Volvo Cars Hands the Wheel to Škoda's Klaus Zellmer as Samuelsson Era Winds Down
Published on 09/21/2026 at 03:20 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Volvo Cars has named Klaus Zellmer as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, tasking the Škoda Auto chairman with steering the Swedish automaker through a pivotal stretch of its electric-vehicle push. The appointment, reported on 20 September 2026, will see Zellmer take over from Håkan Samuelsson no later than 1 October 2027.
At 59, the Bavarian-born executive — who entered the world in 1967 — has led Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto as chairman of the board since July 2022. His tenure there produced a record result for the brand in the 2025 financial year, alongside record deliveries of fully electric vehicles in the first half of 2026.
His résumé spans more than three decades in the industry. Before taking the top job at Škoda, Zellmer oversaw marketing and sales on the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand board. He also spent over 20 years at Porsche, including a five-year run from 2015 to 2020 heading the company's North America business.
A staged handover at the top
Samuelsson, 75, has been running Volvo since April 2025 — his second stint, having first led the company between 2012 and 2022. His current contract expires next April, and he has no plans for further full-time roles once it lapses.
Together with the board, Samuelsson will now manage an orderly transition. Eric Li, who chairs the Volvo Cars board, singled out Zellmer's expertise in operational transformation and his track record of navigating fast-shifting market conditions.
Thirteen new models and a doubled market share by 2030
Founded in 1927, Volvo Cars employs an average of 42,600 full-time staff and sold more than 710,000 vehicles in 2025, with electrified models accounting for 46 percent of that total. The manufacturer now intends to expand its international footprint substantially.
Its roadmap through 2030 calls for 13 new models, a push aimed at doubling its global market share. Seven of those are destined for western markets and six model lines for China.
At the same time, Volvo wants to double its worldwide share of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from a base of roughly 1.7 percent. Future production will rest on a network of five company-owned Volvo plants and two partner factories.
Headwinds in the global marketplace
The strategic overhaul unfolds against a difficult backdrop. Volvo recently missed its own profitability targets, a shortfall attributed to the weight of US tariffs, subdued demand for electric vehicles and heavy spending on new development.
The company has also logged sharp sales declines in China. Zellmer's task will be to bring the planned model programme to market profitably and to steady the Swedish marque amid global competition.
