Overview
- Sühlmann takes over on February 1, 2026, with Michael Mauer staying on briefly to support the transition.
- Sühlmann joins from McLaren, where he was chief design officer, and previously held senior roles at Volkswagen, Bugatti, Aston Martin and Bentley.
- Porsche CEO Michael Leiters said the move aligns with a strategic realignment and the need to balance durability with new design impulses.
- Industry reporting highlights short‑term pressures on Porsche, including a roughly 10% sales drop, slower growth in China and softer Taycan demand.
- The change is unusually rare for Porsche, with Sühlmann becoming only the fifth design chief after Mauer’s two-decade run evolving the 911 and shaping the Panamera, 918 Spyder and Taycan.