by New appointment at Volkswagen
Volkswagen has entrusted Andreas Mindt with the greatest creative responsibility in the company. From March 1, the man who is currently changing the face of the VW brand’s passenger cars will be promoted to the position of Head of Group Design, taking on responsibility for the appearance and feel of the entire product line of the Volkswagen Group.
Career path of the new leader
Born and raised in Wolfsburg, he joined the Volkswagen Group in 1996 after graduating from the University of Pforzheim. Since then, he has left his mark on a whole series of diverse cars: the Bentley Hunaudieres concept, the original VW Tiguan and Golf Mk7, Audi A1, Q3 and Q8, Bentley Mulliner Batur, as well as, more recently, the VW ID.2all and ID.Every1 concepts.
He has headed Volkswagen passenger car design since 2023, following leadership positions at Audi and Bentley. Now his area of responsibility is expanding significantly. He will oversee the styling departments of Skoda, Seat, Cupra, VW, Scout, Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bugatti Rimac. In short, everything.
The task of strengthening brand identities
In his address, Mindt noted that his mission is to “strengthen the identity of each brand, intelligently use synergy, and ensure clear differentiation.” He added that the Volkswagen Group “stands for strong global brands with clear regional products,” promising to protect the identity of each brand while “ensuring its clear expression in different markets.”
I am pleased to take on the responsibility and sharpen the future of design across the entire Group.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume commented: “I look forward to closer cooperation with Andy Mindt. Through his achievements in the Volkswagen brand and his expertise, he has made a significant impact in a short time and played a key role in ensuring our cars are once again clearly recognizable as genuine Volkswagen models.”
Generational change in leadership
Mindt will replace Michael Mauer, who is leaving his position “on friendly terms” as part of what the company calls a generational transition. Mauer headed Porsche design from 2004, following previous work periods at Mercedes and Saab, and only recently passed the role at Porsche to Tobias Sühlmann, a former McLaren employee.
Blume thanked the former design chief for the “close and collaborative working relationship,” adding that he “achieved exactly what we planned in a short time.”
Regarding Mauer’s broader influence, Blume said: “He shaped an entire era at Porsche. As head of group design, he also laid the design philosophy for all brands, which provides orientation and guarantees recognizability, with clearly defined brand and product identities. His work shaped the style of our brands and will remain noticeable in the future.”
This personnel change at the highest design level comes at a crucial moment for the Group, as it actively implements electric platforms and seeks new forms for its future models. Mindt’s experience gained from working on mass-market and premium cars, as well as concepts, could prove crucial for balancing the use of shared technologies and preserving the unique character of each of the Group’s numerous brands, from affordable Skodas to exclusive Bugattis. His task is not only to draw the cars of the future but also to protect the legacy left by his predecessors.
