‘Car brands do this because they want to be cool. VW doesn\u2019t want that. You can think you\u2019re the strongest, but if you\u2019re not, then that\u2019s nonsense. Why not give cars a friendly look? I want to live in a friendly world. I don’t want to live in a world with cars that look like they were designed to kill zombies. I really don’t want to live in a stupid world like that.’<\/p>\n
![\"<p><em>2026](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/16x9-tr.png\")
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Photo by: Volkswagen<\/p>\n
It’s Not Us Versus Them<\/p>\n
His argument goes beyond simply making cars look nicer. He believes design can influence how people perceive one another, especially as the transition to electric vehicles is in full swing in Europe.<\/p>\n
‘When it comes to car design, you shouldn\u2019t take one side or the other. Like, \u2018Look, I\u2019m doing the right thing\u2014I drive an electric car. My car looks like an electric car, so I\u2019m better than you. And you\u2019re the bad guy because you\u2019re spewing soot. You\u2019re ruining the environment.\u2019<\/p>\n
Honestly, I think it\u2019s really bad to divide society like that. To all those people who don\u2019t want to drive electric yet, it\u2019s better to say: \u2018Look, gas prices are really high right now, aren\u2019t they? Why don\u2019t you give it a try?’<\/p>\n
Futuristic Styling Went Too Far<\/p>\n
Earlier ID models were deliberately futuristic to signal a break with the past. Mindt now believes that approach went too far. As BMW<\/a> has been saying all along with its unified design language across ICE and EV models, VW argues an electric car shouldn’t necessarily look radically different to advertise the fact that it’s electric.<\/p>\n How far did VW go? Well, the man in charge of design told Autoweek that the pre-facelift ID.3 \u201cdoesn\u2019t look like a real VW. You don\u2019t see VW\u2019s DNA in it. It might just as well be from another brand.\u201d The recently launched ID.3 Neo<\/a> aims to address that with a design that doesn’t scream \u201cEV.\u201d Like the smaller ID. Polo, the compact electric hatchback also has more physical controls and ditches the touch slider as a response to customer feedback.<\/p>\n Photo by: Volkswagen<\/p>\n Angry Designs Won’t Be Entirely Eliminated<\/p>\n Mindt also acknowledges that VW Group isn’t going to eliminate aggressive styling altogether. Different brands are supposed to have different personalities, and he specifically points to Lamborghini and SEAT’s Cupra<\/a> as examples of companies where dramatic, aggressive design makes sense.<\/p>\n As a refresher, Mindt is now responsible for design across the entire VW Group. He took over as Head of Group Design on March 1, adding the role to his existing position leading design at the core VW brand. The next model to embrace his styling approach will be the ID.4’s replacement, which should debut soon as the ID. Tiguan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n