Mercedes Knows A Good Thing When They See It: Steals Hyundai's Chief Designer

Thanks to our contacts within the automotive design community, Car Design News can confirm that Joel Piaskowski, who resigned from his position as Chief Designer at Hyundai's North American design studios on December 19, 2008, will be taking over the position previously held by Gorden Wagener at Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design. He starts his new job on Monday, January 12.

Mercedes-Benz has made a few changes to its advanced design team since taking over the Carlsbad facility from Chrysler last year, notably the retirement of Prof. Peter Pfeiffer and the appointment of Gorden Wagener to the position of Head of Design. Piaskowski has now been chosen to lead the team at the facility in Southern California.

Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery

Read Article

david999 - 1/9/2009 1:40:08 PM

+1 Boost

I don't know about this move. A lot of the Hyundai designs were pretty forgetable.

david999 - 1/9/2009 3:20:39 PM

0 Boost

Why do you bother with the bulls**t?

Brembo - 1/9/2009 1:45:38 PM

0 Boost

Does that means MB like how Hyundai look and feel that Piaskowski can improve on the look of MB?

DennyCrane - 1/9/2009 3:39:59 PM

-4 Boost

It amazes me Hyundai employed a man in such a sensitive position without a non-compete clause in his contract. What kind of legal hacks are they hiring over there? Who cares, Hyundai shmundai... Denny Crane. Pop goes the weasel.

E36er - 1/9/2009 3:55:07 PM

-4 Boost

EXACTLY. I will never buy a Merc. that looks like a Korean derivative.

monkeyrun - 1/9/2009 3:58:43 PM

+5 Boost

Huyndai stole most of their designs from Mercedes anyway.

1fstmach - 1/9/2009 4:33:04 PM

0 Boost

You all think that design is some sort of sacred art form etc.. and that "stealing" a design in the history of every car has never been done.

Truth be told, Hyundai hired a designer from mercedes on one of the Sonatas (the 4 eyes like the Merc) so "stealing" seems a little far fetched.

Yes the Genesis is a 100% original design and Hyundai even came out and said that it wasn't, this is way better than earlier versions of the car, and I am glad they did refine it.

I hope this guy is happy going to Merc. And Hyundai I am sure will bounce from this.

Companies do this all the time.

EL34 - 1/9/2009 5:09:32 PM

+4 Boost

Car designers design cars according to what the company CEO's want and not what they themselves want.

Mercedes will still look like they have always looked ;-)

cococo - 1/9/2009 5:43:09 PM

+1 Boost

...which is like big, steaming piles of automotive marketing.

EL34 - 1/9/2009 8:09:32 PM

+1 Boost

I agree, the new forum stinks like $h!t :-(

It's too damn clinical.

Call me old skool, but I miss the old forum!

Anthony - 1/9/2009 10:48:41 PM

0 Boost

Actually, it's your irrelevant article "quoting" that I read above that sucks.

WorldofLuxury - 1/10/2009 1:47:24 AM

+1 Boost

those air intakes in the bumpers remind me of alienware...and angles...and buzz lightyear x]
I just love the fact that it shows how the designers bothered about the details.

ubercool - 1/10/2009 6:15:39 AM

-1 Boost

The likes of Jaguar poach there stylists from Aston Martin, and then Mercedes go and get them from Hyundai, thats hilarious, how embarassing for Merc!!!

theoptimisticpessimist - 1/10/2009 12:07:55 PM

+2 Boost

Wow I thought he was working for Pinnifarina, as the new Ferrari California is almost a spot on copy of the Tiburon

lambo98 - 1/11/2009 1:42:53 AM

+1 Boost

sik as imkorean and 4 hyundai thats awesome!!

Eyecarehawaii - 1/16/2009 2:08:16 PM

+1 Boost

There was a time during the Diamler-Chrysler era where MBs started to look a bit like Chryslers. Most non-Europeans who buy MBs are after badge status anyway; if they weren't they'd buy a Hyundai. Does the design make the car and in the end who really cares?