Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Europe By The Numbers
  • Car Cutaways
  • Resource Center
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
    • TOYOTA EUROPE: Toyota Motor Europe's next-gen C-HR: sensory innovations revealed by Vehicle UX leader
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Capgemini and Renault Group: Leaders on unlocking automotive sustainability with circular economy strategies and EV battery solutions
    • Clear Channel: The automotive industry is getting EV advertising wrong
    • SENSEAUTO: Driving the future of mobility with SenseAuto: The AGI power behind the wheel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
November 24, 2016 12:00 AM

Audi picks Volvo exec for top r&d job

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More

    Audi has picked Volvo executive Peter Mertens to lead technical development at the Volkswagen Group subsidiary.

    Mertens, the second high-ranking member of Volvo's r&d team to move to Audi since August, will join the German automaker “at the earliest possible opportunity,” an Audi spokesman told Automotive News Europe. He declined to be more specific.

    Audi looked outside the VW Group to fill the post after losing its previous two technical development chiefs in the fallout from VW Groups' emissions-cheating scandal. Both were longtime VW Group employees.

    “Peter Mertens had the best combination of qualities and experience,” the spokesman said.

    Along with Volvo, the German executive has served as a manager and executive at multiple carmakers including Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Jaguar Land Rover.

    Audi CEO Rupert Stadler complimented Mertens' “exceptionally broad technical expertise” and his international background. “These are ideal qualifications for him to make further progress with the technical development division at Audi,” Stadler said in a statement on Thursday.

    Mertens has played a key role in Volvo's turnaround, which has led to record sales and profits at the automaker.

    Both of Mertens' predecessors, Ulrich Hackenberg and Stefan Knirsch, were forced to leave Audi because of their alleged involvement in VW Group's emissions fraud. Knirsch didn't even survive nine months on the job before he was removed in late September.

    Mertens, who was named an Automotive News Europe Eurostar this year, has played a key role in Volvo's turnaround, which has led to record sales and profits at the automaker. When he arrived at the company in 2011 he said his team felt it could not adequately compete against Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Now Volvo has Europe's No. 1 premium midsize SUV, the XC60, and the new-generation XC90 is in a close battle with the BMW X5 for the No. 1 spot in Europe's premium large SUV segment. The XC90 has also been a hit with critics, winning more than 100 global awards in a little more than a year, including 2016 North American Truck of the Year and it finished second in voting for 2016 European Car of the Year.

    One of the people who will report to Mertens is former high-ranking Volvo executive Thomas Mueller, who starts as Audi's head of electrics/electronics in December. Mertens was also Mueller's boss at Volvo.

    During Mueller's three and a half years at Volvo he rose to vice president electrics/electronics & chassis. Last year Mueller was named one of the Rising Stars in the European automotive industry by Automotive News Europe.

    Mueller, who is also a German national, started his automotive career at BMW in 1999. He served as BMW's director of connected cars from 2009 until moving to Volvo in 2012.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    EU trade chief to tell China that retaliation is a bad idea
    Recommended for You
    EU trade chief to tell China that retaliation is a bad idea
    EU trade chief to tell China that retaliation is a bad idea
    Joerg Lamparter Mercedes 2023 Eurostar
    2023 Eurostar winner Joerg Lamparter of Mercedes-Benz
    Mark Zhou Nio 2023 Eurostar
    2023 Eurostar winner Mark Zhou of Nio
    Capgemini and Renault Group leaders on unlocking automotive sustainability with  circular economy strategies and EV battery solutions
    Sponsored Content: Capgemini and Renault Group leaders on unlocking automotive sustainability with circular economy strategies and EV battery solutions
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Europe By The Numbers
    • Car Cutaways
    • Resource Center
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
        • TOYOTA EUROPE: Toyota Motor Europe's next-gen C-HR: sensory innovations revealed by Vehicle UX leader
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
        • Capgemini and Renault Group: Leaders on unlocking automotive sustainability with circular economy strategies and EV battery solutions
        • Clear Channel: The automotive industry is getting EV advertising wrong
        • SENSEAUTO: Driving the future of mobility with SenseAuto: The AGI power behind the wheel
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us