The Board of Directors of Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer as President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Cars. Mr Zellmer will assume the position no later than October 1, 2027, succeeding Håkan Samuelsson, who will work with the Board to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Mr Zellmer brings more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto. His career has included senior positions across sales, marketing, after-sales and business management, with experience spanning premium and high-volume automotive brands.
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. 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.”
Mr Zellmer said he was looking forward to joining Volvo Cars and working with its employees to build on the company’s existing strengths.“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. 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,” he said.
Mr Zellmer currently leads Škoda Auto. During his tenure, the company reported record results in 2025, followed by further growth and record electric vehicle deliveries in the first half of 2026. Before joining Volkswagen’s Škoda brand, Zellmer was a Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, where he was responsible for Marketing, Sales and After Sales. He spent more than two decades at Porsche, holding several senior leadership roles, including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and CEO of Porsche North America. Mr Zellmer began his professional career in the automotive sector after graduating in Business Administration. From 1994, he spent three years at the Institute for Automotive Economics at Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences.
Håkan Samuelsson has led Volvo Cars during two periods. His first tenure ran from 2012 to 2022, while he returned as President and CEO in April 2025. During his second tenure, he has focused on the company’s strategic roadmap and supporting the organisation through a challenging period for the automotive industry.
The Board said the planned transition is intended to provide continuity while preparing Volvo Cars for its next phase of development. Samuelsson will continue to lead the company until Zellmer assumes the CEO role. The appointment was disclosed by Volvo Car AB (publ) under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication on September 20, 2026, at 12:46 CET.
Founded in 1927, Volvo Cars is a global automobile manufacturer with a presence in more than 100 countries. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange under the ticker “VOLCAR B”.CVolvo Cars’ purpose is to provide people with the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. This is reflected in its focus on vehicle safety, electrification and reducing the environmental impact of its operations. The company aims to become a fully electric car manufacturer and has set an ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
In 2025, Volvo Cars sold more than 710,000 vehicles globally, with electrified models accounting for 46 per cent of total sales.CThe company employed an average of 42,600 full-time employees during the year. Its headquarters, product development, marketing and administrative functions are primarily based in Gothenburg, Sweden.CVolvo Cars operates manufacturing plants in Gothenburg, Sweden; Ghent, Belgium; South Carolina, USA; and Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou in China. The company also has research and development and design centres in Gothenburg and Shanghai.
