Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer, currently CEO of Volkswagen-owned Škoda Auto, as its next President and CEO. He is expected to take over the role by October 1, 2027.
Zellmer will succeed Håkan Samuelsson, who was reappointed as Volvo Cars’ CEO in 2025. Samuelsson’s current contract runs until April 2027.
Samuelsson has led Volvo Cars across two tenures, first from 2012 to 2022 and again since April 2025. During his current tenure, he has focused on the company’s strategic roadmap amid changing conditions in the automotive industry, while also preparing for a long-term successor.
Eric Li, Chairman, Volvo Cars said, “Klaus Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organisations through transformation and changing market conditions, 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.”
Speaking on his appointment, Klaus Zellmer, incoming President and CEO, said, “I am delighted to join Volvo Cars at such an important moment in the company’s development, 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.”
He further added, “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.”
Zellmer will continue as CEO of Škoda Auto until he transitions to Volvo Cars. His appointment marks the next leadership transition for Volvo Cars as the company looks ahead to its next phase of development.
