Effective from 1 January 2023, Volkswagen will be responsible for production and procurement, Audi will be the lead for sales and quality and Porsche will head development and design.
„Excellent quality and iconic design have always been USPs of the Volkswagen Group and its brands," CEO Oliver Blume said. "Managing these key functions via the brands will allow us to intensify our customer focus."
The decision to position the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brands as the key drivers of the Volkswagen Group's business operations comes after it announced a 10-point plan in September, designed to strengthen its brands over the longer term.
Under the plan, the Volkswagen Group said "distinct improvements in product substance, quality and design are to be achieved in future years".
To facilitate the strategy, the Volkswagen Group has announced changes to its management.
As of 1 January, Michael Neumayer will assume responsibility for quality management across the Group while retaining his position as head of quality at Audi. He replaces Frank Welsch, who is retiring.
Michael Mauer will become head of Volkswagen Group design again, replacing Klaus Zyciora, who is leaving the company. Mauer previously held the top position between 2015 and 2020. He has been head of design at Porsche since 2004, responsible for the 911 and new products including the 918 Spyder, Macan and Taycan.
Zyciora, who has held the top job since 2020, penned the entirety of the Volkswagen ID electric car line-up and oversaw the design of the sixth, seventh and eighth generations of the Volkswagen Golf.
Source: Volkswagen
