WORLD-RENOWNED CAR DESIGNER JUANMA LOPEZ JOINS XPE
Wednesday, 19th June 2024
JuanMa Lopez appointed as Vice President of Design Center, XPENG
Published by XPENG Australia
Former Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi design lead joins XPENG
Appointment confirms XPENG’s pioneering status in EV design, innovation
Guangzhou, China, June 6, 2024 - XPENG Motors (“XPENG” or the “Company,” NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle (“Smart EV”) company, today announced the appointment of JuanMa Lopez as Vice President of Design Center. Lopez, formerly the Genesis Design Head of Europe, Ferrari Head of Exterior Design, Lamborghini Head of Interior Design, and Audi Group Design Manager, will oversee management and decision-making at XPENG's Design Center.
A Multi-talented Automotive Design Pioneer, Creator of Many Iconic Luxury Cars
Starting in the third quarter of this year, XPENG will enter a robust product cycle and accelerate its global market expansion. The addition of top-tier international designer JuanMa Lopez is a significant step in enhancing XPENG's competitiveness in product design, driving innovation, elevating brand image, and accelerating the Company’s global footprint.
Lopez, dubbed a “360° versatile talent” in automotive industrial design, brings rich experience in both exterior and interior automotive design, as well as global design team management. With 24 years of industry experience, Lopez has worked for prestigious luxury car brands such as Genesis, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Audi, and SEAT, designing numerous iconic products.
In 2001, Lopez joined Lamborghini as the Head of Interior Design, leading the design of Lamborghini's most successful product, the Gallardo Spider, as well as flagship models like the Murciélago Barchetta and the Miura Concept. In 2004, Lopez joined Audi as an Interior Design Manager, where he contributed to the design of the Audi Avantissimo, Audi A4, and Audi quattro concept, utilizing innovative dashboard combinations and new interior materials to create globally influential models.
From 2010 to 2018, Lopez served as Ferrari’s Head of Exterior Design, participating in the design of 25 Ferrari models. His work achieved a perfect balance of sportiness and functionality, creating iconic GT supercars loved by enthusiasts. Notably, he was involved in designing the LaFerrari, SF90 Stradale, and Ferrari Monza SP.
In 2018, Lopez joined BYD as Global Exterior Design Director, where he led the exterior design of the BYD E-SEED GT concept car. His unique “dragon design philosophy” combined Chinese cultural aesthetics with technological innovation, pioneering a new design language for future BYD models.
Driving Innovation and Elevating Tech Luxury
JuanMa Lopez’s design philosophy emphasizes forward-looking breakthroughs and extreme innovation. His revolutionary supercar exterior designs and his balance of luxury and functionality in interiors will bring innovative breakthroughs to XPENG. Lopez chose to join XPENG due to China’s leading position in the global EV industry, his belief in XPENG's strength and brand strategy, and his recognition of XPENG's corporate culture and design philosophy. XPENG has always embraced extreme innovation with open arms and warmly welcomes JuanMa Lopez. As a leading Chinese Smart EV company, XPENG adheres to a design philosophy of “pure, ultimate, pioneering,” leading industry aesthetic trends.
Lopez’s insight into cutting-edge design and his luxury-forward-thinking philosophy will drive the evolution and upgrade of XPENG's design style, supporting the brand’s advancement in all areas. His top supercar design philosophies will merge with XPENG’s tech-savvy, intelligent design style, creating new possibilities in design and redefining “tech luxury” for young people.
Lopez’s international vision and his blend of Eastern and Western design will help XPENG build a world-class design team. After ten years of exploration, XPENG is accelerating its internationalization process, driving product iteration with a global design language.
About XPENG
XPENG is a leading Chinese Smart EV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers’ mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, San Diego and Amsterdam. The Company’s Smart EVs are mainly manufactured at its plants in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.