Alexandre Malval joins Renault as new vice president of design

Renault has named Alexandre Malval as its new vice president of design, a seasoned creative who previously held key roles at Peugeot, Citroën, and Mercedes-Benz. He takes over from Gilles Vidal, who moved to Stellantis this summer.

Malval, 55, began his career at Renault in 1993 before moving to Volkswagen and then Citroën, where he worked his way from designer to design director. From 2009 to 2012 he oversaw model development at Peugeot, and in recent years led Mercedes-Benz’s international design center — a résumé that bridges mainstream and premium studios and usually leaves a visible imprint on a brand’s look.

At Renault he will report to the group’s chief designer, Laurens van den Acker. Industry watchers expect the brand’s 2026 cars to adopt a clearly European identity, mixing premium touches often associated with Mercedes with the assertive forms familiar from Peugeot and Citroën. Judging by Malval’s track record, that forecast sounds well grounded.