Thomas Schäfer is the new Chief Operating Officer at Volkswagen

Volkswagen names Thomas Schäfer as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Volkswagen brand, effective April 1, 2022. Under changes in the Volkswagen Group Management Board, Schäfer will subsequently take over as Chairman of the Volkswagen brand from July 1, 2022. 

The announcement affects the Advisory Board of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) and assigns Schäfer to the Group Board of Management as the member responsible for the ‘Volume’ Band Group. 

The Volume Brand Group, consisting of ŠKODA, SEAT / CUPRA and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, with Volkswagen Passenger Cars being the lead brand, represents a key role in the Volkswagen Group’s NEW AUTO strategy. To intensify and restructure the cooperation between the brands of the Volume Group, the CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Car brand also becomes the CEO of the Volume Brand Group and a Member of the Board of Management. Thus, Schäfer will also take over the chairmanship of the Supervisory Boards and Advisory Boards of the volume brands concerned.

Underlining the importance of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the Volume Brand Group, Thomas Schäfer said: “With the transformation towards electric mobility and as a competence centre for autonomous driving, we are well equipped for the future. I look forward to helping to shape this path – and to close cooperation in the brand group.”

Schäfer joined the Volkswagen Group in 2012, initially heading the Group’s International Production unit. Schäfer became Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa in 2015 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of ŠKODA AUTO a. s. in August 2020.

Ralf Brandstätter will continue his role as Volkswagen CEO until June 30, 2022, later to be assigned to the Group Board of Management’s China Division effective August 1, 2022. 

Photo of Thomas Schäfer, courtesy of Volkswagen.