After more than a decade of near-total domination by SUVs and crossovers, an influential voice in the automotive industry says the trend may be starting to wane. And that voice is none other than Ralph Gilles, Group Design Director Stellantis, who oversees no fewer than fourteen brands within the automotive giant.
In an interview with specialist media Car Design News, the Canadian designer didn't mince his words: he's simply tired of the omnipresence of SUVs. A statement that might seem surprising in a global market where these models now account for the majority of sales.
Tired of SUV dominance
Ralph Gilles openly admits that the SUV wave may have reached its peak. In his opinion, the industry may have over-relied on this type of vehicle in recent years. In the interview, he confides that he is «tired of SUVs», believing that the massive craze for these models may now be a thing of the past. This fatigue concerns not only designers, but also some customers.
The head of design at Stellantis explains that more and more motorists are asking for sedans again, a type of car that seemed to be gradually disappearing in many markets in favor of SUVs.
Young designers dream of more compact cars
This evolution in tastes is also being felt internally at the automakers. In particular, Ralph Gilles observes a renewed interest among young automotive designers.
They want to work on cars that are more compact, dynamic and fun to drive, far removed from the tall, massive silhouettes of SUVs. Among the inspirations cited were the sporty compacts of the 1980s, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which represented a more personal approach to motoring.
The idea of a car that's easy to park, fun to drive and designed for pleasure seems once again to be appealing to a new generation of designers... and potentially customers.
A new generation of motorists
In fact, some studies seem to point in the same direction. A survey carried out in the USA reveals that 51 % of teenagers imagine driving a sedan in the future, compared with 31 % for an SUV and only 14 % for a pick-up truck.
This evolution could be explained by a fairly classic generational phenomenon: many young people have grown up in families with SUVs or crossovers, and now aspire to something different.
Of course, these figures relate primarily to the American market, and should be interpreted with caution. European car culture remains different, with a stronger tradition of compacts and sedans. But this trend could nonetheless have an indirect effect on the industry's future direction.
Stellantis is already thinking about tomorrow's formats
These reflections come at a strategic time for Stellantis, which continues to rethink its range and brands. Ralph Gilles points out that his role is to preserve the identity of each of the Group's fourteen brands, while avoiding overlap.
In fact, some of these brands are likely to undergo major changes. The designer mentions a new generation of highly futuristic Maserati models, currently under development, while Alfa Romeo remains an interesting challenge for him, as the notion of performance evolves with the new generations.
In this context, challenging the reign of the SUV could also open the door to new, more compact, more emotional and more fun-to-drive body shapes.
One thing's for sure: even if SUVs will continue to dominate global sales for some time to come, the speech by Stellantis' design boss shows that the debate is now open even within the automotive industry. And it could well herald, in the medium term, the sedan's return to favor.
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Who would have imagined that Alfa Romeo would become an SUV brand, apart from the Giulia?
We want compact cars, like the Giulietta.
As far as I know, sales of the Golf, 208 and 308 are not negligible, proving that the market still exists for compact, low-slung cars.
Contrary to what Imparato said, Giulietta and MiTo owners have no desire to buy the Tonale or the Junior.
Lancia had the good idea of making a compact car with the Ypsilon, except that Stellantis is doing everything it can not to sell one (almost no points of sale, too few engines, high price).