VOLKSWAGEN has appointed Marco Schubert as the head of its US operations, replacing Kjell Gruner who is leaving the company. 

Mr Schubert’s previous role was head of sales at Audi and a member of the executive board, based in Germany. 

He has more than 30 years of professional experience in the automotive industry, including 20 years working at Audi, and has spent more than half of his career at international sites. 

Marco Schubert

Mr Schubert studied automotive economics at Nürtingen-Geislingen University. 

From 2011 to 2014 he was head of the North Europe region at Audi, then was managing director for Audi Sweden for three years before becoming head of sales for Asia and Overseas at Skoda.  

He was president of the Audi sales division in China from 2018 to 2021, then from 2021 to 2024 he was vice president for region Europe at Porsche. 

From September 1, 2024, Mr Schubert has been a member of the executive board of Audi AG for sales and marketing and is responsible for Volkswagen Group’s sales operations as a member of its extended executive committee. 

He joins Volkswagen as it prepares a significant shake-up of its US operations, bringing in new leadership and broadening its model line-up to include a pickup truck. 

Reuters said that Volkswagen Group plans to overhaul its US strategy with new management and a revised and expanded product lineup, including a new pickup.