Klaus Zellmer appointed President and CEO of Volvo Cars

The Board of Directors of Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer as President and Chief Executive Officer. Klaus Zellmer will assume the position no later than 1 October 2027. Håkan Samuelsson will, together with the Board, ensure a seamless transition.

Klaus Zellmer is an experienced global automotive executive with more than 30 years in the industry. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto.

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, where he held several senior leadership positions, including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and CEO of Porsche North America. 

“Klaus Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organisations through transformation and changing market conditions,” says 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.” 

“I am delighted to join Volvo Cars at such an important moment in the company’s development,” says Klaus Zellmer, incoming President and CEO. “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. After almost 100 years, Volvo Cars’ ability to reinvent itself time and again is both a remarkable achievement and an ongoing challenge. I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued development and to shaping its next chapter together.”

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.