Gorden Wagener, who has been Mercedes-Benz‘s top design officer since 2016, will no longer be working there as of January 31, 2026. Mercedes says Wagner has chosen to quit, and Bastian Bady, now the head designer of Mercedes-AMG, will be in charge instead. The AMG GT, the Vision Iconic, and other concept cars, and the debated EQ electric models are all examples of Wagener’s work. One of Mercedes-Benz’s important designers is quitting. Gorden Wagener, the brand’s design head since 2016, said that he will be leaving the company on January 31, 2026. Mercedes said in a news release that the split was mutual, and AMG’s present head designer, Bastian Baudy, will take over on February 1. Wagener has worked for Mercedes-Benz since 1997, but he has been the company’s chief design officer for only the past 10 years. He was made head of global design in 2008, and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is one of his most famous ideas. At that point, he was 39, making him the youngest design leader in the business. Wagener took the opportunity and helped change the overall style of the Mercedes-Benz lineup from safe to provocative. He called this idea “Sensual Purity.” Wagener was important in bringing Mercedes back to life. He managed the redesign of the famous G-class and the creation of the ultra-luxurious Maybach models. The first-generation Mercedes-AMG GT is definitely one of Wagener’s most beautiful works, but his guidance also influenced the W222 S-class and the W176 A-class. He has a lot of work in his collection, including several concept cars. The Vision One-Eleven and the Vision Iconic were two examples shown for the first time this year. Of course, not all of Wagener’s designs were hits; most of the electric “EQ” models, especially the EQE and EQS, were widely criticized for their shapeless look that favored aerodynamics over beauty. Still, the 56-year-old designer left a lasting impression and had many more successes than mistakes as head of design at Mercedes-Benz. When Wagener quit, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said, “Gorden Wagener’s innovative design philosophy has influenced the identity of our brands.” He has helped ensure that people around the world know our cutting-edge products for their unique looks. His creativity and ability to plan for the future of car design have continued to help Mercedes-Benz.
