Gilles Vidal is the new Head of Design for Stellantis' European brands.

A major change at the helm of Stellantis design: effective October 1st, Gilles Vidal will be the new head of design for all the group's European brands, replacing Jean-Pierre Ploué, who is leaving after a long and distinguished career, especially during the PSA years. Stellantis today is a complex and still unstable organization, with a dozen or so companies whose identities are in limbo, and Vidal is tasked with providing overall direction: from the Fiat Panda to the relaunched Lancia, from the electric Opel to the DS saloon. A fragile architecture, still lacking a common vocabulary, and in a saturated market, aesthetics are more crucial than ever.

The beginnings in Citroën, then the leap to Peugeot

Among industry insiders, Vidal enjoys an excellent reputation, earned since his arrival at Citroën in 1996 and in the two PSA worlds, with the jump to Peugeot: the 2016 3008 , for example, marked a break with the past, where softness gave way to taut lines, while the vertical dashboard and i-Cockpit command the board. Then came the 2019 208 and the new-generation 308 , featuring aggressive proportions and vertical lights. The brand's new logo, introduced with the 308, sums up his approach: understated modernity .

All this has led him to win five European Car of the Year awards between 2015 and 2019, a feat that, in the world of design, is worth far more than any aesthetic award. Then came his arrival at Renault and the design of the Megane E-Tech , perhaps his most cold and surgical car, and now his return "home," but with much greater responsibilities.

A unique vision

“We are thrilled to welcome Gilles back to this strategic role. His deep understanding of European automotive culture and his forward-looking design vision will be crucial to redefining mobility and strengthening the identity of our European brands,” said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jean-Pierre Ploué for his team spirit and his invaluable contribution to Stellantis.”

Similar words also came from Ralph Gilles, Global Chief Design Officer: "Gilles' experience will be crucial to the future of the Group. He is a top-notch designer, whose designs have won five European Car of the Year awards over the last decade. Gilles will continue the excellent work done by Jean-Pierre Ploué, whom I would like to thank for his contribution to the relaunch and development of many of our brands and products."

Stellantis needs a recognizable hand and Vidal, at present, is among the few in Europe capable of combining heritage, innovation and visual consistency. “I'm thrilled to return to our roots by joining Stellantis again. In a world where technology and design must go hand in hand to transform the customer experience, I'm ready to take on the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. I look forward to collaborating with Jean-Philippe, Ralph, and their teams,” said Vidal himself. Can a single vision save ten brands in search of their identity? We'll find out when the next model emerges from the design center.