When Bentley chief designer Luc Donckerwolke left the company at the end of May, the rumor mill started spinning immediately. Many observers believed that the former VW Group star designer would surface at electronics company Apple as part of its rumored Project Titan automobile project. Others speculated that he would join an Asian carmaker. The latter is true, as first reported by Michael Taylor at motoring.com.au and independently confirmed by our sources. Donckerwolke will join Hyundai and Kia, where he is set to take over the position of chief designer from Peter Schreyer.
The succession plan is understood to be a gradual one that may span two years until the time Schreyer retires; this would give Donckerwolke a chance to get acquainted with the Korean corporate culture. The job no doubt is a highly appealing opportunity for the Belgian designer—he took it, after all—as it will give him power and clout that are almost unparalleled within the automotive world.
Schreyer, who rose to the very top ranks at the Korean company, has assembled a stellar team of respected designers that includes former VW Group pens Ralph Kluge, Miklos Kovacs, and Gregory Guillaume. Many of them will find it easy to once again work with Donckerwolke, who has moved through various high-profile positions within the VW Group.
Donckerwolke is considered to be one of today’s top designers, thanks to his work with vehicles like the Lamborghini Gallardo and Murciélago and Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car.
Donckerwolke’s challenges in Korea will include setting up the sporty Hyundai N-series sub-brand. Hyundai recently hired former BMW M GmbH executive Albert Biermann to work on the technical side of the ambitious project.
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