Klaus Zellmer leaves Škoda Auto to become Volvo's new CEO

Škoda Auto's CEO Klaus Zellmer is unexpectedly stepping down after more than four years to take charge of Sweden's Volvo Cars, owned by the Chinese conglomerate Geely. He will take up the new post no later than 1 October 2027, with current CEO Håkan Samuelsson continuing to run the company until then to ensure a smooth handover.

Volvo Cars' board of directors announced that Zellmer will become the company's new president and CEO. He brings more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry, most of it tied to the Volkswagen Group: he spent over twenty years at Porsche, rising to senior positions in the brand's German and American divisions.

Zellmer has led Škoda Auto since 2022. Under his leadership, the Czech carmaker posted record financial results in 2025 and reached an all-time high in electric vehicle deliveries in the first half of 2026. It was this track record that Volvo deemed valuable for the Swedish brand's further development.

“Klaus Zellmer combines deep knowledge of the automotive industry with extensive international management experience and a proven ability to lead organisations through transformation in a changing market,” said Volvo Cars chairman Eric Li, adding that Zellmer's experience across both premium and mass-market segments was an excellent fit for the company.

Zellmer himself, born in 1967 and trained in economics before entering the automotive industry, said he was pleased to be joining Volvo Cars at such an important moment in the company's development. He noted that few car brands have built as strong a reputation for safety, and that he intends to help the brand build further on that strength.

Zellmer takes the helm in the middle of a difficult transformation at Volvo, which is launching the largest product offensive in its history. The company, majority-owned by Geely, is facing a global slowdown in demand for electric vehicles, falling sales in China, high development costs and the negative impact of US tariffs on Chinese-made cars.

In mid-September 2026, outgoing CEO Håkan Samuelsson unveiled a rescue and strategic development plan: to launch 13 new electrified models by 2030 and lift the profit margin above eight percent. A key tool for cutting costs is expected to be deeper hardware sharing with parent company Geely and the regionalisation of production.

By the Around Prague newsroom