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Kjell Gruner Takes Over As CEO Of Volkswagen Group Of America Effective December 12, 2024
Kjell Gruner will take over as President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and CEO of Volkswagen Brand North America on December 12, 2024. He replaces Pablo Di Si, who stepped down at his own request. Until Gruner assumes his role, Gerrit Spengler, CHRO of Volkswagen Group of America, will serve as interim CEO.
Gunnar Kilian, Group Board Member for Human Resources at Volkswagen AG, praised Gruner's expertise in the US market. "Kjell Gruner is an absolute expert for the US market," he stated. Gruner has over 25 years in the automotive industry and is well-versed in leveraging growth opportunities in North America.
Arno Antlitz, CFO & COO of the Volkswagen Group, highlighted the strategic importance of the North American market. "The North American market with Canada, Mexico, and the USA is an important strategic pillar for the Volkswagen Group," he said. Antlitz emphasised that Gruner's experience will help continue their growth trajectory.
The first nine months saw a significant rise in vehicle deliveries across North America. The region experienced a more than 7% increase compared to last year with 769,000 vehicles delivered. In the US alone, sales grew by 1.5%. Despite challenges, Volkswagen brand deliveries rose by 21.7% during this period.
Volkswagen's diverse portfolio includes efficient combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. This variety allows them to adapt to changing customer demands while focusing on transitioning to electromobility over time.
Investments and Partnerships
Over the past decade, Volkswagen has heavily invested in expanding its regional production capabilities. This includes advanced battery production facilities and vehicle architectures tailored for North America. They have also developed strong partnerships with local suppliers to ensure sustainable e-mobility solutions.
Kjell Gruner's career began at Boston Consulting Group in 1997 before moving into management roles at Porsche AG and DaimlerChrysler AG. He later led strategy at Mercedes Benz Cars and became Global Chief Marketing Officer at Porsche AG in 2010. Most recently, he was Chief Commercial Officer at Rivian Automotive.
About Volkswagen Group
The Volkswagen Group is a leading global car manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. It operates 114 production sites across Europe and other continents with around 684,000 employees worldwide. Their vehicles are available in over 150 countries.
The company focuses on future mobility through investments in electric vehicles and digitalisation. In 2023, they delivered 9.2 million vehicles globally with sales revenue reaching EUR 322.3 billion.
Pablo Di Si played a crucial role in realigning business strategies in South America before contributing significantly to strengthening Volkswagen's presence in North America.
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