The difficulties faced by European automakers, mainly due to the side effects of the transition to electricity and the attack of Chinese brands, are the most important reasons for changes in the leadership of European brands.

Following the change to the leadership of Volvo Cars, it was decided to change the leadership of the Spanish automobile industry-Cupra, which belongs to the VW group.

The Volkswagen Group’s Seat and Cupra heads of October 2020, Wayne Griffiths, resigned, the company said.

Wayne Griffiths leaves the automotive industry at his request with immediate power, SEAT said in a statement on March 31.

Marcus Haupt, SEAT’s production and logistics head, will replace Griffiths on a temporary basis until a permanent successor is found, the statement said.

Wayne Griffiths joined the Audi brand of VW Group in 1989. He worked in various sales and marketing roles in Audi and SEAT and was appointed CEO of SEAT -Cupra in 2020.

VW announced that, led by Wayne Griffiths, the Cupra was established as an independent brand within the VW Group and recently became one of the fastest growing car brands in Europe.

SEAT sales increased by 7.5% to 310,000 in 2024, while the volume of Cupra increased by 7.5% to 248.100. Operating profits increased by 1.3% to EUR 633 million.

New CEO and Volvo

Volvo Cars re -appointed Hankan Samuelson, who served as chief executive of the company from 2012 to 2022, as Managing Director, after the group warned last month that it would face a difficult 2025.

Hankan Samuelson, 74, will succeed Jim Rowan, who resigned yesterday. Hakan Samuelson will serve a two -year term while the team is preparing to set a long -term successor, the Swedish brand said in a statement.

Jim Rowan’s departure comes just three years after his appointment in January 2022, which followed Volvo’s introduction to the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 2021.