Published on: September 21, 2026
The Board of Directors of Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer as the company’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Zellmer is expected to take up the position no later than 1 October 2027, with current CEO Håkan Samuelsson working with the Board to support an orderly leadership transition.
Zellmer brings more than three decades of experience in the global automotive industry. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto, where he leads the Volkswagen Group brand.
Before joining Škoda Auto, Zellmer was a member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, overseeing Marketing, Sales and After Sales. His career also includes more than 20 years with Porsche, where he held several senior positions, including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and CEO of Porsche North America.
Commenting on the appointment, Eric Li, Chairman of 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,” 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.”
Speaking about 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,” 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.”
Samuelsson has served as Volvo Cars CEO during two separate periods. His first tenure ran from 2012 to 2022, before he returned to the position in April 2025 to help shape the company’s future strategic direction amid challenging conditions for the automotive sector.
During his current tenure, Samuelsson has focused on providing continuity and stability while Volvo Cars works through a significant period of change and prepares for a longer-term leadership transition.
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