Eduardo Ramírez takes on a new role at Hyundai Design Europe

Exterior design specialist Eduardo Ramírez has been promoted to a new role as chief designer at Hyundai Design Europe. The new gig will see him focus on “customer-centric design innovation”, something he spoke to Car Design News about during the recent Car Design Event in Munich. 

Eduardo Ramirez at CDE2024-405

Eduardo Ramírez speaking at Car Design Event 2024 (credit: Jules Photo Garage)

Ramírez has worked on numerous projects during his time at Hyundai, from the 2015 i20 coupe to the Hyundai Kona and more recently the new Santa Fe – which he says was reflective of this customer-centric design strategy. “It was designed to get you closer to nature,” he told CDN. 

As is the nature of a job in design, Ramírez has spent much of his career travelling, recalling fond memories of South America in particular. After graduating from Coventry University and the Royal College of Art, he would go on to reside mainly in Germany with gigs at Mercedes, Audi and later at Opel via General Motors. He joined Hyundai’s European design centre in Rüsselsheim back in 2007 and has been there ever since – clearly making an impression on senior management.

“I look forward to witnessing a stronger and fresher Hyundai Design Europe under Eduardo,” says EVP of design Sangyup Lee. “He is the perfect fit to the position as he understands the design direction of Hyundai which prioritises customer values, and he is the one to realise design that can satisfy different types of customers’ lifestyles while valuing Hyundai’s heritage.”

There has been change elsewhere in the Hyundai Motor Group, with Oliver Samson joining Kia in Frankfurt.