Škoda Auto chief executive Klaus Zellmer will move to Volvo Cars, setting up a leadership transition at the Czech manufacturer after several years of strong performance.
Volvo announced the appointment on 20 September, saying Zellmer would take over as president and chief executive no later than 1 October 2027. Current chief executive Håkan Samuelsson will work with the board to manage the handover.
The Swedish company presented Zellmer’s experience across both premium and mass-market manufacturers as a central reason for its choice. Before leading Škoda, he held senior positions at Volkswagen and spent more than two decades at Porsche, including leadership roles in Germany and North America.
Volvo also highlighted Škoda’s record results in 2025 and further growth, including record electric-vehicle deliveries, during the first half of 2026. Its statement linked the appointment to an ambition to strengthen Volvo’s position in the premium market.
The announcement establishes a succession timetable rather than an immediate change at the top. Samuelsson, who returned to lead Volvo in April 2025, remains responsible for steering the company during the transition. Volvo Cars’ appointment announcement.
For Škoda, the departure comes alongside another senior management change. Czech news agency ČTK reported that sales and marketing board member Martin Jahn would move to Volkswagen in October. Martina Biene, previously head of Volkswagen Group Africa, is due to replace him.
Automotive adviser Petr Knap told ČTK that Zellmer’s departure was unlikely to fundamentally disrupt Škoda, describing the company’s position within the Volkswagen group as stable. He nevertheless warned that management changes could divert attention towards internal matters.
Knap expected Zellmer’s successor to come from within the Volkswagen group. That was an expert assessment; the report did not identify a confirmed replacement.
The move also comes at a demanding time for Volvo. ČTK, citing Reuters, reported that the company had outlined plans for 13 new models by 2030 while facing pressure from US tariffs and weaker sales in China.
The transition therefore connects two different corporate challenges: maintaining momentum at an established Czech manufacturer and delivering an ambitious product programme at a global premium brand. Zellmer’s departure alone provides no basis for assuming a change to Škoda’s production or investment plans.
