BMW vs Volvo Cars: Founders, CEOs and History
BMW was founded in 1916 by Karl Rapp, Gustav Otto and is led by Milan Nedeljković. Volvo Cars was founded in 1927 by Assar Gabrielsson, Gustaf Larson and is led by Håkan Samuelsson.
Company facts
BMW
- Founded
- 1916
- Headquarters
- Munich, Germany
- Current CEO
- Milan Nedeljković
- Employees
- 154,540
Volvo Cars
- Founded
- 1927
- Headquarters
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Current CEO
- Håkan Samuelsson
- Employees
- 42,600
Founders
BMW
Karl Rapp
Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) traces its foundational roots not to automobiles, but to the skies above Germany during the First World War.
Gustav Otto
Gustav Otto's importance lies in the aviation world that made BMW possible. He founded an aircraft manufacturing company before BMW became associated with motorcycles or cars, and his operations formed part of the Bavarian industrial environment from which BMW…
Volvo Cars
Assar Gabrielsson
Assar Gabrielsson co-founded Volvo in Gothenburg in 1927 together with engineer Gustaf Larson, with SKF backing the venture. He led the business and commercial side of the young company as managing director.
Gustaf Larson
Gustaf Larson co-founded Volvo in 1927 and was responsible for the technical side, including the engineering of the first series-built Volvo, the ÖV 4.
CEOs and their tenures
BMW
- Eberhard von Kuenheim1970–1993
Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO)
BMW's longest-serving chief executive turned a mainly German carmaker into an international premium brand, launching the 3 Series (1975) and 7 Series (1977) and completing the 'Four Cylinder' headquarters tower in Munich.
Source - Norbert Reithofer2006–2015
Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO)
Reithofer led BMW through the 2008-2009 financial crisis with his 'Strategy Number ONE' and approved Project i, which produced the carbon-fibre i3 and i8. He later chaired the Supervisory Board.
Source - Harald Krüger2015–2019
Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO)
Krüger led BMW from May 2015 to August 2019, a period that included the launch of the X7 and the preparation of flexible vehicle architectures.
Source - Oliver Zipse2019–2026
Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO)
Zipse joined BMW in 1991 and led the group from 16 August 2019 to 13 May 2026, concluding 35 years with the company.
Source - Milan Nedeljković2026–present
Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO)
Took over from Oliver Zipse on 14 May 2026 after a career that began as a BMW trainee in 1993 and included senior roles at Plant Oxford, managing director of Plants Leipzig and Munich, senior vice president Corporate Quality and, from 2019, board member for Pr…
Source
Volvo Cars
- Jim Rowan2022–2025
Former CEO
Led Volvo Cars from 2022 until 31 March 2025, covering the EX30 and EX90 launches.
Source - Håkan Samuelsson2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Returned on 1 April 2025 for a two-year term after leading Volvo Cars from 2012 to 2022; due to hand over to Klaus Zellmer no later than 1 October 2027.
Source - Fredrik Hansson2025–present
Chief Financial Officer
Appointed CFO in 2025 after serving as Deputy CFO and head of global controlling.
Source - Klaus Zellmer2027–present
Incoming President and Chief Executive Officer
Appointed in September 2026; CEO of Škoda Auto since 2022 and previously a Volkswagen brand board member and Porsche executive.
Source
Timeline: BMW and Volvo Cars side by side
1916BMW
Official Foundation Date
BMW traces its official foundation date to 7 March 1916 through Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke AG. The origin matters because the business began in aircraft and engine manufacturing before it ever sold cars.
1923BMW
BMW R 32 Motorcycle Launch
The R 32 gave BMW its first branded motorcycle and a recognizable engineering signature around the boxer engine and shaft drive. It turned aircraft-engine know-how into a consumer product after aviation restrictions changed the company's market.
1927Volvo Cars
Volvo founded in Gothenburg
Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson start series production with the ÖV 4.
1928BMW
Entry Into Automobiles Through Eisenach
BMW became an automobile manufacturer by purchasing Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach. The deal gave the company an existing carmaking base and moved it beyond engines and motorcycles into the larger passenger-car market.
1959Volvo Cars
Three-point seatbelt introduced
Nils Bohlin's three-point seatbelt becomes standard in Volvo cars.
1961BMW
New Class Breakthrough
The BMW 1500 New Class sedan filled a market gap and helped restore BMW as a successful modern carmaker. Its sporty sedan formula became a foundation for the later performance-premium identity.
1994BMW
Rover Group Acquisition
BMW bought Rover Group to broaden its model range, but the integration did not meet expectations and most of Rover was sold in 2000. The episode mattered because it pushed BMW back toward disciplined premium positioning while MINI remained inside the group.
1998BMW
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Rights Acquired
BMW obtained the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars brand and naming rights in 1998 and took full responsibility for the marque from 2003. The deal expanded the group upward into ultra-luxury without forcing the BMW badge to carry that role.
1999Volvo Cars
Ford buys Volvo Cars
AB Volvo sells its car business to Ford.
2010Volvo Cars
Geely acquires Volvo Cars
Zhejiang Geely Holding buys Volvo Cars from Ford.
2011BMW
BMW i Sub-Brand Announced
BMW announced the BMW i sub-brand with the i3 and i8 planned as its first models. The program gave the group an early platform for electric mobility, lightweight materials, and sustainability-focused manufacturing ideas.
2019BMW
Oliver Zipse Became Chairman
Oliver Zipse became Chairman of the Board of Management on 16 August 2019 and served until 13 May 2026. His tenure was defined by the technology-open strategy, the Neue Klasse programme and flexible production across powertrains.
2021Volvo Cars
Nasdaq Stockholm listing
Volvo Car AB lists under VOLCAR B.
2023BMW
~$176B (EUR 155.498B) Revenue Year
BMW Group revenue reached ~$176B (EUR 155.498B) in 2023, the highest annual revenue in the recent report period shown here. That peak set a demanding comparison base for the weaker 2024 and 2025 revenue years.
2025BMW
FY2025 Revenue and Deliveries
BMW Group reported ~$151B (EUR 133.453B) in revenue and 2,463,681 automotive deliveries in FY2025. The result showed stable unit scale but weaker revenue and margin conditions, especially as China, tariffs, currency, and EV costs affected the business.
2025BMW
Neue Klasse iX3 World Premiere
The fully electric BMW iX3, the first Neue Klasse model, premiered at the IAA in Munich in September 2025. It is built in Debrecen, Hungary, and European customer deliveries began in March 2026.
2025Volvo Cars
Håkan Samuelsson returns as CEO
Samuelsson replaces Jim Rowan on 1 April 2025.
2026BMW
Capital Market Day Reset Plan
On 30 September 2026 BMW set a 3-5% automotive EBIT margin target for 2028 and 8-10% by the start of the next decade, alongside fewer variants, a first BMW ALPINA model in 2027 and a compact Neue Klasse EV for Europe in 2028.
2026BMW
Profit Warning on China Downturn
On 16 June 2026 BMW cut its 2026 automotive EBIT margin guidance to 1-3% from 4-6%. Q2 automotive margin came in at 2.3% and China deliveries fell 30.2% in the quarter.
2026BMW
Milan Nedeljković Became CEO
Milan Nedeljković succeeded Oliver Zipse as Chairman of the Board of Management on 14 May 2026, the day after the 106th Annual General Meeting, which also approved converting all preferred shares into ordinary shares.
2026Volvo Cars
Klaus Zellmer named next CEO
Zellmer will take over no later than 1 October 2027.
Acquisitions
BMW
- ALPINA brand2022Undisclosed
- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars1998$66M
- Rover Group1994$1.2B
- Mini brand1994Undisclosed
Questions about BMW vs Volvo Cars
Who is the CEO of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volvo Car AB?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is led by Milan Nedeljković and Volvo Car AB is led by Håkan Samuelsson. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Bayerische Motoren Werke AG founded vs Volvo Car AB?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG was founded in 1916 — 11 years before Volvo Car AB, which was founded in 1927. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Volvo Car AB.
How many employees does Bayerische Motoren Werke AG have compared to Volvo Car AB?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG employs approximately 154,540 people, while Volvo Car AB employs approximately 42,600. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG has the larger workforce at 154,540 employees, compared to Volvo Car AB's 42,600. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volvo Car AB headquartered?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is headquartered in Germany and Volvo Car AB is headquartered in Sweden. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volvo Car AB?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG was founded by Karl Rapp, Gustav Otto. Volvo Car AB was founded by Assar Gabrielsson, Gustaf Larson.
Which company has a longer operating history — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or Volvo Car AB?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG has been operating for approximately 110 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Volvo Car AB has been in operation for around 99 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the BMW vs Volvo Cars overview