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Apparently not good enough – VW fires the head of design

In recent years, VW has chosen a completely new design profile for its cars. Then we are particularly thinking of the new, electric ID. series.

It was necessary in many ways. Of course to emphasize and underline that this is something completely new and something to enter the future with – and something that will last for a long time.

But now it appears that VW director Thomas Schäfer is not satisfied with the brand’s new design profile. Not only that – he is so unhappy that he has now told chief designer Jozef Kaban to take his hat and leave. That’s what the car website writes Automotive News Europe.

No little boy

UT: Jozef Kaban was brought back to VW in 2020 as chief designer. Now new tasks await in the company.

The website also confirms that VW has already found Kaban’s replacement. It is none other than Andreas Mindt who until now has been responsible for the appearance of Bentley’s exclusive cars.

Mindt will take up his new position as early as 1 February this year, so it’s going to take a turn for the worse.

Kaban, who must now leave the podium, is no small boy in car design either. He started his career in 1999 at the VW Group, where he has worked for Audi and Skoda. He was also recruited by BMW, where he worked from 2017 to 2020. Among other things, with Rolls-Royce. Before he made a comeback at VW. The crowning glory of the design work is still the Bugatti Veyron, which he was involved in. Kaban is not leaving VW, but will take up a new position in the company.

Also read: One thing in particular makes electric cars still worthwhile

Frequent leadership changes

INSIDE: Andreas Mindt comes from Bentely, and now takes over as chief designer at VW.

INSIDE: Andreas Mindt comes from Bentely, and now takes over as chief designer at VW.

Kaban’s successor, Andreas Mindt, who is 53 years old, is also a VW veteran. He grew up in the VW city of Wolfsburg. His father was a designer at VW, so he almost got this through his mother’s milk.

Because, apart from the VW Group’s luxury brand Bentley, Mindt also has experience from more popular models, such as the seventh generation VW Golf, where he was involved, but not chief designer.

In recent years, VW has had frequent management changes in many departments, without this having contributed to lifting sales to new – or should we rather say – to old heights. Then it remains to be seen whether Mindt can lift the design up to the expected level.

Also read: Record surge in 2022 – abrupt stop in 2023

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