The Volkswagen brand is undergoing a change in leadership within its design department, as Andreas Mindt, currently Director of Bentley Design, will be taking over as head of Volkswagen Design starting February 1, 2023.

Mindt will be taking over from Jozef Kabaň, who has been appointed as Creative Art Director Volkswagen and will report directly to the member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Technical Development.

In his new role, Kabaň will be working at the Volkswagen Group Future Center Europe in Potsdam, where he will be developing innovative mobility solutions for the Volkswagen brand.

This move signifies Volkswagen’s commitment to not only creating visually striking designs but also designing vehicles that align with their vision of forward-thinking mobility.

Mindt, with his extensive experience in luxury car design, will bring a new perspective to the brand and guide it in creating designs that are both visually appealing and functional.

Kai Grünitz, member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Technical Development, praised Kabaň for his contributions as Chief Designer of the Volkswagen brand and for leaving his mark on the entire range of vehicles.

He also praised the hiring of Mindt as a respected and experienced designer who will shape Volkswagen’s design language in the upcoming phase of the brand’s transformation.

Some news outlets are reporting that this move may be due to the poor reception of the id series of electric cars, developed under Kaban’s leadership.

The id series of cars have been criticised for being bland and unimaginative and has met with significant market resisitance in China, the world’s largest EV marketplace.