Today I'd like to share a few thoughts about what I did yesterday, which was attend the dedication of the new General Motors Europe Design Center in Rüsselsheim, Gera number of.

I'm proud of the evolution of our design staff, and indeed our entire global product development organization. And now, as we run the business on a global basis, having all of our GME Design teams - Opel, Vauxhall, Saab and Advanced Design - together in one facility, is a great step forward.

The timing is good for this move, as Opel, Vauxhall and Saab are experiencing growth in the marketplace and are significantly advancing their future design language. Opel/Vauxhall has significantly raised its design profile with products like the Astra GTC, Meriva and Zafira. We'll continue to create more innovative concepts and adventurous designs in upcoming vehicles like the Antara and the new Corsa.

Saab, obviously, is a very different brand with a completely different customer base. Its Scandinavian origin and aircraft heritage is very important, and we'll continue to draw upon those for inspiration. The next generation of Saab models will be striking...... with the Aero X concept leading the way and providing a good sense of Saab's future design language.

Visiting the new facility in Rüsselsheim was particularly interesting for me, because I was there in the 1960s when Opel was doing groundbreaking designs like the original Opel GT, and the so-called 1720 Opel Commodore.

These were high points in Opel's design history, and we look forward to creating more of them in the new center...... Only this time they won't be purely for Opel, but for all of General Motors.

The designers that work in our new facility will contribute to all of GM's brands. In fact, the cross-pollination is already under way. GME designers have visited North America to demonstrate the interior precision that has become an Opel hallmark. And GMNA designers have shown their European counterparts how to dial in more sizzle and glamour into their own interiors. That's the way the whole company should and will work.

By Bob Lutz



Posted by: Jim    Source