Peter Schreyer

Peter Schreyer (born 1953) is a German automobile designer widely known for his design contributions to the Audi TT. He was the chief design officer at Kia Motors from 2006–2018 and, on 28 December 2012, he was named one of three presidents of the company.

Schreyer is known for wearing all-black clothing, black eyeglasses designed by Philippe Starck, and for his "competitive, inventive and analytic" nature.

Education and early career Schreyer was born in 1953 in Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria, West Germany, and he began studying in 1975 at the Munich University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule München – Industrie Design). He worked with Audi first as a student in 1978, graduating in 1979 with his industrial design degree. Subsequently, he won the Audi Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Art in London from 1979 to 1980 as a transportation design student.

Kia and Hyundai Motor Group

"I try to look at architecture and art and music, things like this. I like things that are not average, and people who follow their own vision." — Peter Schreyer, discussing his design influences in 2009 Schreyer oversaw design activities at Kia's design centers in Frankfurt, Irvine, Tokyo and the Namyang Design Center in Korea, and was central to a complete restyling of Kia's range and market positioning.

Schreyer indicated in a 2010 interview that Kia had a "neutral image" - indistinguishable whether it was Korean or Japanese - and said that "it's very important that you are able to recognise a Kia at first sight".

The Kee concept vehicle, shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, introduced a new corporate grille to create a recognizable 'face' for the brand. Known as the Tiger Nose, Schreyer indicated he wanted "a powerful visual signal, a seal, an identifier. The front of a car needs this recognition, this expression. A car needs a face and I think the new Kia face is strong and distinctive. Visibility is vital and that face should immediately allow you to identify a Kia even from a distance".

In November 2018 Schreyer was replaced by Luc Donckerwolke as the chief design officer at Hyundai-Kia; Schreyer's title was updated to "President and head of design management for Hyundai Motor Group", responsible for the group's long-term design vision.

He retired from his full-time role at the company at the end of 2023, but continues to support the organization's partnerships with educational institutions such as the Royal College of Art and initiatives such as the Hyundai-Kia Student Awards.

Awards 1995 Schreyer founded and juried the "Internationaler Audi design Förderpreis". following Sergio Pininfarina and Giorgetto Giugiaro as only the third automotive designer to receive the honor.

Design work

Audi Audi A3 (1996) Audi A4 (2000) Audi A6 (1997) Audi TT (1998) Volkswagen Volkswagen Concept R (2003) Volkswagen Eos (2006) Volkswagen Golf (1997) Kia Picanto (2017) Kia Rio (2011) Kia Rio (2017) Kia Sorento (2009) Kia Soul (2014) Kia Sportage (2010) Kia Sportage (2015) Kia Stinger (2017) Kia Stonic (2017) Kia Venga (2009) Hyundai Motor Company Hyundai Genesis (2014) Hyundai i30 (2017) Hyundai Tucson (2015) Genesis Motor Genesis G70 (2017) Genesis G80 (2016) Genesis G90 (2015)