Hyundai Motor has appointed world-renowned designer SangYup Lee, former Head of Exterior and Advanced Design at Bentley, as the Vice President of Styling at Hyundai Design Center. He will takeover the responsibility starting from this June.
Building on his past experience of designing various luxury cars, Lee will be in charge of design strategies and directions and lead design innovations in areas of interior and exterior design, color and materials of Hyundai Motor and GENESIS with Senior Vice President Luc Donckerwolke.
SangYup Lee is well known as a famous Korean star designer in the global automotive industry. After graduating from Hongik University Department of Sculpture in Korea and Art Center College of Design in California, Lee began his career at Pininfarina and Porsche Design Center. In 1999, Lee joined General Motors and designed concept cars such as Camaro Concept Vehicle which converts into the iconic Bumblebee in the movie Transformers and Corvette Stingray Concept Vehicle.
Lee joined Volkswagen Group of America as Chief Designer in charge of Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini design. Since the end of 2012, he has been the Head of Exterior and Advanced Design at Bentley Motors Limited.
Speaking about his new role, SangYup Lee said, “The innovative design and surprising growth of Hyundai Motor has always made me proud as a Korean while I worked overseas. Now, I want to contribute in creating world-leading automobile designs for both Hyundai Motor and the GENESIS brand.”