{"id":46891,"date":"2026-10-15T16:50:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/?p=46891"},"modified":"2026-10-15T16:51:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:51:00","slug":"interview-with-alexandre-malval-head-of-design-at-renault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/?p=46891","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Alexandre Malval: Head of Design at Renault"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Alexandre Malval speaks about his return to Renault via the Renault Group\u2019s \u2018futuREady\u2019 channel. Here is a partial transcript, supplemented with comments from LIGNES\/auto and extracts from interviews conducted by our website throughout the career of this all too little-known designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhen I returned to Renault at the start of the year, I found a company I was already familiar with, but one that had undergone a profound transformation due to its international reach, as well as a team driven by a tremendous desire to create and innovate. I was struck by this collective determination to explore new ideas, by this thirst for creativity and by this strong sense of humanity that goes far beyond the realm of design. <\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alexandre recalls his early days as a designer at Renault in 1993. It was largely thanks to the great designer Michel Harmand (1934\u20132004) that he was able to discover this world. \u201cDuring my military service, I taught at the \u00c9cole Sup\u00e9rieure de Design Industriel de Paris alongside him. He was a key figure in my career. I\u2019ve known him since I was a child, as my parents were in the same year as him at the \u00c9cole des Arts D\u00e9coratifs. They asked Michel Harmand what course I should take. Thanks to his advice, I studied at the \u00c9cole des Arts Appliqu\u00e9s in Paris, the same school attended by Jean-Pierre Plou\u00e9 and Thierry M\u00e9troz. And Michel Harmand recommended an internship at Renault, where I met Jacques Nocher (below).<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jacques Nocher, on the left, with Gaston Juchet, Renault\u2019s head of design at the time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alexandre Malval talks about his passion. \u201cI\u2019m passionate about design in the broadest sense. I appreciate projects that have a clear objective, that are coherent and well-conceived, and that involve playing with proportions and volumes, with an obsession for innovation and modernity. I also really enjoy working as part of a team to shape the vehicles of tomorrow.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alexandre Malval wants to return to the concept of the \u2018car as a way of life\u2019: \u2018a companion for the family\u2019. Pictured above, in 1975, a family standing in front of a scale model of a revolutionary little Renault saloon, the VGB (V\u00e9hicule Bas de Gamme).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And when the group asks him, \u201cWhat makes a Renault a Renault?<\/em>\u201d, Alexandre draws on his experience of just under a year since joining Renault last January to explain that \u201cit is, above all, what we at Renault call a \u2018car for living. A companion for everyday life, whether for a family, a couple or a single person. A car that\u2019s a pleasure to drive every day, for all sorts of reasons depending on your needs.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of Renault\u2019s most memorable \u2018lifestyle cars\u2019: the 1984 Espace.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis idea is deeply rooted in Renault\u2019s history \u2013 a brand that must appeal to everyone and remain popular. The brand has always sought to find clever solutions to meet people\u2019s needs, with a focus on comfort, simplicity, functionality and those little touches that make a car a pleasure to drive.\u201d<\/em> And to back up his words, Alexandre explains that \u201cmodernity is also an integral part of Renault\u2019s DNA. The brand has always been committed to pushing the boundaries, innovating and remaining at the cutting edge of progress.\u201d<\/em> Four strategic pillars define a comprehensive manifesto for Renault\u2019s design of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Renaults designed by the Malval team \u2013 which will be tasked with giving the final seal of approval to the few models designed by Gilles Vidal before his departure \u2013 will, first and foremost, be \u201cdesigned to be loved and, therefore, to be attractive and expressive cars.<\/em>\u201d Alexandre then goes on to talk about \u201ctechnology that serves people.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When it comes to technology, the third pillar naturally refers to the electrification of Renault\u2019s cars of the future. But above all, they will be \u201celectrified by passion<\/em>\u201d. Finally, what might seem like a minor detail is anything but in Malval\u2019s eyes: imagining \u201ccarefully designed spaces<\/em>\u201d that create living environments within future Renault cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWith every new project, we aim to tick all four of these boxes. Our job is then to translate these principles into a strong design \u2013 in terms of both exterior and interior styling, as well as through our user interfaces, colours and materials \u2013 in order to offer our customers the greatest possible enjoyment and emotional experience.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patrick le Qu\u00e9ment, who was head of design at Renault for 22 years, often spoke of a strong design and a concept that is just as strong. Alexandre Malval, for his part, sums up the aim as \u201cto offer our customers a complete and holistic experience through the architecture of our vehicles, their styling and their technology. This is how we envisage the Renaults of tomorrow.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Patrick le Qu\u00e9ment, pictured here with Louis Schweitzer, then CEO of Renault, the strength of the concept was on a par with that of the design<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The E-Space concept unveiled at the Paris Motor Show is therefore the first step taken by Alexandre\u2019s team, which has brought back designer Romain Gauvin \u2013 who was previously at Dacia and, before that, at\u2026 Citro\u00ebn. Citro\u00ebn, where, it is worth recalling, Alexandre served as design director from 2012 to 2018. It is these so-called \u2018second-in-command\u2019 figures (which is not a pejorative term in this case \u2013 quite the opposite, in fact) who are the loyal supporters of the leaders, as is Sandeep Bhambra today at Stellantis, working alongside Gilles Vidal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alexandre Malval, on the right, met Jean-Pierre Plou\u00e9 \u2013 in the centre \u2013 at Renault in 1993. He followed him to Volkswagen and then again to Stellantis, where he became head of design at Citro\u00ebn. And since January 2026, he has taken over from Gilles Vidal (on the left) as head of design at Renault.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During his time at Mercedes, Alexandre explained to LIGNES\/auto that \u201cfrom a professional perspective, a designer\u2019s instincts remain the same; the creative processes are similar, as are the evolution of the profession and the new challenges brought about by the transformation of our industry.<\/em> \u201cBut German automotive and design culture, for example, remains different; the blend with foreign sensibilities \u2013 more Latin in our case \u2013 is very interesting in terms of fuelling thinking about future products.\u201d<\/em> At Renault, the culture of the group and of a manufacturer with a history stretching back over 130 years is strong. It is ready to embrace a new design language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When a designer takes charge of a brand\u2019s design, they must never overlook its history. That is what sets European manufacturers apart from their Chinese counterparts, who, for their part, have no history\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alexandre is therefore set to build a range based on the E-Space concept. \u201cI want to build a cohesive family of vehicles that clearly share the same DNA, guided by our brand\u2019s design language, with design features and a character that are consistent across Europe and internationally. All whilst ensuring that each model has sufficient freedom to develop its own personality. Every vehicle must stand out in the market thanks to a strong design and must be unmistakably a Renault. <\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And for Malval, the first element of a strong design is \u201cthat it must be recognisable even without its logo (<\/em>above, that of the E-Space concept). It starts with the silhouette and the proportions from every angle. These give a car its look and a clearly defined character. The surfaces, details and lighting signatures then serve to reinforce this identity.<\/em> \u201d However, there was a time at Renault when identifying a model solely by its design was not necessarily viewed favourably: the Twingo was first and foremost a Twingo before being a Renault, and some of Renault\u2019s executives at the time insisted that the design should ensure the car was recognised first and foremost as a Renault. And thus, a common identity across the range\u2019s models. More on this subject to follow\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And when we discover the E-Space concept, we see once again that Renault\u2019s heritage serves as the basis for a new concept, pictured above. Alexandre Malval confirms that \u201cthis is one of the sources of creativity. Renault has an exceptional heritage stretching back nearly 130 years. The Renault 5, the Renault 4, the Renault 8 Gordini, the Espace and the Twingo\u2026 These cars left their mark on their era and forged a strong emotional bond with customers. This heritage is an asset, but it must be handled with care. <\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gilles Vidal was given a mock-up of the R5 Revival when he arrived. Alexandre Malval, who is replacing him, must now give the go-ahead to a number of ongoing projects initiated by Vidal himself\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We mentioned earlier the electrification of Renault\u2019s future models. Alexandre Malval is certain that it \u201copens up new possibilities. Vehicle architectures are evolving, and proportions are adapting accordingly, offering new ways of utilising interior space or improving the proportions of the exterior design, for example by reducing overhangs.<\/em> On-board technology also considerably broadens the scope of design possibilities, particularly for the cabin: screens have partly replaced instrument panels, and connectivity and new features have become indispensable, radically transforming the in-car experience.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On arriving in Guyancourt, at the Renault Group\u2019s French design centre, Alexandre found tools he knows well, particularly from his time as head of Mercedes\u2019 advanced design centre in the south of France (2018-2025). And amongst these, artificial intelligence, of course! \u201cIt is a powerful catalyst for our creativity. Starting with a sketch, we can now quickly explore different stylistic options, visualise them in hyper-realistic environments and generate video sequences. What used to take several days can now be accomplished in just a few minutes. We are in the midst of a revolution, and it\u2019s thrilling. <\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That\u2019s true, but AI has other benefits\u2026 Be careful, though: \u201cAI is by no means a substitute for a designer. To achieve good results, you always need a creative designer with the inspiration required to craft effective \u2018prompts\u2019 that produce compelling results. A designer is also always needed to evaluate the outcome, correct it, modify it and make the final decisions. Faced with hundreds of potential proposals, we need to know which ones to select, bearing in mind the strategy, the technical constraints and the world we want to create. AI enables us to speed up our processes, but it does not make decisions for us. <\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are still a few questions we\u2019re asking ourselves, such as what the key themes of the design language for future Renaults will be. Or whether the R-Space Lab concept car \u2013 which hints at a potential Sc\u00e9nic (as imagined by LIGNES\/auto above) \u2013 has been selected, or whether it has been shelved. And whether Renault might, why not, make use of Alpine\u2019s APP aluminium platform to design a sports car proudly bearing the Renault logo\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

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Alexandre Malval speaks about his return to Renault via the Renault Group\u2019s \u2018futuREady\u2019 channel. Here is a partial transcript, supplemented with comments from LIGNES\/auto and extracts from interviews conducted by our website throughout the career of this all too little-known designer. \u201cWhen I returned to Renault at the start of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46852,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46891"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46891"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46932,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46891\/revisions\/46932"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lignesauto.fr\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}