Volvo announced that Klaus Zellmer will take over as president and CEO of Volvo Cars by October 1, 2027. The company selected Zellmer to succeed Håkan Samuelsson, who began a two-year term as CEO in April 2025. Samuelsson’s tenure follows a previous decade-long service from 2012 to 2022. The board appointed him again in 2025 to manage lower electric vehicle demand and tariff challenges while developing a long-term road map.
Experience at Global Brands
Zellmer brings a background in high-volume and luxury automotive markets. He currently serves as CEO of Škoda Auto, a brand that ended 2025 as one of Europe’s bestselling manufacturers. Škoda has also reported record electric vehicle deliveries so far in 2026. Previously, Zellmer led Porsche Cars North America and Porsche Deutschland. He also held a board member role for Volkswagen Passenger Cars and started his career in sales and marketing.
Samuelsson’s two-year agreement gave Volvo time to develop a lasting plan and select a CEO that aligned with the company’s future vision. While Zellmer, 59, is new to Volvo, this won’t be his first time at the helm of a global car company.
This transition plan gives the incoming CEO time to adjust before assuming full responsibility. The board aims for a smooth handoff by the official start date, though a specific start day has not been announced. Volvo hasn’t announced a start date for Zellmer yet, but a press release says Samuelsson and the board will work to make a seamless transition by October 1, 2027. “After almost 100 years, Volvo Cars’ ability to reinvent itself time and again is both a remarkable achievement and an ongoing challenge,” Zellmer said in a press release. “I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued development and to shaping its next chapter together.”
