Volkswagen Group has officially appointed Andreas Mindt as its new head of group design, effective 1 March 2026.
His promotion completes a leadership transition that began earlier in the year and follows his tenure as head of design for the Volkswagen brand. Mindt succeeds Michael Mauer, who departs on amicable terms as part of a planned generational shift.
Mindt has spent nearly three decades within the Volkswagen Group, beginning his career in 1996 after graduating from Pforzheim University School of Design. His portfolio includes work on key models such as the first-generation Tiguan, the Golf 7 and more recently the ID.2all concept. He has also held senior design roles at Audi and Bentley, where he oversaw the development of the Bentley Batur design language.
Incoming Group CEO Oliver Blume praised both designers, thanking Mauer for shaping a cohesive cross-brand design philosophy and highlighting Mindt’s role in redefining Volkswagen’s design identity in recent years. According to the Group, a central priority remains strengthening brand differentiation while preserving the heritage of each marque. Mindt’s brief will extend across a vast portfolio that includes Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Skoda, Seat and Lamborghini.
The outgoing Mauer, who previously handed Porsche design leadership to Tobias Sühlmann, is credited with stabilising the Group’s design strategy and sharpening the individual brand identities. His departure marks a more measured transition at Group level than at Porsche, though still framed as part of the company’s long-term succession planning.
With electric transformation reshaping product portfolios across the Group, Mindt’s appointment indicates Volkswagen’s commitment to continuity in design leadership while preparing its brands for a new era of global competition.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
