Karim Habib, whose departure from Infiniti was recently announced, has been appointed as senior vice president and head of Kia Design Center, effective from October 2019. He is tasked with devising and developing the future design direction for Kia vehicles, as well as overseeing the design – exterior, interior, and colour and materials – of new models already in the pipeline, and will be based in the Kia studio in Namyang, South Korea, within the Hyundai Motor Group’s new, state-of-the-art, global design centre.
Habib will report to Luc Donckerwolke, executive vice president and chief design officer, Hyundai Motor Group. He said in a statement that he had admired Donckerwolke’s work “for many years, as well as [that of] the Kia design team that has created some truly remarkable designs,” and added: “Kia is a growing, ambitious brand on a determined path towards electrification and mobility innovation. I am thrilled to be a part of this transformation to strengthen the Kia brand further into the future of the automotive industry, which promises to be full of challenges and opportunities.”
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