HYUNDAI Motor Group (HMG) has announced that Peter Schreyer, president and head of design management, has been appointed as an executive design advisor and brand ambassador.

 

Hyundai said that this new role will see him “extend his monumental 16-year history with the group”.

 

Mr Schreyer is regarded as one of the three most influential automotive designers in the world.

He is responsible for cars including the Audi TT; various Volkswagens including some Golf models, the Eos and New Beetle; Kias from 2008; Genesis G70 and G80 luxury sedans; and Hyundai’s i30 and Tucson.

In November 2018 he became president of design management for the Hyundai Motor Group after being replaced as head of design at Hyundai-Kia by former Volkswagen Group designer Luc Donckerwolke.

He retired from Hyundai last year along with Hyundai Motor Group head of research and development – and former BMW M boss – Albert Biermann.

Both were regarded as being ousted by HMG to make way for Korean executives.

Mr Schreyer has been replaced by SangYup Lee as head of the Hyundai Global Design Centre and Mr Biermann with Chung Kook Park.

Like Mr Biermann, Mr Schreyer now lives in Europe. He said: “I  would like to thank executive chair Chung for calling and welcoming me to South Korea back in 2006.

“To be entrusted with an open brief and allowed to impress my design philosophy first on Kia, and then Hyundai and Genesis, is truly an honour.

“To be a car designer for me has always been a dream job and I’m so happy that I have been privileged to do this.

“I very much look forward to continuing to help further shape design at Hyundai Motor Group in an advisory role and to acting as an ambassador for its brands.”

By Neil Dowling