In recent years, the design of Chinese automotive brands has evolved significantly, moving away from imitation to establishing unique characteristics. This transformation was unimaginable just a decade ago. So, how did Chinese automotive design reach this point?
From Engineering to Design: The Development of China’s Automotive Industry
As early as the 1980s, China began inviting overseas automotive design directors to learn contemporary automotive design practices and processes, aiming to cultivate local automotive design talents. However, due to the weak manufacturing capabilities at the time, design capabilities lacked effective support.
Without the ability to manufacture independently, Chinese automakers faced significant challenges in design. For instance, in 1983, Shanghai Volkswagen successfully assembled the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai. However, due to technological limitations across the entire industry chain, only 2.7% of the Santana’s components were domestically produced two years later.
To improve localization rates, China established collaborative efforts for Santana’s localization, focusing on enhancing the manufacturing capabilities of upstream component industries. Over the years, China’s automotive manufacturing industry gradually grew, with core components such as engines, transmissions, batteries, and manufacturing equipment being domestically produced.
With manufacturing capabilities in place, automakers gained the qualifications to pursue outstanding designs. Moreover, a vast market demand provided the motivation for companies to invest in design.
Learning and Borrowing: China’s Automotive Companies’ “Outsourcing” Strategy
Around 2000, as China’s policies on private car ownership relaxed, domestic automakers sought advanced experiences in automotive design to create more appealing models. Similar to the development paths of Japan and South Korea, many Chinese automakers adopted reverse engineering to alleviate initial cost and technological pressures.
Before 2005, the mainstream approach for Chinese automakers was reverse engineering, akin to the path taken by Japanese automakers in the 1960s and 1970s. Understanding the importance of aesthetics in product appeal, Chinese automakers turned to Italy, the holy land of automotive design.
Italian design centers, home to numerous top-tier automotive design companies, became sought-after partners for Chinese automakers. Though the price was not cheap, outsourcing design to Italian firms proved to be faster and more cost-effective compared to in-house development or collaboration with international automakers.
Indigenous Innovation: The Future Path of Chinese Automotive Design
After years of learning and accumulation, Chinese automotive design has significantly improved. Today, China boasts numerous formidable automotive design teams capable of independently designing models that meet international standards.
The future path of Chinese automotive design lies in indigenous innovation. Chinese automakers will continue to enhance research and development efforts, establishing a unique automotive design system that caters to consumer demands, producing more high-quality vehicles.
Implications of the Rise of Chinese Automotive Design
The journey of the rise of Chinese automotive design offers several insights:
- Development must prioritize indigenous innovation. Mastery of core technologies is essential for autonomous development.
- Learning from and borrowing experiences is crucial. Continuous innovation and development on the basis of learning from others lead to greater achievements.
- Grounding designs in the Chinese market and meeting consumer demands are imperative for market competitiveness.
By embracing these insights, Chinese automakers can continue their ascent in the global automotive industry, offering innovative designs that resonate with consumers worldwide.
In summary, the transformation of Chinese automotive design from imitation to innovation over the past decade underscores the remarkable growth of Chinese brands. This change didn’t happen overnight but was the result of strategic investments, learning from global experiences, and a commitment to indigenous innovation.