Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will appoint a new Chair of the Board of Management on July 1, with Carsten Intra stepping down and Stefan Mecha, currently CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in China, set to take over the role.
In a statement released Thursday, Volkswagen said Intra is leaving the company “for personal reasons as part of a retirement programme.” Although the group did not elaborate further, the phrasing suggests the move may be a planned transition rather than a sudden departure.
Carsten Intra has led the Commercial Vehicles division since September 2020 and is credited with driving key model launches and strategic development. “Carsten Intra has launched important models such as the ID. Buzz, the Transporter and others, setting the right course to further unlock the potential of light commercial vehicles in the future,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand and Chair of the Advisory Board for VW Commercial Vehicles. Schäfer also praised Intra’s leadership in advancing autonomous driving technologies and establishing the ‘California’ sub-brand.
Under Intra’s leadership, the brand achieved record earnings in 2023, marking a significant turnaround. Prior to heading Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Intra held leadership roles at MAN SE, MAN Truck & Bus SE, and Traton SE, where he was responsible for human resources and IT.
Stefan Mecha, who will succeed Intra, brings over 15 years of experience within the Volkswagen Group. Since 2022, he has served as the CEO for the China region of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. His earlier roles included senior sales positions across Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Russia.
“With Stefan Mecha, one of our most internationally experienced managers is taking over the leadership of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles,” said Schäfer. “He has demonstrated in regions such as Brazil, South Africa, Russia and China that it is possible to achieve sustainable success even in challenging environments – through a good team spirit, pragmatism, and deep market insight.”
Mecha began his career within the VW Group in sales at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, known internally as “Nutzis.” He is expected to steer the brand into its next growth phase from the company’s headquarters in Hanover.