- Innovation and leadership strategy power Škoda to double award success
- Škoda CEO Klaus Zellmer named Outstanding Leader of the Year
- Škoda Elroq collects prestigious Electric Car of the Year title
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Škoda Auto, has been named Outstanding Leader of the Year at the 2026 Autocar Awards, while the brand’s Elroq has been crowned Electric Car of the Year.
Zellmer, who joined the brand in 2022 as CEO, was recognised for overseeing a remarkable period of growth during which sales and profitability have grown significantly. In giving the award to Zellmer, Autocar judges recognised the expansion of the Škoda line-up and the introduction of its best-selling Enyaq and Elroq all-electric models. Editor Mark Tisshaw commented: “Škoda has sold a colossal 223,500 cars in Europe in the first quarter of 2026. That makes it not just the region’s second-biggest brand, after Volkswagen, but also one of its fastest-growing, having climbed eight places in just four years.”
In an interview with Zellmer to mark the award, he recalled the moment he was asked to join Škoda as CEO: “When they asked me [to take over Škoda], normally you have to pretend a little bit and say ‘I’ll sleep on it’, but I immediately said: ‘Yes, I’ll do it. That sounds super-interesting.’”
Fittingly, one of Zellmer’s creations, the all-electric Elroq was named Electric Car Of the Year by the Autocar judging panel, adding to its impressive haul of industry accolades in the process. Explaining the decision, Mark Tisshaw said: “Remember when new electric cars were all huge, had a motor at each end and bristled with more complexity than you could shake a stick at? Well, the Škoda Elroq, our favourite electric car on today’s market, is emphatically not that and is all the better for it. This is one of those subtle EV mile-eaters: quiet, smooth, effective.”
Since its introduction in 2025, the Elroq has collected a string of major industry awards. It was named Car of the Year 2025 and Best Mid-Size SUV by Auto Express, won Family Electric SUV of the Year and later Best Electric Family SUV at the What Car? Awards, and was crowned Car of the Year 2026 by The Car Expert. The Elroq also secured Car of the Year honours at the Company Car & Van Awards, while the performance-focused Elroq vRS was named Car of the Year by The Sunday Times Driving.
A full database of downloadable media assets relating to the Elroq and all other Škoda models can be found at www.skodamedia.com .
