Swedish automaker Volvo Cars has officially announced the appointment of Klaus Zellmer as the company's president and chief executive officer (CEO). Currently at the helm of Czech automaker Skoda, the German executive will take over Volvo's leadership no later than October 1, 2027.
The new agreement provides for a structured transition period during which Zellmer will work closely with current leader Håkan Samuelsson to ensure operational continuity. The change comes at a strategic time for the brand, which is preparing to celebrate its centenary in 2027 and is reassessing its electrification and profitability goals.
The leadership transition marks the third change at the top of the Swedish brand in the past four years, a period characterized by continuous strategy adjustments.
Håkan Samuelsson led Volvo Cars for a decade, from 2012 to 2022, overseeing the brand's transition under the Geely Group. In 2022, the leadership was taken over by Jim Rowan, but in April 2025 the board decided to bring Samuelsson back from retirement for a temporary two-year term, with the explicit mission of stabilizing the company's business and preparing a long-term successor.
Klaus Zellmer, 59, brings over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry to Volvo. Prior to his appointment to the Swedish brand, the executive worked for almost three decades at the Volkswagen Group.
His professional career includes key leadership positions:
● CEO at Skoda Auto (2022 – present): Where he managed the transformation of the range and the international expansion of the brand.
● Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group: Directly responsible for global sales, marketing and after-sales services.
● CEO of Porsche North America and Porsche Germany: During which time he coordinated the sports car brand's operations in two of the most important global markets.
Klaus Zellmer's mission at the helm of Volvo will be a complex one, in an economic context marked by pressure on profit margins and increasingly tough competition in the Chinese and European markets.
The new CEO will have to coordinate the largest product expansion plan in the brand's recent history, which includes the launch of 13 new or substantially revised models by 2030. In parallel with the expansion of the electric range – represented by future launches of the EX series –, the new management will manage the adjustment of the propulsion strategy, placing an increased emphasis on flexible hybrid models to meet fluctuating market demand.