Porsche Taps Mercedes-Benz Powertrain Chief Jörg Bartels to Run R&D

Porsche will hand its development board seat to Mercedes-Benz powertrain chief Jörg Bartels in May 2027, ending Michael Steiner's more than decade-long run over the division. Steiner, 62, leaves the company entirely after over two decades there, the sports car maker announced. He currently also serves as deputy chairman of Porsche's executive board.

Bartels, 52, joins from Mercedes-Benz, where he oversees global powertrain system development. He previously ran the Chinese joint venture Beijing Benz Automotive, among other roles. Porsche CEO Michael Leiters emphasised Bartels' expertise in vehicle development and transformation. The company expects the new appointee to drive the realignment of the research and development division significantly.

Expectation, not plan. Porsche has not said which specific priorities Bartels will set in implementing the new strategy. That gap matters.

What is driving the change?

The leadership switch lands mid-way through a sweeping cost programme. Under the corporate strategy 'Sportwagenschmiede '35'', Porsche aims to streamline structures and cut costs across the organisation.

According to Manager Magazin, the targets are steep:

• Development costs cut by 20 per cent
• Development times shortened by 40 per cent

These figures come from a magazine report, not a Porsche confirmation. The company has framed the strategy publicly but has not attached those specific percentages to a named executive.

Why powertrain and China experience counts

Bartels' résumé fits two of Porsche's hardest problems. First, the powertrain strategy must adapt to shifting market conditions. Porsche plans to lean on a mix of internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles rather than a single driveline bet. A manager who has run global powertrain system development at Mercedes-Benz arrives with direct credentials there.

Second, China. Sales have fallen sharply. Porsche sold over 90,000 vehicles annually in China at its peak, but analysts expect only around 25,000 units for 2026, a decline of more than 70 per cent from the high-water mark. Bartels managed Beijing Benz Automotive, giving him hands-on exposure to the world's largest car market.

What does Steiner leave behind?

Steiner shaped Porsche's development over many years. His tenure included the introduction of the Taycan, the brand's first all-electric production model. Supervisory Board Chairman Wolfgang Porsche singled out that contribution, acknowledging Steiner's role in transitioning the brand into the era of electromobility.

That legacy cuts both ways. The Taycan proved Porsche could engineer an electric sports car. It did not prevent the strategic reckoning now underway on development cost and the multi-driveline portfolio mix.

What to watch next

Three markers will test this appointment. Watch whether Porsche itself confirms the 20 per cent cost and 40 per cent timing reduction figures under Bartels' name. Watch whether China volumes for 2026 land near the 25,000-unit analyst estimate. And watch the formal handover in May 2027, when Bartels moves from inheriting a strategy to owning it.