---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-25-324822"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CARS"
cik: "0001683606"
company_name: "Cars.com Inc."
filed_at: "2025-12-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T12:45:38.401053+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cars.com CEO Alex Vetter to step down Jan 15, 2026; Tobi Hartmann appointed as successor

## Summary
- Alex Vetter, CEO and director, to depart Jan 15, 2026; will stay as Special Advisor through Mar 31, 2026, then receive severance.
- Tobias Hartmann, former CEO of Scout24 SE, appointed CEO-Designate effective Dec 22, 2025, to become CEO by Jan 15, 2026.
- Hartmann's compensation: $750,000 base salary, 110% target bonus, $3M RSUs (3-year vest), $2M PRSUs (stock price goals).
- Board adopted 2025 Inducement Equity Plan reserving 1,000,000 shares for new-hire awards.
- Hartmann to be appointed to the Board and nominated as director at 2026 annual meeting.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-25-324822
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CARS
- cik: 0001683606
- company_name: Cars.com Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-12-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1683606/000119312525324822/0001193125-25-324822-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1683606/000119312525324822/cars-20251212.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-324822
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-324822.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-324822.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.