Volvo appoints Skoda boss Klaus Zellmer as new CEO from October 2027

Volvo Cars has named Skoda Auto chairman and chief executive Klaus Zellmer as its new president and CEO, starting on 1 October 2027. He will take over from Håkan Samuelsson, who was reappointed in 2025 after the sacking of Jim Rowan. Volvo remains owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the Chinese automotive conglomerate. Zellmer brings more than three decades of auto‑industry experience. He most recently led Skoda Auto as chairman of the Board of Management and CEO, and before that he held roles at Volkswagen and Porsche. In an interview with Autocar UK he said, “Few automotive brands have built such a strong and lasting reputation for safety, consistently applying this core value across the mobility sector.” Eric Li, president of Geely, praised Zellmer’s mix of premium‑segment and high‑volume brand experience. Li added that the board is confident Zellmer will build on Volvo’s strong foundations and push the brand further as a leading premium car maker. In India, Skoda heads Volkswagen Group’s local operations and is discussing a partnership with JSW Group. The two firms signed an MoU while Zellmer and Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer were in India last week, aiming to expand the portfolio, boost local sourcing and strengthen manufacturing. Volvo also announced a plan to launch 13 new models worldwide by the end of 2030. Seven of those will target Western markets, the remaining six will be built for China in collaboration with Geely. New sedans and estates will join the European lineup, and the Indian market will receive the flagship electric EX90 SUV and ES90 sedan.