Here’s Who’ll Be the Next Head of VW Group Design

• Porsche brand design boss Michael Mauer replaces Klaus Zyciora as head of VW Group design.

• Zyciora has been with VW since 1989, starting out at its interior design division, before eventually becoming the head of Group design in 2020.

• Mauer will also maintain his current post as head of Porsche brand design, having served in that post since 2004.

Just ahead of the new year the VW Group will get a new head of design, with Klaus Zyciora departing the role after a long career at VW that stretches all the way back to 1989.

Among other cars, Zyciora oversaw the designs of the Golf from sixth to the eigth generations, and charted the course for the ID lineup of electric vehicles, including the upcoming ID. Buzz. He started at VW interior design in the late 1980s, and became head of interior design in 2000, taking over the role of head of exterior design in 2002.

Zyciora assumed the role of executive director of Volkswagen design in 2007, leading a staff of over 600 designers, and eventually became head of VW Group design in 2020.

"Klaus demonstrated his abilities as an excellent designer, strong team leader and creative forward thinker for more than 30 years," VW Group CEO Oliver Blume said. "Working with his team, he defined design at Volkswagen and strengthened our brands for the future."

Michael Mauer, head of design at Porsche, will take over Zyriora's role while also remaining in his current post at Porsche. Mauer is a true veteran of the brand as well, having held his post at Porsche AG since 2004, having working on the 911 models during that time period, in addition to more recent models such as the Taycan and the Macan.

"We would like to thank Klaus Zyciora for everything he has done and wish him all the best in the future," Blume added.

Mauer steps into the role at a tumultuous time in the industry when it comes to design, with EV powertrains forcing a rethinking of entire model lineups and their aesthetics. Electric Porsche models have been fortunate during this time of transition and have been warmly received, avoiding the controversy of some other German rivals, but the design language of the ID lineup has largely yet to be defined, with just a handful of conservatively styled models on offer worldwide.

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