Gilles Vidal’s Triumphant Return to Stellantis Design

A Triumphant Homecoming

In early October, Gilles Vidal steps into his role as Head of Design for Stellantis’ European brands, succeeding Jean-Pierre Ploué and reporting to Jean-Philippe Imparato
Vidal’s return to Stellantis caps a career that began at Citroën in 1996 and saw him shape award-winning models like the Peugeot 308, 3008 and 208 during his 25 years at PSA brands
After five years leading Renault’s design team and earning accolades such as Car Design News People’s Production Car Design of the Year, Vidal brings fresh vision to city cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles

Melding Heritage with Innovation

Known for his philosophy of emotional clarity, Vidal balances respect for brand DNA with forward-looking tech integration
His Renault 5 E-Tech concept and SR-1 concept for Peugeot showcase how he fuses heritage cues—like the stylized Peugeot lion—with clean, modern surfaces
At Stellantis, his mandate spans iconic marques from Fiat and Citroën to Maserati, challenging him to tailor new electric and digital design languages across diverse lineups

Community Buzz and Cultural Context

Naver and Tistory bloggers have been abuzz, with mobility-ground’s deep dives praising Vidal’s human-centred approach and hwasanpeugeot highlighting his knack for balancing innovation with heritage
On blog.naver.com/soo4195, readers marvel at his accessible leadership style, while motoroid.tistory.com speculates on Stellantis’ next electric breakthrough under his guidance
Over on Daum forums and PGR21, fans debate how his return might reshape the competitive European market, reflecting broader enthusiasm for cross-brand design unity

Looking Ahead at Stellantis

Under Vidal’s guidance, Stellantis aims to redefine customer experience through seamless integration of technology and form
Collaboration with Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles promises a unified global vision, while Vidal’s deep European cultural insights may foster designs that resonate across markets
As Stellantis pursues its 2030 Dare Forward electrification targets, Vidal’s blend of craftsmanship and innovation positions him to steer Europe’s car culture into a bold new era