It has been announced that Michael Steiner, a member of the Board of Management in charge of Research and Development at Porsche AG, will be stepping down in May 2027.
Mr. Steiner has led Porsche's research and development for over 20 years and has served as a member of the board of directors since 2016. He is only 62 years old, so his retirement is quite a surprise.
The person who will succeed Mr. Steiner in the position after his retirement is Jörg Bartels, 52, who will be moving from Mercedes-Benz AG to Porsche AG.
Mr. Bartels also has over 26 years of experience in the automotive industry, and he currently serves as the global head of development for all powertrain systems.
He previously served as President and CEO of Beijing Benz Automotive Co./BBAC in China.
Porsche's latest product was just announced recently.Sportwagenschmiede '35 StrategyIt is said that Steiner has been deeply involved in this, and that Bartels will play an important role in this long-term strategy going forward.
Steiner originally started his career at Mercedes-Benz AG in 1995, and joined Porsche in 2002.
Upon joining the company, he served as the head of the Innovation, Concept, and CAE departments, while also concurrently holding the position of Chief Executive of the Porsche Engineering Group.
In 2005, he became the head of the Panamera model line, and in 2011, he took charge of overall vehicle development and quality control. In 2016, he was appointed to the Board of Research and Development at Porsche, and in 2025, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG.
Mr. Steiner shaped the 991 and 992 generations of the 911, evolving the product portfolio with the highest level of technology. Under his leadership, numerous innovative technologies were developed, including Porsche Active Ride, which combines driving dynamics and ride comfort in a completely new way and is featured in the Panamera.
Another of his technological innovations is said to be the introduction of the T-Hybrid powertrain to the 911 Carrera GTS and 911 Turbo S. And, of course, it was Steiner who spearheaded the market launch of the Taycan, Porsche's first mass-produced electric vehicle, which adopted an 800-volt architecture.
...So, what do you think?
In this announcement, Porsche CEO Reiters explained that he had been working with Steiner to prepare for this change.
And of course, we don't know the actual circumstances that led to his resignation. But I can't help but think that there must have been a lot going on.
The fact that the successor had experience in business in China suggests that even if Porsche doesn't plan to focus on its Chinese business going forward, they may have had some desire to hire someone who was familiar with and knowledgeable about the local market.
Incidentally, during Steiner's tenure, Porsche achieved numerous successes in motorsport, for example, winning the triple title in the LMP1 class for the third consecutive year in 2017.
Victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and winning the FIA World Endurance Championship Manufacturers' World Championship and the Drivers' Championship.
Furthermore, they took on a new challenge by competing in Formula E, where they achieved great success, winning both the drivers' and manufacturers' world championship titles.
I hope that, even under the new management structure, Porsche will continue to advance its business based on the 'Sportwagenschmiede '35' strategy, and also propel Porsche in a better direction in motorsport.
It's a little sad to see people I know passing away.
...I don't actually know them personally; I've only seen their name and face on the news and such (lol).
I'm getting emotionally invested without my consent!
Related article:
◆What is Porsche's new strategy for 2035, "Sportwagenschmiede '35"?
◆Presentation materials (90 pages) for the Porsche Sportwagenschmiede '35
I'm Rika, the author of this article. Since I got my hands on a Porsche 911, I've been completely hooked on Porsches and I can't stop loving them, so I started this blog. My favorite cars are the 911 Carrera (2/991), 911 Carrera Cabriolet & 911 Carrera T (1/992), GT3 (1/997) and 718 Cayman GT4 RS.
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