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The Volkswagen Group said today that Kjell Gruner will be CEO of Volkswagen Group of America effective December 12. Gruner succeeds Pablo Di Si, “who has stepped down from his position on his own request.” It was a short two year stint for Di Si. Until Kjell Gruner* takes office, Gerrit Spengler, the chief human resources officer of Volkswagen Group of America, will perform the function of interim CEO. So car guy out, Human Resources in. No hybrids in sight.
Yes, that’s right Human Resources is running a car company. It’s just the latest example of the chaos at VW globally as three plants are shutting in Germany and VW and Audi models are being dumped, and its plan to sell Scout vehicles directly is legally under attack by dealers. During the first nine months of the year, 769,000 vehicles were delivered in North America, an increase of more than 7% compared to the previous year. In the main US market though, the Volkswagen Group grew by only 1.5%.
“Kjell Gruner is an absolute expert for the US market. He has over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry and extensive know-how in exploiting and expediting growth opportunities in North America. Volkswagen AG is indebted to his predecessor, Pablo Di Si. His outstanding commitment was of central importance in realigning our business in South America. He subsequently laid the foundation for the positive development of our North American strategy,” said Gunnar Kilian, Group Board Member for, ahem, Human Resources at Volkswagen AG ”
*Kjell Gruner has more than 25 years of automotive experience. He started as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in 1997. He then took on management positions at Porsche AG in Stuttgart before moving to the strategy department at DaimlerChrysler AG in 2004. From 2006, he headed the strategy department at Mercedes Benz Cars. In 2010, he moved back to Porsche AG as Global Chief Marketing Officer before becoming President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America in 2020. Most recently, Gruner was Chief Commercial Officer and President, Business Growth at Rivian Automotive, Inc. AutoInformed notes that last week Volkswagen and Rivan started a Joint venture to build shared software and electronics architectures” VW put $5 billion into the deal. (read AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen Group Recalls ID.4 EVs for Bad Software and VW Recalls 261,257 Audi and VW Models for Possible Fires)
Arno Antlitz, CFO & COO of the Volkswagen Group said: “The North American market with Canada, Mexico, and the USA is an important strategic pillar for the Volkswagen Group. Targeted investments in local production and innovative technologies are strengthening our global footprint and enabling us to better meet the needs of our American customers. We would like to thank Pablo Di Si, who, together with his local team, has made a lasting contribution to strengthening the American regions of our Group. In Kjell Gruner, we have brought on board an experienced expert who knows the market and customers very well and will continue to consistently pursue the growth path we have embarked on.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Pablo Di Si Out at VW Group of America
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The Volkswagen Group said today that Kjell Gruner will be CEO of Volkswagen Group of America effective December 12. Gruner succeeds Pablo Di Si, “who has stepped down from his position on his own request.” It was a short two year stint for Di Si. Until Kjell Gruner* takes office, Gerrit Spengler, the chief human resources officer of Volkswagen Group of America, will perform the function of interim CEO. So car guy out, Human Resources in. No hybrids in sight.
Yes, that’s right Human Resources is running a car company. It’s just the latest example of the chaos at VW globally as three plants are shutting in Germany and VW and Audi models are being dumped, and its plan to sell Scout vehicles directly is legally under attack by dealers. During the first nine months of the year, 769,000 vehicles were delivered in North America, an increase of more than 7% compared to the previous year. In the main US market though, the Volkswagen Group grew by only 1.5%.
“Kjell Gruner is an absolute expert for the US market. He has over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry and extensive know-how in exploiting and expediting growth opportunities in North America. Volkswagen AG is indebted to his predecessor, Pablo Di Si. His outstanding commitment was of central importance in realigning our business in South America. He subsequently laid the foundation for the positive development of our North American strategy,” said Gunnar Kilian, Group Board Member for, ahem, Human Resources at Volkswagen AG ”
*Kjell Gruner has more than 25 years of automotive experience. He started as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in 1997. He then took on management positions at Porsche AG in Stuttgart before moving to the strategy department at DaimlerChrysler AG in 2004. From 2006, he headed the strategy department at Mercedes Benz Cars. In 2010, he moved back to Porsche AG as Global Chief Marketing Officer before becoming President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America in 2020. Most recently, Gruner was Chief Commercial Officer and President, Business Growth at Rivian Automotive, Inc. AutoInformed notes that last week Volkswagen and Rivan started a Joint venture to build shared software and electronics architectures” VW put $5 billion into the deal. (read AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen Group Recalls ID.4 EVs for Bad Software and VW Recalls 261,257 Audi and VW Models for Possible Fires)
Arno Antlitz, CFO & COO of the Volkswagen Group said: “The North American market with Canada, Mexico, and the USA is an important strategic pillar for the Volkswagen Group. Targeted investments in local production and innovative technologies are strengthening our global footprint and enabling us to better meet the needs of our American customers. We would like to thank Pablo Di Si, who, together with his local team, has made a lasting contribution to strengthening the American regions of our Group. In Kjell Gruner, we have brought on board an experienced expert who knows the market and customers very well and will continue to consistently pursue the growth path we have embarked on.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.