After 5 years at rival Renault, Gilles Vidal will turn into head of design for European manufacturers for Stellantis from October 1.
There he’ll oversee the design of automobiles, SUVs and vans from Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel/Vauxhall, Fiat/Abarth, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. He replaces his former boss Jean-Pierre Ploué, who will go away Stellantis.
His return to Stellantis is the newest in a sequence of government adjustments and appointment since Antonio Filosa took cost of the French-Italian-American automaker in late June.
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Mr Vidal has been the Renault Group’s head of design Gilles Vidal. Throughout his comparatively quick tenure there he has overseen a variety of key fashions and essential adjustments.
The Renault 5 EV idea, which debuted in 2021, was become the 2024 manufacturing mannequin. This has been joined by the 4 E-Tech, one other retro-flavoured all-electric mannequin, and beginning with the 2023 Rafale, a brand new design language has been rolled out throughout the Renault lineup.
On high of this he additionally oversaw the introduction of a harder-edged fashion for Dacia, and the transformation of Alpine right into a model that additionally encompasses sporty electrical SUVs.
No interim or long-term successor has been named for Mr Vidal. His departure sees the French automaker thrown into extra chaos.
In June, CEO Luca de Meo all of a sudden stop to guide Kering, a luxurious model conglomerate that owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and others. Renault has appointed chief monetary officer Duncan Minto as interim boss, however a full-time alternative has but to be discovered.
Previous to main the Renault Group’s design operations, Mr Vidal had spent all of his working life at Group PSA, the then-parent of Peugeot and Citroen.
He joined Citroen in 1996 after graduating from the Artwork Centre School of Design in Vevey, Switzerland. He ascended by way of the ranks, engaged on each inside and exterior design, and managing the event of the first-generation Citroen C4 and C4 Picasso (above).
Mr Vidal was appointed because the Peugeot’s model chief designer in 2010, the place he helped to craft a sportier and extra trendy picture for the marque. Highlights embody the 2013 Peugeot 308, the second-generation 508 launched in 2018, and the 3008 revealed in 2016.
He additionally oversaw the introduction of the iCockpit inside design theme, which blends plane inspiration with the corporate’s newest infotainment methods.
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