Rolls-Royce Loses Its Design Chief
Giles Taylor has left Rolls-Royce to “pursue alternative business interests.”
In a rather short statement from the British automaker, Rolls-Royce confirmed Taylor’s departure as head of design. According to Automotive News, a source close to the automaker said Taylor’s departure was amicable and he was allowed to say goodbye to colleagues.
Taylor joined Rolls-Royce in 2011 as head of exterior design, coming from Jaguar where he served as chief designer for the XJ. Following the retirement of Ian Cameron in 2012, Taylor was promoted to Rolls-Royce design director.
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During his tenure at Rolls-Royce, he oversaw the design of the latest Phantom that debuted last year, as well as the automaker’s first SUV, the Cullinan. In an interview earlier this year at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, Taylor expressed his belief that Rolls-Royce needs to change its design language if it decides to go the way of electrification. “Aesthetic and spiritually we are in another transition with electric power, I believe we have to register externally the brand has changed,” Taylor told Automotive News Europe. In the interview, he expressed frustration with executives who hadn’t decided whether electric should bring about a fundamental change in Rolls-Royce’s design language.
The British automaker has yet to announce Taylor’s successor.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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