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Volvo design chief Jeremy Offer has resigned after two years.

His resignation comes just months after the departure of former Volvo CEO Jim Rowan, who was instrumental in his appointment. 

Both executives had come into the car industry as outsiders: Rowan was previously the chief of Dyson and Offer had spent six years as the lead designer for now-defunct van start-up Arrival.

In a statement published by Car Design News, Volvo said Offer tendered his resignation to spend more time with his family; he had had to commute between the UK and Volvo’s base in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

Nick Gronenthal, head of automotive design for Volvo, has been appointed as the brand’s interim head of design.

A long-term successor for Offer has yet to be decided, but it seems that former Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath – recently appointed to an advisory role overseeing design for Volvo parent firm Geely – will be key in making the decision.

Håkan Samuelsson, who was recently reappointed CEO of Volvo, told Automotive News Europe that Ingenlath’s input will be “highly valued” at Volvo and that “he will help” to coach its designers.

“He can give me some tips also on what I should do – or not do,” added Samuelsson.

With estate car-like space, a high driving position ever-improving driving dynamics, family SUVs have largely become a go-to choice for drivers. 

Not only are they ideal for ferrying the kids to school, but family SUVs are also useful for transporting cargo, long-distance commutes and holidays, be it in the UK or hopping on the ferry over to Europe. 

In 2025, there’s more choice than ever. Family SUVs are available in petrol, diesel and hybrid guises, but there’s also an ever-increasing number of electric options out there. 

There’s also a varied choice of front-, rear- and four-wheel drive, although a proper hardcore off-roader should be considered if you’re planning on some proper mud-plugging.

Our top 10 lists are curated following extensive testing from our experienced team of experts. Our top pick is the Skoda Kodiaq; read on to find out why, plus a series of contenders which are closing in… 

MG has introduced a £1500 discount on its 4 and S5 EVs to reverse a stall in orders prompted by the new Electric Car Grant, as buyers wait for government funding to become available.

The ECG, announced last week, will eventually yield a discount of either £1500 or £3750 on a range of sub-£37,000 electric cars.

However, the government has only just opened applications for manufacturers to receive the grant and so has yet to publish a list of qualifying models, leaving buyers in the dark.

In turn, MG UK commercial director Guy Pigounakis told Autocar, orders for new EVs priced below the £37,000 threshold “quite literally stopped” within 24 hours of the grant's announcement.

Introducing the £1500 discount on the 4 and S5 before receiving confirmation that the two models qualify for the grant is no small risk for MG.

Industry insiders have told Autocar that the criteria to receive the grant are effectively a back-door method of excluding Chinese-made cars (such as the 4 and S5). 

To qualify, manufacturers must be signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative for carbon emissions reduction, and neither MG nor its parent company SAIC are.

What’s more, the level of grant funding provided to a EV depends on the cleanliness of the power grid in the country in which it and its battery cells are produced, effectively preventing any Chinese-made car from receiving the full amount.

A number of other Chinese brands have introduced their own discounts early to get ahead of the European competition.

Leapmotor was first, cutting the C10 and T03 by £3750 – making the latter the UK’s cheapest EV at retail – and it was soon followed by GWM, which discounted its Ora 03 by the same amount.