Mercedes-Benz hires BMW designer

Seems like the Mercedes-Benz design department is bulking up on new talent.

Karim Habib, the exterior designer of the new BMW 7-series, has been lured to Mercedes-Benz where he will head up the advanced design studio on the outskirts of Stuttgart, Germany.

Habib will work under Mercedes-Benz's new design boss, Gorden Wagener.

In January, Joel Piaskowski left his job as Hyundai's North American design chief to become head of design at Mercedes-Benz's advanced design studio near Carlsbad, Calif.

Piaskowski is credited as the main designer for the Hyundai Genesis sedan and coupe. He spent 13 years at General Motors before joining Hyundai in 2003.

By Greg Kable