GAC Opens Its First European Car Design Studio in Milan

GAC, China’s fifth largest automotive manufacturer, has recently set-up its European R&D global design hub in Milan’s Via Tortona design district. This hub is aimed at designing new vehicles reflecting the group's forward set global ambition by welcoming design talents from Italy and the rest of the world.

This space together with GAC’s studios in Los Angeles and Shanghai will ultimately form the future ecosystem of global excellence in GAC vehicle design. The Milan studio would host 25 professionals practising in vehicle design, experience design, and visual branding.

The GAC Milan opening ceremony was officiated by Luomei Shu, Commercial Counselor and Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China. Also present were Jade Yin, Director of GAC GROUP Branding & Public Relations Department, Fan Zhang, General Manager of GAC R&D CENTER EUROPE, Vice President of R&D CENTER Pontus Fontaeus, Design Director of GAC Advanced Design Los Angeles and Stéphane Janin, Design Director of GAC Advanced Design Milan.

During the launch, GAC unveiled a highly innovative and avant-garde show car simply named “Barchetta” which would be displayed at the Milan studio.

Zhang Fan, Vice President of GAC R&D Centre, said: “Design is one of the most important values for the GAC Group and, in today's market, a key decision factor for customers. We have chosen the city of Milan as our first European design hub for its strong cultural and creative identity, which combines ideas in motion, innovation, and heritage of style and design. We are confident that this centre will enable the meeting of creative resources and the development of cutting-edge ideas between our country, Italy, and the rest of the world”.

The Milan Studio, which would be led by Stephane Janin, a renowned French automotive designer who is also a graduate from the prestigious Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom. Stephane has over the years gained extensive automotive design experience after having worked under brands such as Renault, Dacia, Alpine, Samsung Motors, Infiniti, and Nissan. He is more fondly known as the "master of concept cars", where his sketches are somewhat considered works of art.

Stephane during the launch added that “Car designers need inspiration and big cities are the ideal places to capture the spirit of the times. Milan is a perfect example of this. We want to be an active part of the creative community in Milan, and that is why we have chosen the studio of a great Milanese artist and a symbolic area for design and art as our home". He goes on to say "The GAC R&D CENTER EUROPE will be a new generation car design studio, completely digitised, with the ambition of attracting young professionals and nurturing their creativity.”