Porsche is changing the person in charge of its engineering. On 30 October 2026 the company announced that Michael Steiner, 62, will leave the Executive Board in May 2027. He has held the research and development portfolio since 2016 and has also been Deputy Chairman since 2025. His replacement comes from Mercedes-Benz: Jörg Bartels, 52, takes over the same month.
The timing matters. Porsche set out its « Sportwagenschmiede ’35 » strategy at a Capital Markets Day in Weissach in early October, and Steiner helped draw it up. Bartels will be the one turning it into cars.
A quarter of a century at Porsche
Steiner’s career tracks the recent history of the brand closely. After studying mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Munich and completing a doctorate, he started at Mercedes-Benz in 1995. He moved to Porsche in 2002 as Head of Innovations, Concepts and CAE (computer-aided engineering), while also acting as chief representative at Porsche Engineering Group GmbH.
In 2005 he was handed the Panamera model line. Six years later he became responsible for complete vehicle development and quality, and in 2016 he joined the Executive Board. Between 2022 and 2025 he also ran research and development for the whole Volkswagen Group, before being named Deputy Chairman of Porsche AG.
Porsche credits his tenure with a list of products most enthusiasts will recognise:
- the 991 and 992 generations of the 911;
- the Taycan, the first all-electric Porsche production car, with its 800-volt architecture;
- Porsche Active Ride in the Panamera;
- the T-Hybrid powertrain in the 911 Carrera GTS and 911 Turbo S.
That last one was honoured in October 2026, when the GTS flat-six made the Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list, as covered in our story on the T-Hybrid’s Wards award. The Taycan opened the door to Porsche’s whole electric line-up; for the longer view, see our feature on Porsche and electrification (in French).
Racing figured too. In 2017, during his time on the board, Porsche completed its third consecutive LMP1 triple: victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans plus the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles in the World Endurance Championship. The Formula E programme later brought world titles in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings.
What Wolfgang Porsche and Michael Leiters said
Supervisory Board chairman Wolfgang Porsche put it simply: « Michael Steiner embodies Weissach and its significance for Porsche like no one else. » CEO Michael Leiters focused on the technical side: « He is an engineer at heart, and I greatly value his technical expertise and personality. »
Who is Jörg Bartels
Bartels brings more than 26 years in the car industry. At Mercedes-Benz AG he currently heads global development of all powertrain systems. Before that he was President and CEO of Beijing Benz Automotive Co. (BBAC), Mercedes’ Chinese joint venture.
Both strands fit the job in front of him. The October strategy rests on three types of powertrain and on platforms shared with Audi. And China is where Porsche is hurting most: deliveries there fell 33% in the first nine months of 2026.
The announcement does not say whether the R&D organisation will be reshaped around the new arrival, nor does it give an exact handover date beyond May 2027.
A busy autumn in Zuffenhausen
The news came three days after the nine-month results, which showed profitability improving sharply while volumes kept falling. On 21 October, the company had also announced that Porsche Engineering and Porsche Digital would be merged under a single brand, another piece of the engineering reshuffle detailed in our Porsche Technologies article.
For enthusiasts, Steiner’s name will stay attached to two generations of 911 and to the first electric Porsche. Bartels inherits what comes next, including the electric 718 models and the mid-engined super sports car previewed by the Mission S. The brief is laid out in the Sportwagenschmiede ’35 strategy.
Sources: Porsche Newsroom press release, 30 October 2026; Automotive World, 30 October 2026; Stuttgarter Zeitung.
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