Australian automotive designers are now leading the way at two of America’s big three carmakers.
Tasmania’s own Todd Willing has overnight become head of design Ford design in Detroit, after more than 20 years with the Blue Oval.
Mr Willing first joined Ford as part of a work experience program, and has his fingerprints on the 2007 Mondeo, the 2009 Fiesta, the 2010 Focus, and the reborn 2017 Ford GT.
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He’s also led the design of Ford icons such as the F-150 and Ranger, and most recently served as design lead for Ford’s electric vehicle (EV) project group dubbed Model e.
Mr Willing isn’t the first Australian designer to make it big in Detroit; General Motors design has been led by Mike Simcoe since 2016.
He joined GM in 1983 as a designer at Holden in Australia, became director of GM Asia Pacific Design in 1995 and executive director in 2003, and then moved on to become executive director of GM North American Exterior Design the following year.
Todd Willing 
Mike Simcoe
Under Mr Simcoe’s leadership, GM design studios have created halo products such as the Cadillac Celestiq and Lyriq, GMC Hummer and Sierra EVs, and Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Silverado EVs.
Other milestones include the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
