Car designer Gerry McGovern, who was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the automotive industry, has been banned from the road for six months despite his only offence being getting caught travelling at 5mph (8km/h) above the speed limit in London recently.

The man behind the looks of cars like the smash-hit Land Rover Defender and controversial Jaguar Type 00 concept was busted doing 25mph (40km/h) in a 20mph (32km/h) zone on Chelsea Embankment along London’s River Thames on December 9.

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McGovern was busted by an automatic speed camera and reportedly admitted to being behind the wheel when the incident occurred just days after he was let go by Jaguar Land Rover. However, reports state he did not pay the fixed penalty for the offence or give details of his driver’s licence.

His case was heard by a magistrate in Willesden, north London, who handed down the six-month driving ban, as well as ordering him to pay a $423 fine and $420 in costs. McGovern was driving one of the vehicles he designed at the time of the offence: a Range Rover P615 SUV.

McGovern is widely credited with reinventing the Land Rover brand during his 21-year stint with Jaguar Land Rover, which came to a controversial end last December. Autocar magazine reported that he was axed from the position, but the company blasted that report as “untrue”.

The 71-year-old created the look of the Type 00 concept, which attracted a storm of criticism when it was revealed to the world in December 2024. Described by WhichCar by Wheels as “the result of a meeting between Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward’s Rolls-Royce FAB1 and the Bruce Timm-designed Batmobile”, it was one of the most divisive vehicles in recent memory.

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McGovern described the concept’s design as a “pure expression” of Jaguar’s brand overhaul. “This is the result of brave, unconstrained creative thinking, and unwavering determination,” he said.

“It is our first physical manifestation and the foundation stone for a new family of Jaguars that will look unlike anything you’ve ever seen. A vision which strives for the highest level of artistic endeavour.”