Sept. 6, 2019—Kia has appointed Karim Habib as senior vice president and head of the Kia design center. Habib's appointment will enable Kia to continue enhancing the design competitiveness of its brand and products. 

Responsible for the design of Kia vehicles, Habib will oversee the work of Kia's exterior, interior, color, and material teams, and help determine the future design strategy and direction of the Kia brand.

Habib previously was executive design director at INFINITI Motor Company, and also worked with BMW and Daimler Group. 

The Kia Design Center is the birthplace of Kia's global models, responsible for overseeing all aspects of vehicle design—from conceptualization and modelling to styling and development of color and materials. Based in Namyang, Korea, Kia's Design Center operates as part of the brand's global design network, with regional design centers in the U.S. and Europe.