Shao Jingfeng, design director at the technical center of SAIC Motor, said he hoped the government and enterprises can put forward more favorable policies to attract talented professionals and make Anting an auto design center in Shanghai. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

Shao Jingfeng, design director at the technical center of SAIC Motor, said he hoped the government and enterprises can put forward more favorable policies to attract talented professionals and make Anting an auto design center in Shanghai, while talking about the development of domestic auto design industry and Shanghai International Automotive City.

SAIC Motor boasts top design experts

SAIC Motor relocated its technical center in Anting of Jiading in 2007 and opened its design department at the Anting Shanghai International Automobile City in 2011, both of which constitutes SAIC Motor's base for independent automobile research and development, according to Shao.

"The appearance design of new products is conducted at the base, and the group boasts a professional design team, with over 150 members graduating from well-known design and art schools from home and abroad," said Shao.

SAIC Motor boasts top design experts. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

Auto design adds vitality to cold machine

Shao believes that auto design transforms cars into more than just cold machines. It vitalizes cars and changes the traditional rigid image of the engineering industry.

According to him, auto design combines both technology and art. Different from painting, which believes in individual style, auto design should get recognition from the public. It should both set the trend and meet the needs of consumers.

Further efforts needed to tap potential

Anting Shanghai International Automobile City enjoys great advantage with well-known universities, auto enterprises and design companies in the town, such as Tongji University, SAIC Motor, Shanghai Volkswagen and Italy's Pininfarina, a world famous auto design company.

Shao also voiced his opinion in making Anting a design center in Shanghai. The local government should attract art training institutions and artists to settle in the town, while enterprises should hold forums and synopses to improve the local artistic environment.

SAIC Motor's base at the Shanghai International Automobile City [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]