The international car design community is in shock and mourning following the sudden passing of Peter Horbury, a highly accomplished and respected figure in the industry.

Horbury, aged 72, tragically passed away during a business trip to China while visiting the headquarters of his employer, the Geely group. Until 2021, he held the position of executive vice-president of design at Group Lotus, where he played a crucial role in establishing a strong connection between Lotus and its Chinese owners. Prior to that, he served as the head of design for the fast-growing Geely group.

Throughout his career, Horbury worked on a wide range of design projects. He began his journey at Chrysler UK in the 1970s, where he was responsible for designing the iconic Talbot Horizon grille. After graduating from the Royal College of Art with a degree in design in 1974, he went on to achieve significant milestones. However, he is best known for his extraordinary tenure as Volvo’s design chief from 1991 to 2002. His innovative vision and philosophy played a pivotal role in saving the company, and his design influences can still be seen in modern Volvo vehicles.

After his time at Volvo, Horbury held design leadership positions at Ford’s Premier Automotive Group and eventually became the head of Ford design in the United States. He later returned to Volvo for another successful period before assuming his position at Geely. Regarded as a superb leader and mentor, as well as a captivating storyteller and a constant source of joy, Horbury will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to know him during his illustrious 50-year career, including his close ties with Autocar.