Volkswagen is looking for a change in its electric range, and has rehired Andreas Mindt, former head of design at Bentley and Audi.
Hires and rehires are the order of the day in the automotive sector, as are changes of camp. This time, we come to Volkswagen, as it has announced the return to the parent brand of Andreas Mindt, the former head of design at Bentley and Audi.
This new strategy, which leaves behind former designer Jozef Kaban, will hopefully make its mark in a new design approach for the brand’s future electric vehicles, in a new attempt to reclaim the electric market leadership. Mindt is expected to officially take up the position early next February.
The previous designer, Jozef Kaban, reportedly did not meet the board’s expectations. Kaban worked for several Volkswagen brands from 2003 to 2017, then tried his luck at BMW, but ended up returning as Volkswagen’s chief designer in July 2020. Among his major milestones was the initial design of the Volkswagen ID.2 (ID.Life) and he also played a role in ‘Project Trinity’.
The change in personnel at the brand comes as no surprise, as last year they announced the departure of popular CEO Herbert Diess, who was replaced by current CEO Oliver Blume, who is also CEO of Porsche. Upon his arrival, Blume was quick to announce an updated electrification strategy.
As for Volkswagen’s new chief designer, Andreas Mindt, he has a 25-year history with the Volkswagen Group. In all those years, Mindt has held various minor and major positions, such as head of exterior design at Audi, where he was responsible for overseeing the launch of the Audi e-tron, Audi’s first electric car. As early as 2021, he was tasked with leading the design of Bentley’s electric future.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the work Mindt brings with him, who is expected to be present on the design of the new Volkswagen ID.3 and the recently unveiled Volkswagen ID.7, as well as other vehicles that contribute to Volkswagen’s goal of offering 10 all-electric models by 2026. The Group appears to be on track with its electric range, announcing a 26% increase in electric vehicle sales for the full 2022 period.
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