Volvo appoints Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as new chief, Samuelsson to step down by 2027
Volvo Cars appointed Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as its new President and CEO, succeeding Håkan Samuelsson no later than October 1, 2027. Samuelsson, who returned in 2025, will step down. The change follows Volvo's September 17 restructuring plan to launch 13 new models by 2030, targeting a doubling of EV/hybrid market share from about 1.7%. Volvo faces U.S. tariffs, weak Chinese sales, and high costs.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Volvo is facing serious challenges, including a 45% stock drop and a net loss of 2.9 billion kronor.
- The company is caught between US tariffs, European regulations, and its Chinese parent Geely's expectations.
- Klaus Zellmer's appointment as CEO signals a need for cost discipline and operational efficiency.
- China is a critical market for Volvo, with six of thirteen new models designed specifically for it.
- Geely saved Volvo from bankruptcy in 2010 and has invested billions to revive the brand.
Points of contention
- Whether Geely's ownership is a legitimate business partnership or a threat to Volvo's autonomy due to Chinese state influence.
- Whether Volvo's problems are mainly due to poor product execution or geopolitical pressures from US tariffs and European policies.
- Whether the CEO change is a strategic pivot or a sign of desperation and instability.
- Whether Volvo can maintain its Swedish identity while deepening ties with Geely.
- Whether the 45% stock drop reflects market fears about Chinese control or broader trade and regulatory issues.
Blind spots
- The human impact on workers in Sweden and China, who face job insecurity and uncertainty.
- Volvo's declining market share in China, dropping 3% while the overall EV market grew 22%.
- The role of Volvo's own engineering missteps, like the EX90 software delays, separate from geopolitical factors.
- The lack of focus on whether Zellmer's cost-cutting approach can fix Volvo's core product relevance issues.
- The assumption that Chinese ownership inherently compromises Western brands, ignoring 15 years of independent operation.
WorldAttention’s read
Volvo is in a tough spot, squeezed by US tariffs, European regulations, and the need to compete in China. While Geely's ownership has kept the brand alive, it also creates tension between Western and Chinese demands. The new CEO, Klaus Zellmer, is expected to cut costs, but the real problem may be that Volvo's EVs are overpriced and underperforming compared to rivals like Tesla and BYD. The debate shows deep disagreement over whether the main issue is geopolitics or poor execution, but both sides agree that Volvo's future depends on navigating a world where no single market can sustain it alone. The workers and communities tied to Volvo's factories are the ones most affected by these shifts, yet their voices are often missing from the conversation.
Reporting timeline
Volvo Names Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as New Chief, Replacing Samuelsson
Swedish automaker Volvo Cars announced on September 20 that Klaus Zellmer, currently chairman and CEO of Volkswagen-owned Skoda Auto, will become Volvo's CEO by October 1, 2027. He will succeed Håkan Samuelsson, who returned as CEO in April 2025 to address declining performance amid US tariff policy impacts. Samuelsson, who previously led Volvo from 2012 to 2022, will step down when his term ends in April 2027. Volvo stated Samuelsson 'brought stability in an extremely important period' and that the handover comes as the company appears to have passed its most difficult phase. Zellmer has held leadership roles at Porsche North America and Volkswagen's passenger car sales and marketing division. Volvo has struggled with weak sales due to US environmental policy shifts and intensified competition in China. For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Volvo reported a net loss of 2.9 billion Swedish kronor, compared to a profit of 15.9 billion kronor a year earlier. Although Volvo returned to profit in the April-June 2026 quarter, its share price has fallen about 50% since the start of the year.
Read sourceVolvo Cars Appoints Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as Next Chief Executive, to Take Office by October 2027
Volvo Cars' board has appointed Klaus Zellmer, currently CEO of Skoda Auto, as its next president and CEO, succeeding Hakan Samuelsson no later than October 1, 2027. Samuelsson, who returned as CEO in April 2025 to lead adjustments and find a long-term successor, will oversee the transition with the board. Chairman Li Shufu cited Zellmer's automotive experience, international management, and track record in navigating transformation and market shifts. Zellmer, 59, has nearly 30 years in the industry, including roles at Porsche, Volkswagen, and Skoda. He led Porsche in Germany and North America, oversaw sales and marketing at Volkswagen, and became Skoda CEO in 2022. His background spans luxury brand operations, mass-market sales, and electrification and digital transformation. Upon taking office, Zellmer will inherit Volvo's ongoing cost-cutting and product restructuring, including a global layoff of about 3,000 jobs, as the company faces raw material costs, weak European demand, US tariffs, and shifting EV market growth. Volvo is expanding its EV lineup while extending plug-in hybrid lifecycles to suit regional demand.
Read sourceVolvo Cars Appoints Former Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer to Lead Transformation, Current CEO to Step Down
Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer, former CEO of Skoda Auto, as its new President and CEO, succeeding Håkan Samuelsson who will step down next spring. The announcement was made on September 20 by the Swedish automaker, which is owned by China's Geely. Zellmer, who has over 30 years of industry experience, will officially take office no later than October 1, 2027. Chairman Li Shufu stated that Zellmer's track record in leading transformation amid market changes and his experience with both premium and volume brands make him highly suitable. The leadership change comes as Volvo implements a major restructuring plan announced on September 17, which includes reorganizing its production network to retain five dedicated factories and share two others with partners. Volvo aims to launch 7 new models for Western markets and 6 for China by 2030, targeting a doubling of its global market share in pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from about 1.7%. Samuelsson, 75, who returned to lead the company last year amid challenges including US tariffs, aging product lineup, and low capacity utilization, has shifted strategy toward more localized products and deeper cooperation with Geely, moving away from the concept of a single global model.
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Volvo Cars Names Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer to Lead Transformation, Samuelsson to Step Down
Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer, currently CEO of Volkswagen Group's Skoda, as its new president and CEO, succeeding Håkan Samuelsson who will step down next spring. The Swedish automaker, owned by China's Geely, announced the decision on September 20, with Zellmer expected to take office by October 1, 2027 at the latest. Chairman Li Shufu praised Zellmer's experience in leading transformation amid market changes and his work across both premium and volume brands. The leadership change follows Volvo's September 17 announcement of a major restructuring plan, including production network optimization to five dedicated factories and two shared plants, aimed at addressing intense competition. Volvo plans to launch seven new models for Western markets and six for China by 2030, targeting a doubling of its global market share in pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from about 1.7%. Samuelsson, 75, who returned last year to revive growth amid US tariffs, aging product lines, low capacity utilization, and high raw material costs, has shifted strategy toward more localized products and deeper cooperation with Geely, moving away from the one-size-fits-all global model.
Read sourceVolvo Names Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as New Chief, Plans 13 New Models
Volvo Cars has announced the appointment of current Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as its new President and CEO, with a planned start date of October 1, 2027 or earlier. This marks the third CEO change for Volvo since 2022. Prior to the leadership change, Volvo accelerated its new vehicle strategy. On September 17, the company announced plans to launch 13 new models by the end of 2030, including fully electric and third-generation hybrid vehicles. Of these, seven models are targeted at Western markets and six at the Chinese market. Volvo described this as its largest global product offensive in its 99-year history. The six China-bound models are a key part of the offensive, developed using shared platforms, software, components, and supply chains through expanded technical cooperation with Geely. Volvo aims to increase the proportion of fully shared components from 10% to about 30% by 2030, potentially saving approximately 5% in material costs. Volvo's China management has also been reshuffled this year, with Duan Jianjun succeeding Yuan Xiaolin as President and CEO of Greater China in May, and He Kuo succeeding Yu Kexin as President of the Greater China Sales Company in September.
Read sourceVolvo Cars appoints Skoda chief Klaus Zellmer as new CEO, succeeding Hakan Samuelsson
Volvo Cars has announced the appointment of Klaus Zellmer, currently the CEO of Skoda, as its new chief executive officer. Zellmer will succeed Hakan Samuelsson, who came out of retirement last year to lead the company. The leadership change comes as Volvo undergoes a significant revamp, including its transition to electric vehicles. The appointment was reported by multiple major news outlets including Reuters, Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Automotive News, indicating broad market interest. The move is seen as a key step in Volvo's strategic overhaul under its parent company Geely. Zellmer's experience at Skoda, a Volkswagen Group brand, is expected to bring valuable expertise to Volvo's ongoing transformation.
Read sourceVolvo Cars Appoints Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as New Chief to Drive Reforms
Volvo Cars, owned by Geely Holding, has appointed Klaus Zellmer, the CEO of Skoda Auto, as its new President and CEO, succeeding Hakan Samuelsson who will step down next year. Zellmer is scheduled to take office no later than October 1, 2027, and brings over 30 years of global automotive experience. Volvo Chairman Li Shufu praised Zellmer's track record in organizational transformation and market response, noting his experience across premium luxury and mass-market brands. The announcement follows Volvo's comprehensive reform plan unveiled on Thursday, which includes reshaping its manufacturing network around five proprietary brand factories and two joint venture facilities. The reforms aim to address intensifying competition and support the company's largest-ever product rollout. Volvo plans to launch seven new models for Western markets and six for China by the end of this decade, targeting a doubling of its global sales share of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids from the current level of approximately 1.7%. Samuelsson, aged 75, returned last year for a second stint and has been navigating challenges including U.S. trade tariffs, aging products, low capacity utilization, and high raw material costs. Under his leadership, Volvo has increased the role of hybrid models, adopted a more regionalized product strategy, and deepened cooperation with its Chinese parent company, abandoning the notion that globally unified vehicle models can meet divergent customer demands.
Read sourceVolvo Cars appoints Klaus Zellmer as CEO to succeed Håkan Samuelsson within a year
Reuters reports that Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer to succeed Håkan Samuelsson as president and CEO within a year, with Zellmer assuming the role no later than October 1, 2027. Samuelsson, who was reappointed in 2025 to revive the Swedish automaker's performance, stated he has no plans for full-time work after his contract expires in April. The company held a strategy day on Thursday where Samuelsson outlined an ambitious plan to launch 13 new models by 2030 to double market share. Volvo is currently grappling with U.S. tariffs, declining sales in China, weak demand for electric vehicles, and high development costs. Majority-owned by Chinese holding company Geely, Volvo faces a delicate balancing act separating Western and Chinese technologies to continue U.S. sales, while its sister brand Polestar faces a U.S. sales ban. The stock remains near historic lows, down more than 45% year-to-date.