- Andreas Mindt becomes Head of Design for VW Group.
- He previously led design at Audi, Bentley, and VW.
- Michael Mauer steps down, departing on “amicable terms”.
Volkswagen has handed Andreas Mindt the biggest sketchpad in the building. From March 1, the man currently reshaping the VW brand’s passenger cars will step up as Head of Group Design, taking charge of the look and feel of the entire Volkswagen Group portfolio.
Born and raised in Wolfsburg, he joined the VW Group in 1996 after graduating from Pforzheim University. Since then, he has signed off on an eclectic mix of machinery: the Bentley Hunaudieres concept, the original VW Tiguan and Golf Mk7, Audi’s A1, Q3 and Q8, the Bentley Mulliner Batur, and more recently the VW ID.2all and ID.Every1 concepts.
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He has led design for Volkswagen passenger vehicles since 2023, following senior roles at Audi and Bentley. Now his remit expands considerably. He will oversee the styling departments of Skoda, Seat, Cupra, VW, Scout, Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bugatti Rimac. In short, everything.
Sharpening Each Brand’s DNA
Andreas Mindt
In an Instagram story, Mindt said his mission is to “strengthen every brand’s identity, use synergies intelligently and ensure strong differentiation”. He added that the Volkswagen Group “stands for strong global brands with clear regional products”, promising to protect each marque’s identity while “enabling clear expression in different markets”.
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The seasoned designer concluded: “I’m excited to take on the responsibility and sharpen the future of design across the group”.
Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, commented: “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.”
Michael Mauer Steps Down
Mindt replaces Michael Mauer, who is stepping down on “amicable terms” as part of what the company calls a generational transition. Mauer has led Porsche design since 2004, following earlier stints at Mercedes and Saab, and only recently handed the Porsche role to Tobias Suhlmann, formerly of McLaren.
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Blume thanked the outgoing design chief for their “close and collaborative working relationship”, adding that he “achieved precisely what we set out to do in a short time”.
On Mauer’s broader influence, Blume said: “He shaped an era at Porsche. As Head of Group Design he also 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.”
