvo board will work with Zellmer to ensure a “seamless” handover, the company said.
“I am delighted to join the company at such an important moment in the company’s development.”
Klaus Zellmer, Incoming CEO
Background of Outgoing CEO Håkan Samuelsson
Håkan Samuelsson, 75, previously led Volvo Cars from 2012 to 2022. He returned to lead Volvo Cars for a second term last year, having returned in April 2025 to stabilize the European carmaker, draw up its long-term strategic roadmap, and prepare the organization for a successor after a difficult stretch.
Samuelsson announced earlier this week that he plans to step down as his contract comes to an end, and stated last week he had no plans to work full time after his contract runs out in April. During his latest tenure, Volvo Cars has adjusted its electrification strategy. The automaker has placed greater emphasis on hybrid vehicles as demand for fully electric cars has grown more slowly than anticipated, while also moving towards tailoring its vehicle lineup to individual regions. The company has faced several headwinds, including US trade tariffs, an ageing model range, underused production capacity and rising raw-material expenses.
Automotive Industry Experience and Career Track
Volvo Cars Chairperson Eric Li praised the incoming executive’s background, pointing to both high-end premium brands and high-volume operations. Volvo Cars Chairperson Eric Li said Zellmer brings deep automotive expertise
and broad international leadership experience,
along with a record of guiding organizations through transformation and changing market conditions. Li added that Zellmer’s background in both high-end premium and high-volume brands suits Volvo Cars, and that the board is confident the company will build on its foundations and strengthen its position as a leading premium carmaker.
Volvo Cars Chairperson Eric Li said Zellmer brings deep automotive expertise
and broad international leadership experience,
and has a strong record of guiding organizations through transformation and changing market conditions.
Born in 1967, Zellmer has more than 30 years of experience in the global automotive industry. Before his tenure at Skoda Auto, he previously served on the board of management of Volkswagen, where he had on his charge marketing, sales, and after-sales services. Still a significantly longer part of his professional career is connected with Porsche, where he spent more than two decades and successively held a series of leadership functions, leading among others Porsche Deutschland and, starting in 2015, Porsche Cars North America.
Strategic Overhaul Amid Tariffs and Shifting Market Pressures
Zellmer will inherit an automaker undergoing significant industrial restructuring. Majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding, Volvo Cars has struggled to meet profitability targets due to tariffs, weaker EV demand, and high development costs.
The carmaker’s shares have continued to trade near record lows and are down more than 45% so far this year. To counter these headwinds, the automaker Thursday unveiled a broad revamp that includes reshaping its manufacturing network around five plants dedicated to its namesake brand and two shared with partners.
Last week Volvo Cars held a strategy day on which Samuelsson laid out an ambitious strategy to introduce seven new vehicles for Western markets and six for China by the end of the decade in a bid to double its slice of global sales of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids from around 1.7% currently. At the same time, the company is actively adjusting production footprints, such as moving production of its hybrid XC60 to South Carolina, while cost savings have helped cushion pressure on earnings, and demand for the new flagship EX60 electric SUV has exceeded Volvo’s initial expectations.
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