Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer as its incoming President and Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant leadership transition for the Swedish premium carmaker as it prepares for its next phase of strategic development. The appointment was announced by the company’s Board of Directors on 20 September 2026, with Zellmer expected to assume the role no later than 1 October 2027.
Zellmer currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and Chief Executive Officer of Škoda Auto. With more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry, his career spans premium and high-volume vehicle brands, international market operations, commercial leadership and organisational transformation.
His appointment comes as Volvo Cars continues to navigate a changing automotive landscape shaped by evolving customer expectations, electrification, intensifying competition and the need to strengthen its position in the global premium segment.
A Leadership Transition at a Strategic Juncture
Zellmer will succeed Håkan Samuelsson, who returned as President and CEO in April 2025 after previously leading Volvo Cars from 2012 to 2022. Samuelsson and the Board will oversee the transition to ensure continuity in the company’s leadership.
The succession follows a period in which Volvo Cars has been working on its long-term strategic direction amid challenging market conditions. The incoming CEO’s experience across different automotive brands and international markets is relevant to the company’s priorities around competitiveness, commercial execution and future growth.
Volvo Cars Chairman Eric Li highlighted Zellmer’s combination of automotive expertise, international leadership experience and record of guiding organisations through transformation. The Board has expressed its ambition to build on the company’s existing foundations and strengthen its position as a leading premium carmaker.
From Porsche to Volkswagen and Škoda Auto
Zellmer’s career includes more than 20 years at Porsche, where he held several senior positions, including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and CEO of Porsche North America. These roles gave him experience across premium-brand management, sales and commercial operations in major automotive markets.
He subsequently joined Volkswagen Passenger Cars as a Member of the Board of Management, with responsibility for Marketing, Sales and After Sales. The position broadened his leadership experience across brand strategy, customer-facing functions and commercial performance within a large automotive group.
Most recently, Zellmer has led Škoda Auto as Chairman of its Board of Management and CEO. Under his leadership, Škoda reported record results in 2025, followed by further growth and record electric-vehicle deliveries in the first half of 2026, according to Volvo Cars’ announcement.
This progression across Porsche, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Škoda Auto reflects a career spanning distinct brand positions and operating models within the global automotive industry.
Volvo Cars and the Evolving Premium Automotive Market
The automotive industry is undergoing a broad transition, with manufacturers balancing product development, electrification, software-led innovation, operational efficiency and changing market dynamics. For premium carmakers, these shifts also bring the challenge of maintaining brand differentiation while responding to new customer expectations and competitive pressures.
Volvo Cars has built its brand identity around safety, design and premium mobility. The company’s next phase will require continued attention to its market position and the execution of its long-term business priorities.
Zellmer’s background across premium and high-volume brands, together with his experience in marketing, sales, after-sales operations and international leadership, provides the context for his appointment. The precise priorities he will pursue after taking office remain to be established.
Preparing for the Next Chapter
Zellmer has expressed respect for Volvo Cars’ heritage in safety, contemporary design and its ability to reinvent itself throughout its history. He has also indicated his intention to work with the company’s teams to build on its existing strengths and contribute to its future development.
The transition will take place over the coming year, with Samuelsson continuing to lead the company during the handover period. Zellmer’s formal assumption of the role is expected no later than 1 October 2027.
His appointment represents more than a change in executive leadership: it establishes the next stage of succession planning at Volvo Cars as the company works to reinforce its position in an increasingly competitive global automotive market.
For the industry, the transition will be worth following as Volvo Cars moves towards its next leadership chapter under an executive whose experience spans premium automotive brands, global commercial operations and large-scale business leadership.
