Wolfsburg, February 18, 2026 – The Volkswagen Group has announced a major leadership change in its design organisation. Andreas Mindt, Head of Design at the Volkswagen brand, will assume responsibility for Group Design starting March 1, 2026, succeeding Michael Mauer, who is leaving the company on amicable terms as part of a generational transition.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume paid tribute to Mauer’s lasting influence: “I would like to warmly thank Michael Mauer for his outstanding work and for the close and collaborative working relationship over the years. He shaped an era at Porsche. As Head of Group Design, he established a design philosophy across all brands that provides orientation and ensures recognition – with clearly defined brand and product identities. His work has shaped the style of our brands and will remain visible in the future.”
Under Mauer’s leadership, the Group sharpened its design strategy and delivered unmistakable products that resonate with customers worldwide. Blume noted, “Michael achieved precisely what we set out to do in a short time. The individual brands developed their DNA and pinpointed their positioning. Their iconic models authentically reflect their origins – and deliver what our customers expect.”
Looking ahead, Blume expressed confidence in Mindt’s appointment: “I am looking forward to working more closely with Andy Mindt. With his track record at the Volkswagen brand and his expertise, he has made a significant impact in a short time and played a key role in ensuring that our cars are clearly recognisable as genuine Volkswagen models again.”
Mindt’s career within the Volkswagen Group spans three decades. Since joining in 1996 after graduating from Pforzheim University School of Design, he has held a variety of key roles, contributing to projects such as the first-generation Tiguan and the Golf 7. Between 2014 and 2021, he led Audi’s exterior design across the A1 to the e-tron GT and Q3 to Q8 models. In 2021, Mindt became Director of Bentley Design, defining the brand’s new design language, unveiled last summer with the Bentley Batur. Since February 2023, he has served as Head of Design at Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
Michael Mauer’s influence on Porsche and the wider Volkswagen Group is equally significant. Taking over as Porsche’s fourth Head of Design in 2004, he followed in the footsteps of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Anatol Lapine, and Harm Lagaay. Mauer led the redesign of the Cayenne, the Panamera, and the 918 Spyder, and later guided Porsche’s design evolution into the electric era. Since January 2023, he has held the dual role of Head of Group Design while maintaining his leadership at Porsche.
For the Volkswagen Group, design is more than aesthetics – it is central to brand differentiation and customer connection. Group Design ensures each brand communicates its DNA authentically, delivering products that meet regional expectations while remaining instantly recognisable globally. The appointment of Andreas Mindt signals both continuity and a new generation of leadership poised to shape the visual identity of the Volkswagen Group for years to come.
