Axel Andorff has been appointed executive vice-president for research and development at SEAT.
Effective March 1, 2019, Andorff will drive the company’s innovation projects, especially those involving car connectivity and electrification, as well as developing solutions and new forms of mobility. Andorff will be responsible for SEAT Design, where all of the brand’s vehicles are conceptualized, and the SEAT Technical Centre – the knowledge hub where more than 1,000 engineers work to develop innovation for cars as well as future mobility solutions.
Andorff will report directly to company president Luca de Meo and will have a seat on the executive committee. He succeeds Dr Matthias Rabe, who will lead the new Technical Development Operations area at the Volkswagen brand after more than eight years with SEAT.
During 20 years at Daimler, Andorff was responsible for concepts of Mercedes-Benz electric and compact car architecture. Prior to that, he held various positions in R&D and purchasing at Mercedes-Benz. Among other roles, he was head of the first generation GLA, CLA and CLA Shooting Brake models and also set up and headed Daimler’s purchasing in China, where he led the creation of the company’s purchasing network.