In an unexpected move last month, Anders Warming – the MINI design boss – announced his departure from BMW Group. Speculations over his next company have been flowing every since, but today we have an official confirmation. The 43-year-old Dane will head up the design team of Germany’s latest reborn car brand from January 1, 2017.
“The creation of a separate Board of Management position for Design underscores design’s importance for Borgward,” said Ulrich Walker, Chairman of the Board of Borgward Group AG, in Stuttgart on Friday. “I’m very delighted that we can fill this position with such an extraordinary and experienced designer as Anders Warming.”
Anders Warming worked for the BMW Group for a total of more than 16 years, including almost all of the last six years as Head of MINI Design in Munich. Under his leadership, the company created the new design of the MINI Cooper Hatch, the MINI Convertible, and the MINI Clubman. Prior to becoming the Head of MINI Design, Anders Warming was Head of BMW Exterior Design and Team Leader Advanced Design at the BMW Group. From 2003 to 2005, Warming was Team Leader, Design Center Europe at the Volkswagen Group. Warming studied design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena from 1992 to 1996.
Borgward was started in 1919 but folded in 1961 due to financial difficulties. The company was revived last year by its founder’s grandson Christian Borgward and his business partner Karlheinz Knöss, with help from Chinese investors. The company has previewed three SUVs, including the BX7 which at a first glance looks like the child of a BMW X3 and the previous Audi Q5. Scheduled to be launched in Germany and the rest of Europe “within the next two years,” and China in the first half of 2016, the BX7 is about the size of Audi Q5 – 185.5 inches long and 75.2 inches wide – while its exterior design are somewhat similar to those from its German counterparts – especially as far as the roofline, greenhouse, taillights, and rear bumper go.
MINI is yet to announce who’ll be replacing Warming in its head of design role.
