Volvo Cars Names Skoda Chief Klaus Zellmer as Next CEO Under Turnaround Plan

Volvo Cars has appointed Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer as its next chief executive, effective no later than October 1, 2027, the Swedish automaker said on September 21, 2026. Current CEO Hakan Samuelsson will remain through the handover. Zellmer, a Volkswagen Group veteran, has led Skoda since 2022, delivering record results and record first-half 2026 EV deliveries. He previously served on Volkswagen's passenger car board and spent over 20 years at Porsche, including leadership of its German and North American operations. Samuelsson returned in April 2025 to stabilize the company after U.S. tariffs hit Europe-built exports. He launched an 18 billion Swedish krona (€1.6 billion) cost plan, cut 3,000 jobs, dropped the 2030 full-electric pledge and now targets an operating margin above 8%, versus 3.5% in 2025, via a 13-model electrified line-up.