Hyundai Motor Group Design Leaders Honored with Automotive News Centennial Awards

• Hyundai Motor Group President, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke, former President and Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, and legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro recognized for design excellence

• Automotive News Centennial Awards commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication and honor extraordinary individuals whose vision, innovation and leadership have made a lasting impact on the global automotive industry

• Awards ceremony held in Turin, as part of Automotive News Europe Congress 2025

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) leading design figures Luc Donckerwolke, President, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Creative Officer, and Peter Schreyer, executive design advisor and brand ambassador, have been recognized with Automotive News Centennial Awards for their outstanding contributions to global automotive design. Legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro – responsible for Hyundai Motor’s original Pony and the Pony Coupe concept – was also honored.

Presented during the 2025 Automotive News Europe Congress in Turin, Italy, June 11-12, the Centennial Awards celebrate 100 years of the publication. The awards honor extraordinary individuals whose creativity, innovation, and leadership have made a lasting impact on the global automotive industry.

CDO and CCO Luc Donckerwolke honored for shaping global automotive design

As the Group’s President, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Creative Officer, Donckerwolke oversees design strategy for Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis, and was praised for pushing creative boundaries and championing innovative and engaging design philosophies to differentiate the Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis brands.

Under Donckerwolke’s leadership, Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive brands have earned global recognition for vehicles that blend technology, sustainability, and design excellence.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Donckerwolke. “This recognition is a testament to Hyundai Motor Group’s belief in design as a driving force for innovation and identity. I share this award with all the talented teams that inspire me every day and work relentlessly to challenge the status quo.”

Donckerwolke joined Hyundai Motor Group in 2016 after holding senior design positions at Skoda, Audi, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Bentley. In 2018 he became the Group’s Chief Design Officer, expanding his responsibilities further in 2020 as Chief Creative Officer.

Design visionary Peter Schreyer celebrated for exceptional contribution

Peter Schreyer joined Kia in 2006 as Chief Design Officer having started his career at Audi, later moving to Volkswagen. At Kia, Schreyer introduced a bold new design identity, redefining the brand with the now-iconic ‘tiger nose’ grille and positioning Kia as a global design leader.

In 2013 he was promoted to President and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group, adding responsibility for Hyundai Motor design, where he led an innovative renewal of the brand’s SUV lineup and guided design across Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis, strengthening their global brand identities.

Following his retirement at the end of 2023, Schreyer has served as a mentor for students under the Group’s partnership with the Royal College of Art, supporting the Hyundai-Kia Design and Innovation Project, Intelligent Mobility MA Visiting Design Fellowship Program, Custom Professional Development Workshops, and The Hyundai-Kia Student Awards.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award. It belongs to the many creative and dedicated teams I’ve had the privilege to work with – and to Hyundai Motor Group for its unwavering belief in the power of design to drive meaningful progress and change,” said Schreyer.

Both Donckerwolke and Schreyer were recognized for their instrumental roles in transforming Hyundai Motor Group into a global design powerhouse.

Also honored was Giorgetto Giugiaro, whose relationship with Hyundai dates back to the 1970s. Cited as a key inspirational figure by both Donckerwolke and Schreyer, the renowned Italian designer was responsible for the iconic 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept, as well as the production Hyundai Pony – South Korea’s first domestically developed mass-produced car.

Speaking at the Automotive News Centennial Awards, KC Crain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crain Communications, parent company of Automotive News, said, “Peter Schreyer and Luc Donckerwolke have helped redefine what modern automotive design means – not just for Hyundai Motor Group, but for the entire industry. Their bold creativity and leadership have elevated the role of design as a strategic force, and their legacy is reflected in vehicles recognized around the world for both their beauty and innovation. We are proud to honor them with Automotive News Centennial Awards for their extraordinary contributions.”

This recognition of Hyundai Motor Group’s design vision underscores the Group’s commitment to design as a strategic differentiator. With bold, human-centered innovations at the core of its design philosophy, the Group continues to shape the mobility landscape through creativity, collaboration, and world-class design leadership.

Luc Donckerwolke Bio

Peter Schreyer Bio