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Chris Bangle, one of the most well-known and controversial people in the auto industry, is leaving premium carmaker BMW after heading up its design department since October 1992.
"Bangle's plan to pursue his own design-related endeavours beyond the auto industry marks the start of a new phase in his life while maintaining strong ties with the BMW Group," the company said in a statement.
The 52-year-old American, who was the object of multiple online petitions calling for his sacking, first grabbed headlines in 2002 with his redesign of the 7 Series sedan.
The vehicle was voted one of the 50 worst cars of all times by Time magazine, along with such other infamous models as the 2001 Pontiac Aztek and the 1998 Fiat Multipla.
Adrian van Hooydonk, 44, responsible for BMW Automobile Design, will replace Bangle as head of group design.
"Love or loathe his work, Bangle's impact on auto design has been profound. No other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon," wrote enthusiast magazine Motor Trend following an interview with the BMW designer.
"To 'bangle' a design is now an auto-industry verb for ruining it. Auto writers use 'Bangle butt' to describe a tail with an extra layer of metal on the trunk."
BMW enthusiasts turned off by his work may find however that little will change in the future.
"Throughout his career with the BMW Group, Bangle's right-hand man has been Adrian van Hooydonk," the company said.