Felix Kilbertus

Felix Kilbertus is a distinguished automotive designer with over 20 years of experience in the industry, renowned for his innovative approach and leadership in high-profile design roles across Europe and Japan. Born in Austria 46 years ago, Kilbertus’ journey in design began with a dual academic foundation in Transportation Design (Strate College, France) and Industrial Design (UAID, Austria). His professional career took off in 2003 when he joined Renault Design, quickly becoming a key player in the company’s exterior design team.

His early work at Renault allowed him to hone his expertise in both advanced and production designs, contributing to the development of a wide array of vehicles. In 2008, Felix moved to Japan for a role within the Nissan Global Design Center in Atsugi, as part of an exchange between the Renault-Nissan Alliance. There, he worked on concept vehicles for both the Nissan and Infiniti brands, gaining invaluable experience in global automotive design.

In 2011, Kilbertus took on a significant role at the prestigious Pininfarina design center in Cambiano, Italy. As team leader for automotive exterior design, he was instrumental in the development of key projects, including the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept, unveiled at the 2013 Villa d’Este concours. His time at Pininfarina solidified his reputation as a master of sleek, high-performance automotive design.

From 2014 to 2017, Felix expanded his portfolio at Fiat Centro Stile in Turin, where he was responsible for the exterior design of Fiat passenger vehicles. His expertise led to the creation of several memorable models before he took on his most recent role at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. As Head of Exterior Design from 2017 to 2023, he oversaw the design development of the brand’s product range, leading creative teams in Munich and Goodwood, UK.

In 2023, Felix Kilbertus succeeded Kevin Rice as Chief Designer at Rolls-Royce, a role that reflects his decades of expertise and visionary approach to automotive design.