Chinese tastes impact world cars

.

New Volkswagen Passat was designed and launched in China last year, and released in North America a few months later.

As more and more Chinese buy cars, automakers say consumer tastes in the Asian nation have a growing influence on vehicle design the world over.

China emerged as the world's top car market in 2009, and though the sector stalled last year, with sales rising just 2.5 percent to 18.51 million, carmakers are convinced it is where the industry's future lies.

Manufacturers at this week's Auto China 2012 exhibition in Beijing said they have started to include features that appeal to the Chinese consumer - from large grilles and highly visible chrome fittings to luxury back seats for the in-laws.

Nissan China spokeswoman Shen Li said: “We want to have more China elements in our design for global cars.

“The designers find inspiration in traditional paper cutting, or in Tang dynasty paintings representing opulent women.

“Every model in the future has to have a good potential in China.”

The car penetration rate in China is still relatively low compared to more mature markets in North America or Europe, but last year, even with the sales slowdown, more cars were sold in the Asian nation than in the United States.

Until recently, foreign car manufacturers adapted existing models sold in Europe or North America to the Chinese market. But with the rise of China and its global footprint, the trend is the other way round.

Citroen director Frederic Banzet said: “In the future as China grows, we will increasingly need to take into account the weight of the Chinese market.

“We will work from a design with Chinese characteristics and adapt it to other markets”.

To this end, PSA Peugeot Citroen set up a design studio in Shanghai in 2008 aiming to understand the Chinese market and launch targeted products to increase its market share.

The studio now counts some 650 employees, and the company plans to increase the headcount to 1000.

Volkswagen has also invested heavily in two design studios - one in Shanghai and another in the northeastern city of Changchun.

Walter de Silva, head of design for the group, which owns 11 brands including Audi and Lamborghini, explained: “The chrome finishings, the interior wood work, we are delivering the whole package to the United States.”

Volkswagen's new Passat was designed and launched in China last year, and released in North America a few months later.

Simon Loasby, director of design for Volkswagen in China, said designs from China had a growing influence on Volkswagen cars globally, while many Chinese designers were also working on projects in Germany.

“It is amazing how much of what is started here can fertilise the rest of the world,” he said. - AFP

Motoring newsletter - click here to keep up to speed with the best in motoring