Audi’s development chief Rouven Mohr will assume interim leadership of Audi Sport GmbH on November 1, bringing the performance division directly under the leadership of a sitting Audi board member. The appointment comes as current Managing Director Rolf Michl moves to China to become Chief Operating Officer, working alongside incoming Audi China President Jeff Zhang.
The changes address two significant areas of Audi’s business: its position in an increasingly competitive Chinese market and the direction of its performance division. For Audi Sport, the appointment places an engineer with substantial Audi and Lamborghini experience—and a well-documented personal interest in performance cars—in charge of the organization responsible for its RS models and Audi exclusive individualization program.
We touched on Audi Sport’s need for direction in a recent issue of the ooooIYKYK newsletter.
AN ENGINEER WITH ENTHUSIAST CREDENTIALS
Mohr joined Audi in 2008 as a chassis durability testing engineer, later taking responsibility for complete vehicle project management across the A3, TT, Q7 and Q8. He moved to Lamborghini in 2017 to lead complete vehicle development, overseeing the Aventador, Huracán and Urus, before returning to Audi in roles covering energy and weight management and vehicle verification and validation.
His subsequent appointment as Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer in January 2022 placed him in charge of technical development during the introduction of the Revuelto and Temerario. That experience is particularly relevant to Audi Sport: both programs involved applying hybrid technology to vehicles whose appeal depends heavily on their character and driving experience. Mohr returned to Audi as its board member for Technical Development on March 1, 2026.
His connection to performance cars also extends beyond his professional responsibilities. In a 2022 interview with Autoweek, Mohr discussed owning Nissan GT-Rs, a Lotus Exige and classic hot hatches, along with his experience modifying and drifting a Nissan 350Z. That background gives substance to his enthusiast credentials: he has spent time buying, modifying and driving cars for his own enjoyment.
A DIRECT CONNECTION TO AUDI’S BOARD
The combination of Audi Sport leadership and responsibility for Audi’s overall technical development is the most consequential aspect of the appointment. Mohr will oversee the performance division while retaining a board-level role in the decisions that shape the wider model range.
That arrangement should give Audi Sport’s priorities a direct voice in discussions about platforms, powertrains, vehicle dynamics and development resources. Performance models depend on decisions made well before their final specifications are settled. Having the same executive responsible for the division and Audi’s technical development could help bring those requirements into the process earlier.
The appointment is therefore an encouraging signal for Audi Sport, particularly given Mohr’s experience developing cars with distinct performance identities. It remains an interim assignment, however. Audi has not announced its duration or a permanent successor to Michl, and the leadership change alone does not establish a new product strategy.
MICHL MOVES TO CHINA
Michl will become Chief Operating Officer of Audi China on November 1. He has led Audi Sport GmbH since September 2022, overseeing its RS business, Audi exclusive and the company’s other activities.
A business administration graduate, Michl joined Audi in product marketing in 2007 and subsequently held leadership positions across product management, sales and marketing. He became Head of Audi Sport Racing in 2022 before taking over as Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH later that year. His new assignment brings that combination of brand knowledge and operational experience to Audi’s Chinese organization.
Incoming President Jeff Zhang brings more than 20 years of international management experience, most recently as Vice President and CEO of the Chery brand at Chery International. His previous positions include responsibility for Chery’s European operations, leadership of Alfa Romeo and DS Automobiles in China, and roles at Nissan in Japan and North America.
Zhang also has direct experience within Audi’s Chinese business. Between 2018 and 2020, he helped establish the SAIC Audi sales organization and contributed to strategic projects involving FAW Audi. Zhang and Michl will together form Audi China’s streamlined Board of Management, with Audi positioning the structure as a way to improve execution and respond more quickly to changing customer expectations.
ROSCHECK RETURNS TO INGOLSTADT
Current Audi China President Johannes Roscheck will hand over his responsibilities on November 1 and return to Ingolstadt in early 2027. Audi credits him with advancing its dual-brand strategy, strengthening relationships with its Chinese joint venture partners and guiding its strategic realignment in the market. The announcement does not specify his next assignment.
The China appointments combine local market experience with established knowledge of Audi’s business. At Audi Sport, meanwhile, Mohr’s appointment creates a closer connection between the performance division and the technical leadership of the entire brand. His engineering record and personal enthusiasm provide good reasons to view that development positively. The next measure will be how that influence appears in the cars.
