German automaker Daimler AG inaugurated its fifth Mercedes-Benz Global Advanced Design Center in Beijing on Thursday, a sign of the growing importance of the Chinese automobile market's influence on the changing needs and trends in vehicles.
It is the first functional design center established by a premium vehicle brand in China. Another German luxury car brand, Audi AG, is also considering establishing a design center in Beijing.
"We opened this center because we recognize the increasing importance of the Chinese market and the influence it is having on design trends and mobility solutions worldwide," said Ulrich Walker, chairman and chief executive officer of Daimler Northeast Asia Ltd.
The other four Mercedes-Benz design centers are in Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
"The (Beijing) studio will play an essential part in our clearly defined strategy to ensure sustainable business growth. With China predicted to be our largest market globally by 2015, design influences from this region will become more important in the cars of tomorrow," Walker said.
According to Steffen Kohl, head of Advanced Design Global Mercedes-Benz, the designers at all five centers play an important role in envisioning future vehicles not only next-generation production models, but models that will grace roads in three or more decades.
It is the first functional design center established by a premium vehicle brand in China. Another German luxury car brand, Audi AG, is also considering establishing a design center in Beijing.
"We opened this center because we recognize the increasing importance of the Chinese market and the influence it is having on design trends and mobility solutions worldwide," said Ulrich Walker, chairman and chief executive officer of Daimler Northeast Asia Ltd.
The other four Mercedes-Benz design centers are in Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
"The (Beijing) studio will play an essential part in our clearly defined strategy to ensure sustainable business growth. With China predicted to be our largest market globally by 2015, design influences from this region will become more important in the cars of tomorrow," Walker said.
According to Steffen Kohl, head of Advanced Design Global Mercedes-Benz, the designers at all five centers play an important role in envisioning future vehicles not only next-generation production models, but models that will grace roads in three or more decades.
