Page 36 Christophorus 349 Christophorus 349 Page 37

INTERVIEW “I’D LIKE TO BE A TURBO S”

Photos by Bernd Kammerer

Matthias Müller, ’s new CEO, talks with Eckhard Eybl about the right ingredients of a perfect sports , his closeness to the product—and the pleasure that non-Porsche drivers are missing. Page 38 Christophorus 349 Christophorus 349 Page 39

What was the fi rst change that you made Personal experience: MATTHIAS MÜLLER ON HIS as chairman of the executive board at Matthias Müller (left) APPOINTMENT AS PORSCHE CEO Porsche? and professional racing star Jacky Ickx How exactly did your appointment as The seating arrangement and the dates of on the track in Qatar Porsche CEO transpire? board meetings. attested to my potential for handling greater responsibilities than the What was your opinion of Porsche while ones I had at the time. During an evalu- you were working in Wolfsburg for the ation in April of 2010, Mr. Winterkorn ? made the fi rst suggestions that I might be Porsche has always been a fascinating com- considered for this position. A short while later I was invited to a number of inter- pany for me, starting with the brand, and views in Salzburg with the two families continuing with the products. From previ- who own the company, and then a short ous projects it had always been clear to me time later by the employee side, namely, that Porsche is a great company—with su- the works council. That was in the early perb technical potential and well-qualifi ed summer of 2010, in May and June, employees, well organized in every aspect, and then the supervisory board also made a similar decision. And that was it actually. and very disciplined. So I’ve always had a very, very high opinion of Porsche. What was your reaction? Did you have to give it a lot of thought? And what is your view now? Not at all. There was a feeling of euphoria, It has been confi rmed in every respect. Of which I tried to suppress until receiving course I knew that a family-owned busi- something in writing. I didn’t have to think ness of this size would have a different at all about the fact that this is a very attractive job. From the very fi rst moment corporate culture than Volkswagen or it was clear that there is nothing more . I deliberately wanted to see what it exciting or appealing in the automotive was like and experience it. Now, after the industry than this position. What did make fi rst few months, I can say that I feel very me think was the responsibility for around much at home in this culture. And all the 12,000 employees. I view that of course other aspects have essentially been con- as a major part of the overall responsi- fi rmed as well. bility. But it was quickly clear to me that I would like to face this challenge, well aware that it would not be easy and would As a Bavarian, how do you feel in Stutt- require great effort. gart? It seems that the country’s soccer players, at any rate, are moving in the op- posite direction. I have been made to feel very welcome here in every respect, both at our company and in my personal life. I now live in the center of , in the Heusteig quarter. It’s a very attractive part of town, and simply a pleasant place to live.

Have you always been fascinated by Porsche—like most people from Stutt- gart—from childhood on? Yes, starting in childhood. My father was the racing director for DKW, and later when we left and came to Bavaria, he worked fi rst for and then for Audi. So I’ve inherited, so to speak, a great affi nity for racing. My father used to watch races on television with me, Page 40 Christophorus 349 Christophorus 349 Page 41

and we also went to racing events together. ously poses no hurdle there. That’s why A motorsports fan: I can remember going to world the design has remained viable. Over the Matthias Müller inherited championship contests at Solitude as a decades, our engineers have always man- his enthusiasm for racing from his father little boy. That automatically meant com- aged to pursue further evolutionary devel- ing into contact with Porsche, whether at opments and signifi cantly optimize the al- endurance races or simply via the product, ready high technical level of the 911. That namely, the 911. The Carrera, which is still ultimately results in a car—now with the the greatest automotive icon for me to this 997 or its many precursors as well as the day, was always my dream car. And now planned successor—that for me is the best this dream has come true. in the world. That’s also why I’ve selected a 911 Turbo S as my company car, because So it was no coincidence that the 911 Turbo is not only interdisciplin- ary, so to speak, but also a leader in every you entered the automobile discipline. industry when you fi nished your training and studies? Can you remember the fi rst time you drove No, not a coincidence at all. a Porsche? Somehow this fascination of my I think it was in the year 1996. A Box- father’s rubbed off on me. ster, because that was right at the time When I fi nished my apprenticeship when Audi was developing the fi rst TTs. and my studies, Audi was a very The Boxster was included in various test-drives for comparison, because it set interesting employer. the standards at that time for sportiness, agility, and handling—which automotive Can you understand the cult that has magazines the world over still attest. arisen especially around the 911? Very well in fact, for two reasons. One is Now you can choose any Porsche model theoretical, from the perspective of product that you want. Will this sensation of MATTHIAS MÜLLER: MILESTONES what I’ve always done, taking every op- at Porsche? Where does this come from— strategy and planning—which are areas driving a Porsche become routine at some portunity to maintain the closest contact a result of evolution or from typical Swa- that I’ve always worked on. Besides that, point? 1953 Born in with all of the technical fi elds. And of bian characteristics? there’s now also my practical experience. I’ve thought about that too… Over the 1971 Secondary school graduation course I always take part myself in test- It certainly has something to do with Since coming to Porsche, I can understand winter holidays I had a Cayenne—after (Abitur) in drives that compare technologies. the fact that have been developed in 1971 Toolmaker apprenticeship at this cult around the brand and also the in- which I was really looking forward again Baden-Württemberg for 125 years now, Audi AG in Ingolstadt dividual models even better, because I have to my 911. As far as I’m concerned, this 1974 Degree in information science How important are these comparative and that this expertise is concentrated no- a better idea of the history myself and can pleasure in driving a Porsche will never (Diplom Informatiker) from drives for development processes? where as strongly as in and around Stutt- therefore follow the individual steps much diminish. If someone were to take my the Munich University of Applied Very important. The creative process gart. In addition to this background, there better. In other words, I now understand Porsche away, I would miss something. By Sciences takes place both in the development offi c- has also been a lot of further evolutionary the causal chain that extends from the past the way, that’s how I now judge all the cars 1978 Return to Audi AG es and at the negotiation table, at the com- development; at Porsche of course, and to the present more deeply than before. that I drive, and I view them with different 1984 Director, Systems Analysis puter and on paper. It is then enormously just as positively at Mercedes. Moreover, eyes than before. Department, Audi AG important to make sure that all of these a highly competent supplier industry was 1992 Internship at Japan’s Ministry Is there a conclusive explanation as to why for International Trade early decisions are later refl ected in reality. bound to take root and develop around this rear-engine design has survived so People who have never had a chance to and Industry (MITI), Tokyo Trust is good, but checking is better. Our these two brands. The corresponding convincingly in a Porsche of all cars, en- drive a Porsche—what are they missing? 1993 A3 Project Management Director, adjustment rounds and our proven test college and university departments have abling the 911 to set standards for so long They’ll never know or experience the au- Audi AG procedures are important instruments for also been established, which puts an en- in the sports-car sector? tomotive high point of our time. 1995 Project Management Director, making sure that we’re on the right path, tire chain in place from training through It’s certainly not just a matter of the drive Audi AG, also Seat and not only with respect to our own ideas, to the fi nished product. The Swabian strategy, because the overall package is so In your new position, do you now have but also with respect to the competition. mentality defi nitely plays a role as well. It 2007 Product Management Director, impressive. Like no other carmaker be- more or less contact with product devel- It can easily become necessary to readjust promotes what I’d call a Porsche-typical Volkswagen Group and fore, Porsche has succeeded in building opment than before? VW brand, General Agent our own targets. understanding of quality. Porsche has a four-seater that not only has incredibly Nothing has changed for me there. I al- 2010 Since October, Chief Executive succeeded in imbuing, indeed cultivating, sporty visuals but also performs and drives ways seek contact with development and Offi cer of Dr. Ing. h.c. In your opinion, what is the origin of the these highly complex processes with such just as convincingly. The rear engine obvi- with our engineers. I continue doing here F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart Porsche spirit and the high level of quality refi nement and precision that our produc- Page 42 Christophorus 349 Christophorus 349 Page 43

tion lines yield very good results and qual- actually drive to Tyrol or northern Italy That is indeed possible in the foreseeable Of course I don’t always succeed, but I try. One does of course have to adapt. But if ideas into continuing to develop and offer ity. Furthermore, this promise of quality always gives me the feeling that I can future. I would say it could happen in fi ve And I’m an advocate of setting targets, “performance” used to mean power, ca- attractive and desirable sports cars. These can also be kept over a long period of time. leave certain things behind and have some to ten years, either as a car with a purely which also have to be attained. The third pacity, cylinders, and speed, one should cars will always have a high priority in peace and quiet. electric drive or as a hybrid vehicle. I can thing is that one has to delegate respon- not discard those things but rather supple- our product portfolio and will be further well imagine that our fi rst step consists of sibilities. I’m more a proponent of decen- ment them with additional key contempo- developed. And we will push ahead in the Is driving a Porsche a great What goals have you set for Porsche’s cor- putting hybrid drives in sports cars too, as tralization than centralization. Or to put rary parameters, be they CO2 emissions, fi eld of racing; I’ll do my part to ensure pleasure for you? porate development, aside from the num- we’ve already done for the Cayenne and it another way, of managing as centrally fuel consumption, or vehicle weight. this as well. Driving a Porsche is an absolute ber of cars or model series? for the Panamera. And when the infra- as necessary but as decentrally as possible. pleasure! My chauffeur is One goal for board members is to work on structure later becomes available world- Currently the lap time on the Nordschleife Is there already a concrete road map for always asking why I don’t let the Strategy 2018, and to use it to derive a wide, that we also offer purely electric cars What do you consider Porsche’s (North Loop) of the Nürburgring is con- racing? continuous series of targets for each dis- or think about fuel-cell vehicles. sidered the absolute standard. At the moment everything is still under him drive more often. And most important innovations, both cipline. On the one hand these naturally That will surely remain a very important discussion. The important thing is that I always tell him it’s simply historically and in the present? because I like driving include very operations-oriented elements What would this type of worldwide in- criterion, but no longer the only one. we continue to promote our customer and like revenue, investment, and volumes, frastructure for fuel-cell and electric cars In the present and in terms of amateur racing and thus meet the needs of a Porsche so much myself. which are used to describe qualitative include—is it just a matter of refueling or products, certainly the Porsche How can Porsche reconcile the confl icting our customers. In the process, Porsche can growth. But my goal is that we should energy supply stations? double-clutch transmission, or PDK. demands of lightweight construction and always gain new knowledge to develop the Would you describe yourself as a hedonist? work on shaping the company not only We’d have to think beyond fueling stations Another innovation of course is greater comfort and safety? sports features of our vehicles. And we’ll No, but I could agree that I have an ap- with respect to our products but also over- at public buildings and parking lots and the new museum, because I think The art lies in reducing weight in such a take top-level racing as it comes. preciation for luxury. For me that means all, so that the company and the brand extend the infrastructure to cover home it is an outstanding expression of way that despite enhancing the features, working hard and making the necessary achieve an even stronger public profi le. parking facilities. A contradictory part of the overall weight at least will not in- And what would you never change? sacrifi ces—but also occasionally treating this scenario is that low-emission vehicles Porsche’s overall message. crease. The Porsche logo. oneself to something. What is your view of alternative forms of are especially well suited for urban re- mobility, given the general changes under- gions, yet precisely these regions have the It holds a wealth of good ideas that have been So it’s an illusion to think we’ll achieve the Could you expand on what you mean by way regarding both society and the envi- fewest number of garages and many cars implemented in outstanding fashion … weights of the past? “something”? ronment? parked on the streets. As long as no out- Assessing the historical side is very dif- The question of vehicle weight will con- Treating oneself to something beauti- We are devoting great attention to the lets are available, implementation will be fi cult given that Ferry Porsche and his tinue to be asked. That’s why we’re work- ful, like elegant clothing, or a special tie, fact that attitudes to mobility are chang- very diffi cult. And we’ll also have to deal father Ferdinand were both extremely in- ing intensively on new materials. At some or a high-grade watch, or Porsche lug- ing. This means coming up with alterna- with the question of how stable the elec- novative. I think that the Lohner Porsche point these too will become standard fea- gage as I did recently. I have to admit that tive forms of mobility, which also includes tric grids are in Europe. In Germany they made about 110 years ago, the VW Beetle, tures at lower prices than we can imagine I enjoy going out to eat on occasion, and the question of alternative drives. We are might be okay, but in Italy your fuse will the Porsche 356, and today’s 911 are ma- at the moment. When people talked about that I also might spend a little more for a holding intensive talks with other mobil- blow if you turn on a hairdryer while heat- jor innovations in anyone’s book. But I’m aluminum twenty years ago, it was al- bottle of wine. What I like most of all is a ity and transport sectors such as aviation ing up rolls in your oven. There’s still a lot not able to single out any one, because the ways very expensive, whereas today even weekend or a few days at one of my two and rail, in order to come up with integrat- to be done there. entire history of Porsche is one of innova- a high-volume model like the has vacation residences, which are a mountain ed mobility strategies and also put them tion. No other automotive brand in the aluminum features. cabin in the Zillertal and an apartment at into practice at some point. Of course the Have you developed a leadership philoso- world has generated as many innovations Lake Maggiore. That’s the height of en- combustion engine also has to undergo phy? And can you summarize it in a few as we have here in Stuttgart. A famous quote by Ferry Porsche was that joyment for me. further development. We’re talking about sentences? “the last car will be a .” What a time frame here of ten to twenty years, No, I haven’t developed a philosophy that If you were a car, what model would you be? will your contribution be to ensuring that Are those the places where it’s easiest for but we have to start developing ideas and I could write a book about, but one does A 911 Turbo S! the automobile survives on the one hand, you to relax? laying plans now. accumulate some ideas over the course of and also that a sports car will remain the I’m someone who has learned to deal with time. One credo of my working strategy A key topic at Porsche is the idea of perfor- most coveted automobile? problems and pressure, and also to let go. How realistic is a Porsche-typical sports is certainly that I like to turn people who mance. Does this idea have to change in I’m a sports-car fan. My contribution will A change of location is very helpful in let- car that is not powered by a combustion are affected into people who participate. order to accommodate changes in general consist of viewing Porsche as a sports-car ting go of problems. And the chance to engine? That’s an important aspect of my work. conditions? company and thus putting my energy and