He Created the Volvo You Recall, Now He Needs to Address What It Has Become | Carscoops

      Thomas Ingenlath is set to return to Volvo's design leadership this February.

      He was responsible for creating iconic models such as the XC90, XC40, and V90 wagons.

      After experiencing strong sales in 2023 and 2024, Volvo's global sales declined in 2025.

      Volvo has determined that to address its challenges, it should rehire the individual who successfully guided it before. Thomas Ingenlath is returning to Gothenburg as chief design officer, nearly a decade after he left to transform Polestar from a Volvo division into a prominent electric brand.

      If contemporary Volvos exude a sense of calm, confidence, and understated luxury, it can be attributed largely to Ingenlath's influence. He redefined the brand in the 2010s with models like the XC90, XC40, and V90, establishing a clean Scandinavian aesthetic, aiding in its expansion into new markets, and restoring its relevance, luxury, and aspirational image.

      Currently, he is rejoining Volvo during a significantly different phase. The company rebounded from the pandemic with record years in 2023 and 2024, but that momentum has faded, and the market is becoming increasingly challenging, partly due to President Trump's tariffs. Global sales sharply declined in 2025, and sales in China have been decreasing for the past couple of years.

      The brand is also undergoing a gradual identity transformation, moving away from the sedans and wagons that once defined it and shifting more towards electric vehicles. The S90 disappeared from the US market last year (it remains available in China), and wagons will soon exit American dealerships this spring. Consumers now favor SUVs, even though estates played a crucial role in establishing Volvo's reputation.

      Ingenlath's role is not to adjust the designs of existing models, as much of that has already been finalized. His primary objective is to envision what Volvo will evolve into next as it increasingly focuses on electric vehicles, software, and automation, while striving to maintain its core identity.

      During his absence from Volvo, he spent seven years leading Polestar, transforming it from a niche sub-brand into a significant global entity. The Polestar 1 and 2 helped build its credibility, while the 3 and 4 provided increased volume. Ingenlath was instrumental in launching it in over 20 markets and developing a distinct, minimal design language that contrasted with Volvo’s softer aesthetics.

      However, Polestar's share price plummeted in 2024, sales declined, and Ingenlath was succeeded as CEO by Michael Lohscheller, the former head of Opel, that same year.

      What changes would you like to see from Ingenlath for the next generation of Volvo designs?