Mazda taps Montousse to lead Calif. design studio

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mazda Motor Corp. has chosen Julien Montousse, an interior design specialist known for crafting the cockpit-like interiors of the Mazda6 sedan and the MX-5 Miata roadster, to lead its U.S. design studio, the automaker said today.Montousse, a 37-year-old Paris native, replaces his former boss, Derek Jenkins, who quietly resigned from Mazda this July to become vice president of design for a “stealth project” in the Los Angeles area, according to his LinkedIn profile.“Julien has been instrumental in strengthening Mazda’s overall direction through his keen focus on creating driving atmospheres focused on the experience of driving,” Masamitsu Koike, vice president of r&d at Mazda North American Operations, said in a statement today. “He is an invaluable asset to have on our team and an excellent ambassador of the Mazda brand.”In his time at Mazda, Montousse has helped shape the flowing Kodo design worn by most of Mazda’s models. One of his first tasks as director of the Irvine, Calif., design studio will be helping to craft Kodo’s successor: a “seventh generation” design due to make its first appearance in 2018 on the next Mazda3.Before joining Mazda, Montousse had worked for nearly a decade at General Motors, penning the interior of the revived Chevrolet Camaro that went on sale in 2009.He was named to Automotive News' annual Rising Stars list, which honors North American auto industry executives, this spring.Besides working at Mazda, Montousse designs personal submersibles, which he pitches to oil and gas companies for use in offshore drilling.Space Exploration Technologies Corp., the space flight company led by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, sought Montousse’s advice on the cabin of its Dragon 2 spacecraft because of his expertise on cockpit design and extreme environments.

Mazda taps Montousse to lead Calif. design studio

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