Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Volkswagen Design Re-establishes Itself

Text from Volkswagen AG.
- Second German Design centre enhances the importance of the Volkswagen brand

Wolfsburg, 12 December 2005 - Volkswagen Design re-establishes itself under the management of Group Design Manager Murat Günak: From January 2006 two Design Centres will reflect the importance of the Volkswagen brand and the new model offensive.

With the existing Design Centre in Wolfsburg and the new Design Centre in Potsdam, two locations will be in place on an equal footing which will mould the creative future of Volkswagen. Thomas Ingenlath currently responsible for Škoda brand Design will be the Head of the Design Centre in Potsdam. Klaus Bischoff takes over as Head of the Design Centre in Wolfsburg. Bischoff was previoulsy responsible for the Overall Vehicle Design department. Thomas Ingenlath and Klaus Bischoff report to Murat Günak who heads Design for the Group and Volkswagen brand. Jens Manske currently Head of Exterior Design at Volkswagen will head Design at Škoda.

Murat Günak: “Two studios, one brand – the Wolfsburg and Potsdam Design Centres are two strong pillars for the future design of the Volkswagen brand.

Volkswagen chose Potsdam because this location offers suitable infrastructure, has always attracted creative people as a city of art and culture and last but not least is right next to Berlin. In the spring the construction of the Design Centre on a site of 6700 square metres and a covered area of 2600 square metres was begun. It was completed at the end of 2004. The Potsdam Design Centre will carry out Group design activities as well, whilst the Wolfsburg Design Centre is additionally responsible for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles design.

Design is among the most important competition factors in vehicle construction. Four hundred employees of all nationalities work in design for the Volkswagen brand worldwide in Wolfsburg, Potsdam, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. In particular the models which have been presented since 2003 make clear that at Volkswagen a new era of form language and design lines has been heralded. With a lot of love of detail Europe’s biggest vehicle manufacturer achieves a more dynamic appearance and a stronger emotionalisation of its vehicles.