Volvo Cars hails Zellmer as new president, CEO

MANILA: Volvo Cars’ board of directors has appointed Klaus Zellmer as the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This will become effective on October 1, 2027. 

According to Volvo, Zellmer is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience under his belt. In fact, he was previously the Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Škoda Auto. 

In fact, the leadership of the car brand’s board spoke of Zellmer as the perfect executive to lead the brand even as the current landscape of the global automotive industry is experiencing profound changes. 

“Klaus Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organizations through transformation and changing market conditions,” Volvo Cars Chairman Eric Li said. 

Other stories: BYD’s presents ‘most comprehensive' zero-emissions truck portfolio Provincial bus firms push for fare hike anew Jetour GAIA G700 Topfire Edition enters PH

“His experience from both the high-end premium segment and high-volume brands, is an excellent fit for Volvo Cars. The board is confident that, under Klaus Zellmer’s leadership, Volvo Cars will build on its strong foundations and enter its next chapter with a clear ambition to strengthen its position as a leading premium car company,” Li added. 

Zellmer himself has shared that he is looking forward to working with Volvo Cars - a company that he admired for its timeless, contemporary design, its reputation for safety, and its strong brand identity. 

Notably, Zellmer replaces Håkan Samuelsson, who has led Volvo Cars from 2012 to 2022, and once again since April 2025 to the present. Samuelsson’s second stint at the helm of the Swedish car company saw its future strategic roadmap solidified. 

Under Samuelsson’s guidance, Volvo Cars became revitalized with the introduction of the XC90 and XC60 nameplates. Under his leadership, the company also became a pioneer in electric mobility. 

On the business end, Samuelsson also led the car company through its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange. 

Going back to Zellmer, his achievements at his previous company, Škoda, include driving the company into becoming one of the best-selling car brands in Europe, particularly in 2025. 

Zellmer was also a former Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and prior to that, he worked with Porsche for 20 years as the CEO of the brand’s Deutschland and North American arms. 

Also read:

Volvo launches long range PHEV versions of XC60, XC90

Volvo sells 148k cars globally in June-Aug. 2026

Ex-Volvo designer to pen automobiles for Bentley

Connect with us through our various social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZigWheelsPhilippines

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zigwheelsph/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zigwheels

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZigWheelsPhilippines/