François Castaing

François Jean Castaing (; 18 March 1945 – 26 July 2023) was a French automotive executive with Renault, American Motors, and Chrysler. He was an engineering graduate from École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers in Paris. He worked in Europe for Gordini and Renault before being named vice president for Product Engineering and Development at American Motors Corporation (AMC).

With Gordini and Renault Castaing started his career in motorsports with Gordini in 1968 working on engines for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After Renault had taken over Gordini, he advanced to the position of Renault Sport Technical Director. His record of accomplishment with Renault included stints as a member of a racing-engine development team and as director of racing programs. He had joined AMC from Renault, which owned 46% of the company. He and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1980.

With AMC and Chrysler

Castaing was responsible for product engineering and development at AMC. He was instrumental in the development of the downsized Jeep Cherokee (XJ), a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that became highly profitable for AMC and thereby helped usher in the modern SUV era. As AMC's vice president for Product Engineering and Development, he also designed a new development approach in which teams of engineers focused on a single type of car platform, working on new models as a system from concept to production. The automaker was looking for a way to speed up its product development process to compete better against its larger competitors in 1985. This differed from the traditional automotive practice of organizing work around departments (such as project planning, design, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing) and components (such as engine, powertrain, and body).

This business process is now known as product lifecycle management (PLM). After introducing its compact Jeep Cherokee (XJ), AMC began development of a new model that later became the Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ). The first part in its quest for faster product development was computer-aided design (CAD) software system that makes engineers more productive. Part of the reason was that AMC's Jeep Cherokee product line alone soon accounted for more than a third of Chrysler's profits. Several AMC leaders became stars at Chrysler, including product development boss Castaing, who took over Chrysler operations and engineering. He was quickly named Chrysler Motors' new vice president for Vehicle Engineering. The acquiring company was in desperate need to replicate the culture at AMC and Renault, where work was conducted in an atmosphere "of constant change". Castaing first suggested the use of these platform teams at Chrysler, it was the automaker's president, Robert Lutz who understood the potential of this change and had the leadership power to make it happen. Castaing realigned Chrysler's 6,000-member engineering structure into teams working on a single platforms. Lutz and Castaing reorganized their departments into AMC-style teams. Castaing also incorporated simultaneous engineering. This team-management approach took shape in the late 1980s. The cross-functional teams for each vehicle were organized across all facets of the company and supplier operations in bringing out new products. "I am a firm believer that teams are the way to improve," said Francois Castaing, vice president for vehicle engineering and a prime mover behind Chrysler's platform-team structure. Bob Lutz described Castaing as a great engineer who was outcome-oriented (versus process-oriented) and passionate with enthusiasm that inspired others. Lutz further reported that he is "exceptionally good constantly doing things that were accepted by the system as being impossible... he loved challenges." He focused on space optimization in minivan design and was praised by Chrysler president Bob Lutz as "the best packager I've ever known." His engineering platform approach drew interest from General Motors and Toyota, and was a factor during Chrysler's eventual merger with Daimler-Benz.

In 1993, Castaing founded the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), joining Chrysler with General Motors and Ford. and has transformed European automobile markets in the early-2000s.

Castaing was also a member of the "Dodge Viper Team", being the Engineering Vice President, and "would prove vital" to the development of the Viper's V10 engine.

Retirement After leaving DaimlerChrysler, Castaing served on the boards of directors of multiple manufacturing and automotive companies, including Exide, the battery company, Durakon Industries, NextEnergy, Reynard Motorsport, and Valeo. He also served on the board of the Federation of American Scientists. In 2004, TRW Automotive Holdings announced the election of Castaing to the company's board of directors. He also served on the audit committee of Amerigon (now Gentherm Incorporated).

In 1998, Castaing became chairman of the New Detroit Science Center for the education of future generations. Castaing has continued to leverage his ties to the automobile industry to promote science and engineering education.

From 1994, Castaing also served on the board of directors of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). This is the robotics competition for high school students created by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen.

Death François Castaing died on 26 July 2023, at the age of 78.

Recognition

Castaing was named "Man of the Year" by the French publication Le Journal de l'Automobile for his exemplary success in the United States. He was noted for developing the Renault-AMC structure, the launching of Renault Alliance and Encore (Renault 9 & 11), for being the father of the Jeep Cherokee (XJ), as well as being one of the craftsmen of the rescue of Chrysler.

Castaing was elected a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering in 1995 for the development of highly reliable, high-performance automobiles and for their successful production through innovative organizational structures. Castaing was also chosen as a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) that "recognizes and honors long-term members who have made a significant impact on society's mobility technology through leadership, research, and innovation."

Castaing was posthumously inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on 12 October 2010 in Dearborn, Michigan.

Footnotes