Volvo Cars’ Board of Directors has appointed Klaus Zellmer as President and CEO, with Zellmer set to take over no later than October 1, 2027.
Håkan Samuelsson will work alongside the Board to manage the transition. Zellmer brings more than 30 years of automotive industry experience, most recently as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto.
Volvo Cars Chairman Eric Li pointed to Zellmer’s combination of deep automotive expertise, international leadership experience and a track record of steering organizations through transformation as a strong fit for Volvo, noting his background spans both the premium and high-volume segments. Li said the Board is confident Zellmer can build on Volvo’s existing foundations and strengthen its position as a leading premium automaker.
Klaus Zellmer on Joining Volvo
Zellmer described the timing as significant given where Volvo sits in its development, pointing to the brand’s long-standing reputation for safety, its consistent design language and clear brand identity as qualities he admires.
He said Volvo’s near-century-long ability to keep reinventing itself is both a notable achievement and an ongoing challenge, and that he’s looking forward to working with the existing team to help shape the company’s next phase.
A Transition Years in the Making
Samuelsson has led Volvo Cars across two separate tenures — from 2012 to 2022, and again since April 2025, when he returned specifically to develop the company’s strategic roadmap during a difficult period for the industry. His current run has focused on providing stability while the company prepared for a long-term successor.
Zellmer’s Background
Born in 1967, Zellmer built his reputation at Škoda Auto, where under his leadership the brand became one of Europe’s best-selling car makers, posting record results in 2025 followed by further growth and record EV deliveries in the first half of 2026.
Before that, he served on the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, overseeing marketing, sales and after-sales, and spent more than 20 years at Porsche in senior roles including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and CEO of Porsche North America.
After earning a business administration degree, he spent three years starting in 1994 at the Institute for Automotive Economics at Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences. The appointment is being disclosed under EU Market Abuse Regulation requirements.