Kia electrification design innovation head appointed

Kia is strengthening its design capabilities to capitalise on new opportunities in electrification and mobility, appointing Won Kyu Kang to oversee advanced design planning and future design strategy as Kia Motors’ Design Innovation Group head.

From November, Kang will be based at the Kia Design Centre in Namyang, Korea and will report to Kia Design Centre head and senior vice president Karim Habib.

Kang brings a unique understanding of how to merge advanced mobility technology with stunning, modern exterior designs, Habib says.

“The automotive industry is changing rapidly, and Won Kyu is ideally placed to support Kia’s efforts to tackle the challenges and opportunities we face. He is an incredibly talented designer and is a great fit for our creative Kia design team in Korea.”

Specialising in advanced design planning, Kang will lead the strategic development of Kia’s design by giving shape to future design plans in both exterior and interior design across the entire product portfolio.

His appointment is the latest development in Kia’s move to establish a leadership position in electrification and capitalise on new design opportunities. Advanced design is seen as a key element of this, with electric and electrified vehicles posing new challenges and opportunities in form and architecture.

An alumnus of the Transportation Design course at the ArtCentre College of Design in Pasadena, California, Kang brings 15-years of experience in exterior design. He has overseen a range of exterior design projects, including research into merging premium vehicle design with future mobility technologies.

His most recent role was creative director at BMW Group Designworks in Shanghai, China. He previously spent much of his career at BMW Group and was the lead exterior designer for the 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage concept.

“I am honoured to join the Kia design team, particularly at a time when the automotive industry is facing such a radical shift,” Kang says.

“I believe Kia will play a major-role in defining the new era of design with a wide range of electrified products and a visionary mobility roadmap for the future. I am confident that the knowledge accumulated during my career will contribute to the ongoing transition of Kia, and I am looking forward to working with the team in new creative directions.”

Under its ‘Plan S’ strategy, Kia aims to establish a leadership position in the future automotive industry, drawing on R&D expertise in mobility, electrification, connectivity, and autonomy.