- Håkan Samuelsson will temporarily reprise his role as Volvo Cars CEO, which he last held from 2012 to 2022.
- Samuelsson is tasked with guiding the company through murky waters, and then he's expected to be replaced in two years with a long-term successor.
- As a result of the leadership change, Jim Rowan will step down as CEO and leave the board of directors.
Volvo Cars has named a new leader, and he has a familiar name. Håkan Samuelsson is poised to become the brand's chief executive officer and president once again. After serving as Volvo CEO from 2012 to 2022, Samuelsson will reprise his role on April 1, 2025. He'll replace Jim Rowan, who will step down and leave Volvo's board of directors today before Samuelsson takes over. Rowan also didn't give a reason for the move.
Samuelsson, 74, will only serve as CEO for two years while Volvo looks for a long-term successor. The surprising leadership change comes as Volvo and the global auto industry try to navigate tumultuous times, including waning EV demand and disruptive tariffs announced on goods imported into the United States. Volvo's board, which appointed Samuelsson, said it believes he is the right person to guide the ship for the next couple of years. In a press release, the board said it "believes the company is best served by leadership with deep industrial experience, deep knowledge of our group, and a proven ability to execute in challenging environments."
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During his previous decade as Volvo's CEO, Samuelsson helped the Swedish brand switch from five- and six-cylinder engines to turbo-fours and hybrid models, open its first U.S. factory, and in 2021 become a publicly traded company. He also oversaw the introduction of notable models, including the impressive redesign of the XC90 three-row SUV.
"The car industry is under pressure from many directions. I'm honored to return at such a defining moment for Volvo Cars," Samuelsson said in a press release. "I have deep respect for the challenges ahead and look forward to working with our talented team to sharpen our competitiveness, meet the demands of key markets, and accelerate strategic execution and focus on leadership development."
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.
