Bernhard Maier, CEO of Škoda Auto, is stepping down after five years at the helm. The company’s board of directors will name his successor in August.
The 60-year-old’s contract expired soon – and the Wolfsburg-based parent company took this opportunity to replace Maier. It is not clear whether he will leave Volkswagen.
VW boss Herbert Diess wants to appoint the successor from within the company’s ranks. An external candidate is currently out of the question for such a prominent position. The future Skoda boss must be familiar with the culture of VW.
“Bernhard Maier is one of the most experienced automotive managers in the Volkswagen Group. . . .he has made an extraordinary contribution to enhancing the brand’s profile. His years at ŠKODA are among the most successful in the company’s 125-year history. I would like to thank Bernhard Maier for this and almost two decades of particularly successful years, first at Porsche and then at ŠKODA”. said VW Chief Executive Herbert Diess
During Maier’s tenure, Škoda strengthened its position in the VW Group and key markets in Western Europe, tripling customer deliveries worldwide.
Under Maier’s leadership, ŠKODA introduced new models such as KODIAQ, KAROQ, KAMIQ and SCALA, developed the ENYAQ iV, the company’s first all-electric vehicle.
Last year, Škoda Auto delivered 1.24 million cars worldwide. It is active in more than 100 markets. It employs almost 39,000 employees, of which nearly 34,000 are in the Czech Republic.