Chrysler Having Success Luring Young Talent, Chief Designer Says

DETROIT – Drawing young talent to the automotive industry has been an ongoing issue, as automakers struggle to fill positions that require high-tech training. But Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's head of motorsports and product design, says the problem is beginning to reverse itself.

“It’s getting easier,” he tells WardsAuto on the sidelines of an automotive conference here. “I’ve been hiring people for (nearly a decade), and it was a problem. The image is more of an issue than anything else.”

Gilles says Detroit’s ongoing bankruptcy has been a stumbling block, but adds once people realize it’s a localized problem and an opportunity for the city to make a comeback, they “understand and love” Detroit.

“The cost of living is attractive, and they love the character of the city and the car scene,” he says.

To attract talent, Gilles and his team have been recruiting at local universities and art schools such as the College for Creative Studies. Much of the competition comes from such industries as entertainment, where digital rendering is a skillset needed to make movies.

Many recent college graduates  with digital-design skills gravitate toward the movie industry, but Gilles says when it’s time to settle down and purchase a home, the automotive industry and Detroit become attractive options.

“Some are just car guys and, although they may be working in other industries, they have this nagging to work in the auto industry,” he says. “When you want to do a full car program, it’s in Michigan, so they find their way back.”

Gilles says Chrysler has bolstered its staff in several key areas over the past few years, including a 33% rise in interior-design positions; a 38% increase in exterior designers; an 80% jump in user-interface experts; and a 150% rise in digital surfacers.

“Some of these kids are digital from birth. They don’t even know what pencils are,” he says. “It’s real exciting times. The Chrysler 200 was almost 100% done on computer.”

Although Chrysler has enjoyed recent success in filling critical positions, there are some areas that aren’t attracting youth like they once did, including clay modelers. The bulk of today’s vehicle-development programs are done on computers, but clay modeling is still an essential part of designing a car, Gilles says.

“We’re struggling to find the next generation of clay modelers,” he says. “We’re trying to train them and find ways to develop this skill set. Luckily we’ve had some young people that were potters or fine artists and we trained them.”

Gilles says the new influx of young talent has helped develop some of the automaker’s most recent vehicles, including the upcoming B-segment Jeep Renegade.

The Renegade was designed here and developed in Europe. Nearly the entire design team was composed of people under the age of 30, Gilles says. That should help the Renegade succeed in reaching its intended target of younger buyers.

“I hope (the Renegade) is a gateway to the Jeep brand,” he says. “It’s the perfect blend of fun, playfulness and strength, and it’s practical. It drives well, but also has space for stuff. And I hope that resonates with younger people.”

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