GM on People Awards win: "An exciting reminder"

Clay modelling was a hotly contested category at the 2025 Car Design News People Awards, and it was General Motors Europe that recieved the most votes from our industry judging panel. 

Daniel Leeder, clay sculptor specialist at GM, says the team was "incredibly proud to bring home the award" and reflects that it "is always meaningful to be recognised by our peers in the design industry."

The category, sponsored by Kolb Technology, included a raft of other big names including Audi, Changan, JLR, Mahindra, Slate and Volvo, but it was the team from Leamington Spa that took the honours. Speaking to CDN this month, Leeder explained how clay modelling feels like an apt award for the team to take home given the brand's legacy in this area. 

"We are incredibly proud to bring home the Best Clay Modelling Team Award. Clay modelling as a craft was pioneered at GM almost a century ago, yet it is still evolving, advancing and innovating, remaining at the very heart of the design process," he says. "From developing world-class concepts to building ever stronger collaboration across the digital and physical planes, we continue to shape better ideas together as one team."

Ultimately, Leeder describes this award as "a proud recognition of how far we have come, and an exciting reminder that the future of clay modelling at GM is still being formed."

The 2026 People Awards is now in its fifth year and is open for entries. Celebrate the teams and individuals behind the product with our easy-to-use online portal. Join your colleagues, heroes and potential partners by booking a table here.