Page 36 Christophorus 349 Christophorus 349 Page 37 INTERVIEW “I’D LIKE TO BE A TURBO S” Photos by Bernd Kammerer Matthias Müller, Porsche’s new CEO, talks with Eckhard Eybl about the right ingredients of a perfect sports car, 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. Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen Group? 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 Audi. 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 Stuttgart, 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 East Germany and came to Bavaria, he worked fi rst for Auto Union 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 motorcycle 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 Chemnitz 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 Ingolstadt drives that compare technologies. the fact that cars 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 Lamborghini but also with respect to the competition.