Successful designer Gilles Vidal leaves Renault for Stellantis

Automotive designer Gilles Vidal will return to Stellantis after five years at Renault, where he notably relaunched the R4 and R5, the Franco-Italian-American group announced Friday.

Gilles Vidal, 52, will oversee "the creative direction and design strategy for Stellantis' iconic European brands" starting in October, the group said in a statement. He replaces a former Citroën colleague, Jean-Pierre Ploué, 62, who is leaving the company. Vidal will work "in close collaboration" with Ralph Gilles, the group's design director, Stellantis said.

The French designer spent 25 years at Citroën and Peugeot before taking over as head of design at Renault in 2020, appointed by its then CEO Luca de Meo.

Under the leadership of Laurens van den Acker, who is in charge of design for the group and will be acting as interim CEO, Gilles Vidal has had the time to put his sporty and futuristic touch on several models of the diamond brand, such as the electric Scenic, R4 and R5, or the hybrid Renault Rafale and Symbioz. He also supervised the styling of the Emblème concept car with Renault's teams, which is expected to inspire future models in the range.

At Peugeot, as design director between 2010 and 2020, Gilles Vidal supported the brand's move upmarket with highly successful vehicles such as the small 208 and the 3008 SUV, as well as the e-Legend concept car.

Peugeot and Citroën have been part of the Stellantis group since 2021, where Gilles Vidal could also oversee the design of brands such as DS, Opel, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. At Stellantis, he will be reunited with Jean-Philippe Imparato, former Peugeot boss now in charge of the European market for all of the group's brands.

“His deep understanding of European automotive culture and forward-looking design vision will be essential as we continue to redefine mobility and strengthen the identity of our European brands,” said Imparato.

"In a world where technology and design must move forward together to transform the customer experience, I am motivated by the challenges and opportunities that await me," emphasized Gilles Vidal.