Klaus Zellmer Named Volvo Cars CEO; Samuelsson Exits

Volvo Cars has appointed Skoda chief Klaus Zellmer as its next chief executive, with the board setting a takeover date no later than October 1, 2027.

The appointment ends Hakan Samuelsson's two-year interim term. Samuelsson returned from retirement on a temporary two-year contract in April 2025 to stabilise Volvo and identify a long-term successor.

Jim Rowan, the former Dyson CEO, left Volvo in early 2025 after a brief tenure that the company said coincided with lingering pandemic effects, chip shortages, trade tariffs and sluggish EV sales.

Zellmer has led Skoda Auto since 2022 and spent 28 years within the Volkswagen Group, with more than three decades in the automotive industry. He is 59 years old and will remain at Skoda while coordinating a structured, year-long transition with Samuelsson.

On his appointment Zellmer said, "I am delighted to join Volvo Cars at such an important moment in the company’s development."

Volvo is undertaking a strategic reset across Volvo Cars and Volvo Group, saying it went "a bit too far into a single SUV market" and is scaling back strict all-EV timelines in favour of a mixed hybrid and electric portfolio.

The company has announced its largest product offensive in its history: 13 new or heavily refreshed models by 2030, seven for Western markets and six for China-only. The plans include the market launch of the flagship EX60 electric SUV and major updates to the 2028 XC60.

Zellmer is due to assume the chief executive role no later than October 1, 2027, while overseeing the transition to Volvo's revised product and powertrain strategy.