Ghent plant manager moves up
Volvo appoints Magnus Nilsson as head of production
Volvo is bringing Ghent plant manager Magnus Nilsson into the group management. As the new head of production, he is taking over a manufacturing network that could face some significant changes in the near future.
Volvo Cars is reorganising its executive management and is also relying on continuity from within its own ranks in the production division. Magnus Nilsson, who only at the beginning of the year had succeeded Stefan Fesser as head of the Belgian plant in Ghent, will become the new Chief Manufacturing Officer on 1 September and will assume responsibility for production as well as manufacturing engineering. Nilsson's predecessor Francesca Gamboni is to concentrate on the topics of procurement and supply chain.
With this personnel decision, a manager moves up into the executive management who has known the manufacturer's operational business for decades. Nilsson has already been working for the carmaker since 1988 and, before being appointed plant manager in Ghent, held various shop positions at Volvo in Sweden and Belgium.
Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson classified the changes as part of a broader realignment of the leadership structure. “These changes strengthen our leadership team and reflect our future priorities as well as the rapid ability to act that is required for the next phase of Volvo Cars,” said the CEO.
Nilsson is a production expert
That the choice has fallen on Nilsson is unlikely to be a coincidence. The plant in Ghent that he manages is one of the manufacturer's strategically most important sites. Among others, the EX30, EX40, EC40, XC40 and V60 models roll off the production line there. At the same time, the site is undergoing profound change.
On the one hand, the EX30 is meanwhile developing into Volvo's best-selling fully electric model. On the other hand, adjustments to the production programme are pending. Thus, production of the EX40 and EC40 is to be relocated in future to the new plant in Slovakia. At the same time, Volvo is endeavouring to secure the utilisation of the Belgian site in the long term. Only a few weeks ago, the manufacturer once again reaffirmed its commitment to the future of the plant.
Production network under pressure
As the new head of production, Nilsson is taking up his post at a time in which many global production decisions are being realigned. Volvo had already admitted at the beginning of 2025 that it was examining the relocation of further vehicle production to the USA if rising import tariffs were to make this economically necessary. The manufacturer has spare capacity at the Charleston site and is considering producing additional models locally. Among the vehicles discussed were those on the XC60 and XC90 platforms.
Additional complexity arises from possible manufacturing projects within the Geely Group. According to statements by the new Geely Chairman An Conghui, from 2028 vehicles of the premium brands Zeekr and Lynk & Co could be produced in European Volvo plants. The Volvo plants in Ghent, Torslanda and the new plant in Slovakia are considered possible locations.
If these plans are implemented, Nilsson would not only be responsible for the transformation of Volvo's production network, but would also have to oversee the closer industrial integration within the Geely Group.
Volvo fills the CTO post anew
In parallel with the new appointment in the production division, Volvo is also replacing its technology chief. Alexander Petrofski takes over the position of Chief Technology Officer from Anders Bell, who in future will lead a strategic initiative to scale the platform and software technologies developed by Volvo. According to Samuelsson, Bell “played a decisive role in bringing our technology and software development into a leading position”. The personnel changes take effect on 1 September 2026.
