The Board of Directors of Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer as president and chief executive officer. Zellmer will assume the position no later than 1 October 2027. Håkan Samuelsson will, together with the Board, ensure a seamless transition.
Zellmer is an experienced global automotive executive with more than 30 years in the industry, most recently Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto.
“Klaus Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organizations through transformation and changing market conditions,” said Eric Li, chairman of Volvo Cars. “His experience from both the high-end premium segment and high-volume brands, is an excellent fit for Volvo Cars. The Board is confident that, under Klaus Zellmer’s leadership, Volvo Cars will build on its strong foundations and enter its next chapter with a clear ambition to strengthen its position as a leading premium car company.”
Håkan Samuelsson has led the company over two tenures: from 2012 to 2022, and again since April 2025, when he returned to develop the future strategic roadmap for the company in very challenging times for the automotive industry. He has been providing stability during a pivotal period for the company while preparing for a long-term successor.
“I am delighted to join Volvo Cars at such an important moment in the company’s development,” Zellmer said. “Few automotive brands have built such a strong and lasting reputation for safety, consistently applying this core value across the mobility sector. I admire Volvo Cars’ timeless, contemporary design language and the clarity of its brand identity. The company has a solid foundation and an experienced team, and I look forward to working with colleagues across Volvo Cars to build on these strengths.”
Zellmer currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto. Under his leadership, Škoda has become one of Europe’s best-selling car brands and delivered record results in 2025. Previously, he was a Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, where he was responsible for Marketing, Sales and After Sales. Before joining Volkswagen Passenger Cars, he spent more than 20 years at Porsche. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Zellmer spent three years from 1994 working at the Institute for Automotive Economics at the Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences.
