Ex-Opel and VinFast CEO Michael Lohscheller Named President of Nikola Motor

Nikola Corporation has named industry veteran Michael Lohscheller as the new President of Nikola Motor. Lohscheller is the former Chief Executive Officer at Opel Automobile GmbH and Global CEO of Vietnam’s VinFast.

Reporting to CEO Mark Russell, he will be responsible for scaling Nikola’s global truck business.

Nikola Corporation designs and manufactures zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure. 

Nikola Chief Executive Officer, Mark Russell, says: “Michael Lohscheller brings several decades of direct automotive industry expertise to our already accomplished leadership team at Nikola. His role will be immediately pivotal as the Nikola Tre BEV moves into production, and as we continue to achieve development milestones for the Nikola Tre FCEV.”

Michael Lohscheller, president, Nikola Motor

“It goes without saying that hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric zero-emission vehicles are the future of mobility, and I am extremely proud to be joining a company that is paving the way for this global transformation,” adds Lohscheller. “My career has prepared me well to achieve the ambitious milestones needed to make this happen.”

Stephen Girsky, Nikola Corporation board chair, states: “As Nikola moves into global production, an experienced and respected industry veteran like Michael strengthens the Nikola team. He knows his way around the manufacturing floors, board rooms and showrooms and has worked with the latest technologies throughout his career. We are pleased to welcome Michael to the team.”

 Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.