Skoda chief Klaus Zellmer named Volvo Cars CEO to succeed Hakan Samuelsson by 2027
Volvo Cars appointed Skoda chief executive Klaus Zellmer to take over leadership by October 2027, following a broad restructuring plan to double its electrified vehicle market share.
Leadership transition announced
The board of directors of Volvo Cars appointed Klaus Zellmer as the company's next president and chief executive officer on Sunday. Zellmer, who currently serves as chief executive of Volkswagen Group subsidiary Skoda, will succeed Hakan Samuelsson by 1 October 2027 at the latest. Samuelsson, who returned to lead the Swedish carmaker in spring 2025, confirmed last week that he does not plan to work full-time after his contract expires in April. The board and Samuelsson intend to work together to ensure an orderly transfer of responsibilities over the transition period. Volvo Cars board chairman Li Shufu noted that the incoming executive brings over three decades of automotive experience spanning both volume and premium segments.
Klaus Zellmer can point to a strong track record in leading companies through transformation processes and changing market conditions.
- Hakan Samuelsson begins his first ten-year tenure as CEO
- Jim Rowan succeeds Samuelsson to oversee electrification
- Hakan Samuelsson returns as CEO for an interim term
- Klaus Zellmer assumes the CEO position by this date at the latest
Restructuring and product offensive
The management change follows an overhaul of Volvo Cars' long-term strategy presented by Samuelsson on Thursday. The company plans to release 13 new vehicle models by 2030, comprising seven models for Western markets and six tailored specifically for China. This lineup expansion aims to double Volvo's share of global electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales from its current level of approximately 1.7%. The manufacturer is also reorganizing its manufacturing footprint into five dedicated Volvo plants alongside two facilities operated jointly with partner companies. Samuelsson explained that the company is moving away from uniform global models in favor of regional offerings suited to distinct consumer requirements in Europe, China, and the United States.
- Western markets
- 7 models
- China
- 6 models
Executive background and recent leadership
Zellmer, born in Bavaria in 1967, joined Porsche in 1997 as an assistant to the board and later led Porsche's North American business from 2015 to 2020. He was appointed sales chief for the Volkswagen brand in 2020 before taking the helm at Skoda in July 2022, leading what became the parent group's most successful division. Volvo Cars has experienced repeated leadership changes in recent years following Samuelsson's initial ten-year term from 2012 to 2022. Samuelsson was succeeded in 2022 by former Dyson chief executive Jim Rowan, who struggled with software and production delays on the EX90 electric SUV as well as interface criticism on the compact EX30. Rowan was replaced in 2025, prompting the 75-year-old Samuelsson to return for a planned interim period.
Market headwinds and technology separation
Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China's Geely, faces severe financial and regulatory headwinds across its main markets. The automaker missed its profitability targets following higher development expenses, weak global demand for electric vehicles, and steep sales declines in China. Its shares have dropped by more than 45 percent this year, trading near record lows. In the United States, new automotive tariffs and potential restrictions on Chinese technology create operational hurdles. Volvo Cars is working to decouple its Western and Chinese software architectures to preserve US market access, while sister brand Polestar faces the threat of an outright sales ban in the American market.
