Gorden Wagener Steps Down as Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz

Gorden Wagener will go down in history as one of the most influential automotive designers of his generation. After more than 30 years at Mercedes-Benz, he will step down from his role on January 31, 2026.

He has served as Head of Design since 2008
He is widely associated with the styling misstep of the EQ electric lineup
He is also credited with spectacular concepts such as the Vision 6

Gorden Wagener has left a profound mark on the history of design at Mercedes-Benz. He joined the brand in 1997 and has held the position of Head of Design across all Mercedes-Benz divisions since 2008. His influence has therefore shaped several decades of Mercedes-Benz products. Even though he will leave his post at the end of January 2026, his work and design language will continue to define the brand for at least another decade. He will be succeeded by current AMG Head of Design Bastien Baudy.

Background

Born in Germany in 1968, Wagener studied industrial design at the University of Duisburg-Essen before continuing his education in Transportation Design at London’s Royal College of Art. He then worked at Volkswagen, Mazda and GM. In 1997, he joined Mercedes-Benz, where he had the opportunity to work alongside another legendary Mercedes-Benz designer, Bruno Sacco.

“Sensual Purity”

Wagener is responsible for a collection of vehicles that are highly significant to the brand. In the latter years of his tenure, his guiding philosophy was “Sensual Purity.” He openly sought to break away from Mercedes-Benz’s traditional conservatism. In 2019, he stated: “We no longer want to be conservative. Mercedes has to be emotional. You have to fall in love with the car before you even sit in it.”

Critics from all over

While several of his designs aligned with this pursuit of desirability, others from the final years of his tenure were harshly criticized. Some of his design decisions even contributed to the downfall of certain models, including the four-door coupe CLS and the lack of success of the latest generation SL roadster-convertible.

Fail of the EQ design

To this list of missteps must be added the entire Mercedes-EQ electric lineup, including the EQB, EQE and EQS, offered in both sedan and SUV forms. Critics argued that Wagener had stripped the brand of its design DNA in favour of an obsession with aerodynamics. Some even believe that Wagener’s designs were partly responsible for Mercedes-Benz’s global decline.

Despite the criticism, Wagener can still be credited with several spectacular products, including the AMG GT, the AMG One and the Vision Maybach 6 concepts. Mercedes-Benz and Wagener maintain that the separation is being carried out by mutual agreement.

Below is a list of the main vehicles designed or developed under Gorden Wagener’s supervision.

Work Prior to Mercedes-Benz

Volkswagen Group (1993–2008)

Volkswagen
Volkswagen Polo (6N facelift)
Volkswagen Lupo
Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet (interior)

Audi
Audi A2 (interior contribution)
Audi A4 (interior contribution)

Early Years at Mercedes-Benz (1998–2008)

Mercedes-Benz SLK (R170 facelift)
Mercedes-Benz SL (R230 interior)
Mercedes-Benz CLS (C219)
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (support for cabin concept development)

Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz (2008–2026)

Sedans & Coupes

A-Class (W176, W177)
B-Class (W246, W247)
CLA (C117, C118)
CLS (C218, C257)
C-Class (W204, W205, W206)
E-Class (W212 facelift, W213, W214)
S-Class (W222, W223)
S-Class Coupe & Cabriolet (C217, A217)

Hatchbacks and MPVs

A-Class Hatchback
B-Class
R-Class facelift

SUVs

GLA (X156, H247)
GLB (X247)
GLC (X253, X254)
GLE (W166 facelift, V167)
GLS (X166, X167)
G-Class (W463 facelift and W465 evolution)

Mercedes-EQ (Electric Lineup)

EQC
EQA
EQB
EQE Sedan & SUV
EQS Sedan & SUV
EQV

Mercedes-AMG

AMG GT (C190, R190)
AMG GT Black Series
AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
AMG SL (R232)
AMG One (design validation)

Mercedes-Maybach

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Mercedes-Maybach GLS
Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV

Concept Cars & Vision Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz Vision Series
Vision CLS
Vision S-Class Coupe
Vision EQS
Vision EQXX
Vision AVTR
Concept CLA Class
Vision One-Eleven