Gorden Wagener Mercedes-Benz’s long-serving chief design officer Gorden Wagener will step down from his role on January 31, 2026, bringing to an end nearly three decades with the German luxury carmaker, aacording to a report by Car and Driver.
The company said Wagener’s decision to leave was mutual. He will be succeeded by Bastian Baudy, currently head designer at Mercedes-AMG, who will take over the role from February 1, 2026.
Wagener has served as Mercedes-Benz’s design chief since 2016, but his association with the company dates back to 1997. He rose to global prominence in 2008 when he was appointed head of global design at the age of 39, making him the youngest design boss in the automotive industry at the time.
Commenting on Wagener’s departure, Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, said Wagener had been instrumental in shaping the company’s brand identity globally. He added that Wagener’s visionary design philosophy and future-focused approach had made a lasting contribution to the company’s innovative image.
Leading the company to exponential growth
During his tenure, Wagener played a central role in reshaping the visual identity of Mercedes-Benz, moving it from a traditionally conservative design language to a more emotional and expressive approach he described as “Sensual Purity.” His influence can be seen across key models including the W176-generation A-Class, the W222 S-Class and the first-generation Mercedes-AMG GT, widely regarded as one of the brand’s most striking modern sports cars.
His design portfolio also includes iconic vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the modernisation of the G-Class, and the evolution of the ultra-luxury Maybach sub-brand. Wagener oversaw a wide range of concept cars as well, from the Vision One-Eleven to the recently unveiled Vision Iconic.
However, not all of Wagener’s designs were universally acclaimed. Mercedes-Benz’s EQ electric models, including the EQS and EQE, drew mixed reactions for their aerodynamic, rounded forms, which were often criticised for prioritising efficiency over visual appeal.
