Today GM Korea Company held a ceremony celebrating the opening of a new design center in Incheon, Korea. The new GM Korea Design Center will “create an environment for designers to create and develop design strategies for GM’s future product portfolio,” according to General Motors. The US$40 million expansion doubles the size of GM’s design operations in Korea and “will support exterior and interior vehicle styling, digital design and studio engineering for GM’s global vehicle programs.”
“We view our design operations in Korea as a key component within our global network of Design Centers,” said GM vice president of Global Design, Ed Welburn. “That is because great design is not only understood and appreciated in Korea – it is celebrated. Today’s announcement will allow the Korean design team to continue to positively impact GM’s future product portfolio around the world, and it will provide us the ability to attract and develop young Korean designers for many years to come.”
This fully integrated design, engineering and manufacturing center is one of seven General Motors has in its global operations. It has contributed to the Chevrolet Spark, Aveo and Cruze—all global successes for GM.
“Our new operations represent a significant investment in research and development by GM. They reflect our parent company’s strong commitment to enable our local team members to dream, create, and develop design strategies for future products that will give GM a competitive edge around the globe,” said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha.
In addition, the expanded design center has received Leadership in Energy and Environment Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Comments
I’ll put money on this is where Holdens’s Frank Rudolph will end up and the Holden design studio will close – shame!
I don’t get it…This news is also in South Korea, I’m living South Korea and I recently heard the news that they’re cutting out employees who work in R&D and design dept as a recommend retirement… but what? now they are expanding? Also, I heard that the number that required in recommend retirement didn’t meet the number what they wanted to. Unbelievable.
There is more to this than they are saying.
Often design studio’s have cleaned house to bring in new blood. Fresh ideas, new concepts and often cheaper to pay staffs are brought in.
Also these studio’s may be based in on country but they are very multinational.
I think location here is key because it is close to the China market but still outside. This way they can develop things for China and else where and do not have to share it all with the Chinese partners.
If GM is planning to make the increase in sales in China they will need all the resources they can get but they will not want to share all things with China.
GM will continue to house design studio’s globally as they want input from all markets.
Holden will remain and contribute just as the studio’s in South America, England and other small markets. Often the small shops make some of the biggest contributions.
At one time many automakers in the states though they only needed studio’s in California and Detroit. Today they need one on ever continent.
But again look at Korea and look at the largest market in the world and you will see where this is going.
If you are going to do business would most other places with the way the government controls the market. Korea is kind of like Guantanamo Bay for the China Market. It is close enough to be part of it but still separate.
You can not always think emotionally on these moves. Many anymore are strategic.
Makes sense to me
It doesn’t really make any difference, after the wolves are done with GM they will be no more I’m happy to say. Good riddance to garbage.
I do not get the wolves. And what do you mean by gone? Are you saying that GM is going out of business? Seriously?
Wolves as in lawyers
But how will that make GM no more? GM is making so much money that even the $1.3 billion did not make them lose money in the first quarter and that is supposed to be for the whole crisis for the year.
And I think we will find that GM will not be liable for any of the suits brought against them. Though they have not asked the judge to throw out the cases with actual damage to vehicles/people but that will be a low $ amount since they have already settled with most of the 13 cases.
@Richard Burn: I think you might be on the wrong forum!!
Korea is a creative hub, and so much good work is done there by GM a well as Hyn/Kia.
They were key with Encore, Verano, and the current Cruze.
Does any other automaker employ a many designers as GM?
@Stephen Marcus : “Korea is a creative hub, and so much good work is done there by GM” – it might be an industrial hub but creative is stretching things a bit – Chevrolet Captiva & Epica are good examples of absolute shit that eminated from a Korean creative hub!
I’m not just talking about cars. I’ve visited S Korea and they are creatively thriving in every area right down to clothing and cosmetics.
Also, in addition to GM cars, Hyn/Kia its offering some great looking stuff. The great thing about Korean design is that it fuses the best of native Asian ideas with American design influences. This is why you will never confuse a Encore or Optima with a Honda our Toyota.