International car designers cater to Chinese tastes

As the car market booms in China, there is growing need for design education, research and execution to produce automobiles that are appealing to Chinese consumers.

A number of schools are opening that focus on transportation design, including a transportation design center at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. In April, an awards ceremony for the Car Design Awards China 2010 will be held in the capital prior to the opening of Auto China 2010.

More designers are moving to China from overseas to focus on the burgeoning car market here, said Rudy Wimmer, managing partner of China Bridge International, a design strategy consulting firm.