How Porsche’s head of design Michael Mauer draws inspiration from Chinese EV startups.
Porsche is one of the most iconic and prestigious car brands in the world, known for its high-performance sports cars, SUVs, and sedans. But in the era of electric vehicles (EVs), Porsche faces new challenges and opportunities to stay ahead of the competition and meet the changing needs and preferences of its customers.
One of the key factors that shapes Porsche’s design strategy is the influence of Chinese EV startups, which are emerging as formidable rivals and innovators in the global automotive market. China is not only the largest market for Porsche, but also the most dynamic and diverse one, where new trends and technologies are constantly evolving.
In this article, we will explore how Porsche’s head of design Michael Mauer draws inspiration from Chinese EV startups to create edgy and futuristic car concepts that balance Porsche’s heritage and identity with innovation and change. We will also look at some of the examples of Porsche’s latest car designs and how they compare with those of Chinese EV startups.
Table of Contents
- Who is Michael Mauer and what is his role at Porsche and Volkswagen?
- How do Chinese EV startups influence the design of Porsche cars?
- What are some of the examples of edgy and futuristic car concepts from Porsche and China?
- How does Porsche balance its heritage and identity with innovation and change?
- Conclusion
Who is Michael Mauer and what is his role at Porsche and Volkswagen?
Michael Mauer is a German car designer who has been the head of design at Porsche since 2004. He is also the chief designer of Volkswagen Group, which owns Porsche, since 2015. He oversees the design of all Volkswagen Group brands, including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Skoda, and Seat.
Mauer has a rich and diverse background in car design, having worked for Mercedes-Benz, Saab, General Motors, and Smart before joining Porsche. He is responsible for some of the most iconic and successful car models in Porsche’s history, such as the 911, Cayenne, Panamera, Macan, Boxster, Cayman, 918 Spyder, Taycan, and Mission E.
Mauer’s design philosophy is based on three principles: proportion, precision, and poetry. He believes that a good car design should have a harmonious proportion between the body and the wheels, a precise execution of details and surfaces, and a poetic expression of emotion and character.
Mauer also values customer feedback and market research as important sources of inspiration for his design. He regularly visits different countries and regions to observe the local culture, lifestyle, preferences, and expectations of potential customers. He also studies the trends and innovations of other car brands, especially those from China.
How do Chinese EV startups influence the design of Porsche cars?
China is the world’s largest market for EVs, accounting for more than half of global sales in 2020. China is also home to more than 400 EV startups, many of which are backed by tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, Xiaomi, Huawei, and ByteDance. These startups are not only competing with traditional carmakers like Volkswagen Group, but also challenging them with new ideas and technologies.
Some of the most prominent Chinese EV startups include Nio, Li Auto, Xpeng, Byton, Enovate, WM Motor, Leap Motor, Aiways, Seres (formerly SF Motors), Evergrande (formerly Faraday Future), Lucid Motors (formerly Atieva), Karma Automotive (formerly Fisker Automotive), among others. These startups have different visions and strategies for their products and services. Some focus on luxury and performance (Nio), some on practicality and affordability (Li Auto), some on smart features and connectivity (Xpeng), some on futuristic concepts and designs (Byton), some on sustainability and innovation (Enovate), etc.
Mauer has been closely following the development of these Chinese EV startups and their impact on the global automotive industry. He has visited China several times to meet with some of their founders and designers. He has also invited some of them to visit Porsche’s headquarters in Stuttgart to exchange ideas and insights.
Mauer admits that he is impressed by the creativity and ambition of these Chinese EV startups. He says that they have inspired him to think differently about car design. He says that they have shown him new possibilities for creating edgy and futuristic car concepts that appeal to younger generations. He says that they have challenged him to rethink how to integrate digitalization into car design.
Mauer also acknowledges that these Chinese EV startups pose a serious threat to Porsche’s market share in China. He says that they have raised the expectations and standards of Chinese customers. He says that they have forced him to adapt his design to suit the local tastes and preferences.
What are some of the examples of edgy and futuristic car concepts from Porsche and China?
One of the most recent examples of Porsche’s edgy and futuristic car concept is the Mission E Cross Turismo, which was unveiled in 2018 as a variant of the Mission E, Porsche’s first all-electric car. The Mission E Cross Turismo is a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that combines the performance and style of a sports car with the versatility and comfort of an SUV. It features a sleek and aerodynamic body, a spacious and flexible interior, a powerful and efficient electric drivetrain, and a sophisticated and intuitive infotainment system.
The Mission E Cross Turismo is also influenced by Chinese EV startups, especially Enovate, which was founded by former Porsche designer Michael Zhang. Enovate is one of the few Chinese EV startups that focuses on design as its core competency. It aims to create premium and sustainable EVs that reflect the Chinese culture and identity. Its first model, the ME7, is a luxury sedan that was launched in 2019. Its second model, the ME-Sporty, is a CUV that was unveiled in 2020.
The ME-Sporty shares some similarities with the Mission E Cross Turismo, such as the coupe-like silhouette, the large wheels, the slim headlights, and the panoramic roof. However, it also has some distinctive features that differentiate it from the Porsche concept, such as the hexagonal grille, the wing-shaped taillights, the floating dashboard, and the holographic display.
Mauer says that he respects Zhang’s work and considers him as a friend and a competitor. He says that he likes the ME-Sporty’s design and thinks that it has a strong personality. He says that he sees Enovate as one of the most promising Chinese EV startups and expects to see more innovative products from them in the future.
Another example of Porsche’s edgy and futuristic car concept is the Taycan, which was launched in 2019 as Porsche’s first production all-electric car. The Taycan is a four-door sports sedan that combines the performance and emotion of a Porsche with the efficiency and sustainability of an EV. It features a dynamic and elegant design, a luxurious and ergonomic interior, a powerful and agile electric drivetrain, and a smart and connected infotainment system.
The Taycan is also influenced by Chinese EV startups, especially Nio, which was founded by former Ford executive William Li. Nio is one of the most successful Chinese EV startups, having sold more than 100,000 vehicles since its inception in 2014. It focuses on creating premium and smart EVs that offer high quality and personalized services. Its flagship model, the ES8, is a luxury SUV that was launched in 2018. Its latest model, the ET7, is a luxury sedan that was unveiled in 2021.
The ET7 shares some similarities with the Taycan, such as the low-slung stance, the wide body, the curved roofline, and the flush door handles. However, it also has some distinctive features that differentiate it from the Porsche car, such as the shark-fin antenna, the crystal-like headlights, the digital cockpit, and the autonomous driving system.
Mauer says that he admires Li’s vision and considers him as a leader and an innovator. He says that he likes the ET7’s design and thinks that it has a futuristic appeal. He says that he sees Nio as one of the most influential Chinese EV startups and expects to see more breakthroughs from them in the future.
How does Porsche balance its heritage and identity with innovation and change?
Porsche faces a delicate challenge of balancing its heritage and identity with innovation and change. On one hand, Porsche has to preserve its core values and characteristics that have made it one of the most respected and loved car brands in history. On the other hand, Porsche has to embrace new technologies and trends that are reshaping the automotive industry and customer expectations.
Mauer says that he tries to find this balance by following two principles: evolution and revolution. He says that evolution means to refine and improve existing models while maintaining their essence and continuity. He says that revolution means to create new models that break new ground and set new standards.
For example, Mauer says that he applied evolution to redesigning the 911, which is Porsche’s most iconic model. He says that he tried to keep its distinctive shape and proportions while adding subtle changes to enhance its performance and functionality. He says that he applied revolution to creating the Taycan, which is Porsche’s first all-electric model. He says that he tried to create a new design language for electric mobility while retaining some elements of Porsche DNA.
Mauer also says that he tries to balance his own personal taste with customer feedback. He says that he listens to what customers want and need and incorporate them into his design. He says that he also follows his own intuition and vision and tries to surprise and delight customers with his design.
Mauer says that he is optimistic about the future of Porsche and its design. He says that he believes that Porsche has the potential and the passion to create more edgy and futuristic car concepts that will inspire and impress customers around the world. He says that he also welcomes the challenge and the opportunity to learn from Chinese EV startups and their design. He says that he thinks that Porsche and China can benefit from each other’s creativity and innovation.
Conclusion.
In this article, we have explored how Porsche’s head of design Michael Mauer draws inspiration from Chinese EV startups to create edgy and futuristic car concepts. We have looked at some of the examples of Porsche’s latest car designs and how they compare with those of Chinese EV startups. We have also discussed how Porsche balances its heritage and identity with innovation and change.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learned something new about Porsche’s design strategy and philosophy. If you are interested in learning more about Porsche’s products and services, please visit their official website or follow their social media accounts. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us via email. Thank you for your attention and support. 😊.
