Porsche has appointed a new head of design. Tobias Sühlmann, 46, will take over the coveted role from the start of February, replacing the 63-year-old Michael Mauer, who has been responsible for Porsche design for more than two decades.
Where has Tobias Sühlmann come from?
He was previously the chief design officer at British sports car firm McLaren, although he has also worked at Volkswagen, Bugatti, Aston Martin and Bentley as well - for instance, he was a key part of the team which was responsible for the Bentley Batur.
And what legacy will Michael Mauer leave behind?
An impressive one - Porsche very rarely changes its chief designers, because when Mauer took over the prestigious position in 2004, he was only the fourth person to hold the post of head of design at the German company in its entire history; his predecessors were Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Anatol Lapine and Harm Lagaay.
Mauer played a role in bringing the iconic 911 into the 21st century, overseeing styling on all of the 997, 991 and 992 generations of the rear-engined legend, while he was also instrumental in introducing the Panamera sports saloon to the world in 2009. Further, he's the person who oversaw the manufacturer's transition into the electric period, being responsible for the signature look of the Taycan, Macan and forthcoming Cayenne EVs, and he also penned the magnificent 918 Spyder hybrid hypercar of 2013.
Although he's stepping down, Mauer will stay on for a transitional period to support Sühlmann. Both men originally studied at the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences (admittedly, in different eras, given the age gap between them), so there's a welcome lineage there as Sühlmann steps in. Mauer, for his part, leaves with not only his Porsche design credits to his name, but also work at Mercedes, Smart and Saab.
What does the company say about this new appointment?
Dr. Michael Leiters, chairman of the executive board of Porsche AG, was effusive in his praise of the outgoing Mauer. He said, "Michael Mauer shaped an era at Porsche. Together with his team, he has carefully brought the iconic design of the 911 into the modern era and at the same time unmistakably transferred the Porsche design DNA to new model series.”
One of the key aspects of Mauer's time is that the design said that a "Porsche must appeal to all the senses”, and that's something the company wants to carry on. Dr Leiter added, "The Panamera is one of many convincing examples. I have known Michael Mauer for many years, and appreciate him as an excellent professional and extraordinary personality.
"His work has shaped the style of the Porsche brand and will remain visible in the future. We thank him for his outstanding work and wish him all the best for the future.”
Does Mauer have anything to say about his departure?
Yes, the man himself said: "Timeless design needs both durability and new impulses. In view of Porsche's strategic realignment, now is a good time to bring new perspectives to the design as well.
"It was a great pleasure and honour for me to be able to help shape and develop Porsche's design philosophy over such a long period of time.”
And what of Sühlmann?
It's a reunion between the new head of design and Dr Leiters, who himself only became CEO of Porsche on January 1, 2026, moving over to the position from the same company from which Sühlmann is now arriving - McLaren.Dr. Leiters steered the British carmaker out of a tough period in its history and said of his new chief designer: "Tobias Sühlmann can build on a unique design philosophy. With his experience in the design of sports and supercars, he will further sharpen Porsche's profile. His broad knowledge and extensive experience will help him to design a large number of different vehicles in the high-end sector.”