Dive Brief:
- The Volkswagen Group has appointed Marco Schubert as a member of the Extended Executive Committee, effective Oct. 1, where he will lead the automaker’s North American operations, the company announced in a Sept. 2 press release.
- Schubert is replacing current North America CEO Kjell Gruner, who is leaving the company “to pursue new professional challenges,” per the release. He will report directly to Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume in the new role.
- “Marco Schubert has successfully aligned sales at Volkswagen Group across the brands and set central strategic courses for the future,” Blume said in a statement. “Leveraging his expertise and profound understanding of customers and markets, he will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic and organizational transformation of our company across North America.”
Dive Insight:
Schubert currently serves as a member of the board of management for sales and marketing for VW’s luxury brand Audi, as well as a member of the extended executive committee of the Volkswagen Group, overseeing sales, marketing and aftersales. In the new position replacing Gruner, he will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic and organizational transformation across the automaker's North American operations, per the release.
Gruner joined the automaker from electric vehicle maker Rivian, and took over the CEO role for VW Group of America effective Dec. 12, 2024, following the resignation of Pablo Di Si. His appointment followed the launch of the $5.8 billion Volkswagen and Rivian joint venture to co-develop electric vehicle platforms and software.
Prior to joining Rivian, Gruner was appointed president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America in 2020.
Schubert has over 25 years of experience at the Volkswagen Group, and previously held key leadership positions in important international markets. While at Audi, he headed the North Europe Region and worked as Managing Director in Sweden, per the release. He was also Head of Sales for Asia and the overseas markets at Škoda until 2018.
“I am delighted that, in appointing Marco Schubert, we have gained a sales professional with a wealth of international experience to serve on the Extended Executive Committee of the Volkswagen Group for the North America region,” said Blume. “With him, we will intensify our commitment in the most important growth market for the Volkswagen Group.”
Schubert’s appointment as head of Volkswagen Group North America is part of a broader global executive shakeup filling several key leadership roles at the automaker, all of which are effective Oct. 1. The other appointments cover VW's European brand Škoda and the Africa region.
The new executive appointment at Volkswagen follows declining profits and rising costs, largely due to the automaker’s revised electric vehicle strategy and the impact tariffs. In 2025, the automaker’s profits fell by more than 50% and its U.S. sales fell by 13% year-over-year.
In April, the automaker announced it was ending production of the electric ID.4 SUV at its assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Instead, it will focus more on high-volume models, including the new Atlas full-size SUV due to arrive at U.S. dealers later this year.
In July, Volkswagen announced plans to slash its global model lineup by up to 50% and reduce vehicle options by as much as 75% as part of a comprehensive restructuring program.
