Volvo Cars Greater China Leadership Change: Yuan Xiaolin Steps Down, Duan Jianjun Takes Over

On May 11, 2024, Volvo Cars announced a senior leadership change in its Greater China region: Yuan Xiaolin stepped down as President and CEO of Greater China, and Duan Jianjun assumed the role, joining Volvo Cars Group’s core management team and global sales leadership, reporting directly to the China Board. Yuan Xiaolin spent 16 years at Volvo Cars, playing a leading role in Geely Holding Group’s acquisition of Volvo Cars and subsequently overseeing operations in China and the Asia-Pacific region for an extended period. He served as Senior Vice President of Volvo Cars globally and President & CEO of the Asia-Pacific region since March 2017. Following his departure from the executive role, he will no longer be involved in the company’s day-to-day operations and will focus on personal and family matters. Duan Jianjun assumed his new position immediately, taking full responsibility for end-to-end operations across the Greater China region, covering the entire value chain—including R&D, production, sales, and supply chain management. His professional background includes roles at Fiat (China) Commercial Office, Volkswagen Group China, and as Vice President of Sales at Brilliance BMW. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co., Ltd. In February 2024, Duan announced his resignation from Mercedes-Benz for personal reasons and concluded his strategic advisory role there by the end of April 2024. Volvo Cars stated that this leadership transition is part of a planned succession under its existing regional strategy and organizational structure and does not reflect any shift in strategic direction. According to data, Volvo Cars achieved record global sales of 708,700 units in 2023, including 180,200 units in Greater China—both all-time highs. In 2024, global sales rose further to 763,400 units, though sales in China declined to 156,400 units. By 2025, global sales retreated to 710,000 units, with approximately 150,000 units sold in China. In the same year, Volvo Cars reported total revenue of SEK 357.263 billion, an 11% year-over-year decline, swinging from profit to a net loss of SEK 29.68 billion. Revenue from the Chinese market fell by 23% year-over-year to SEK 49.304 billion, marking the steepest decline among all individual markets globally. The company attributed this primarily to intensifying price competition in China and expanded discounts on key models, which eroded brand premium positioning. Volvo has already launched several new energy vehicle (NEV) models, including the EX70, EM90, EX90, and ES90. According to data from Geely Holding Group, Volvo Cars achieved a 46% NEV penetration rate in 2025, leading among traditional premium brands.