A rendering of the Dongfeng Global Styling Design Center in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq]
Construction is underway on a new global styling design center at Dongfeng Motor Corporation's R&D headquarters in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ).
The 520-million-yuan ($71.69 million) center will open in April. It will cover an area of 20,000 square meters and boast a total floor area of nearly 48,500 square meters.
This state-of-the-art, five-story building will be the cradle for vehicle model design, including passenger and commercial vehicles. It will also function as the "nerve center" for a global design team, enabling 24-hour collaboration.
As the global automotive industry rapidly transforms, consumers' demands for vehicle aesthetics and functionality are becoming increasingly diverse. This evolution imposes higher requirements on automakers, necessitating continuous innovation and flexible adaptation. "The center is a strategic move to gain a competitive edge in fierce market competition," said Zhang Yongliang, the center's director.
Dongfeng Motor currently operates two styling design centers in Wuhan and Shanghai, which bring together design teams from China, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan. It plans to establish styling sub-centers in Germany and Japan.
This network will use remote mixed reality technology to enable 24-hour collaborative design. It will support eight new styling projects simultaneously and meet the development needs of over 50 styling projects annually.
Zhang highlighted Dongfeng's luxury electric SUV, the M-Hero 917, which features the "Awakened Lion" styling and the "Peace through Strength" design philosophy, earning the prestigious 2023 International CMF Design Supreme Gold Award.
Dongfeng Motor has completed the development of 100 overseas model adaptations, and its products are now available in over 100 countries worldwide. "It is using design as a bridge to share compelling Chinese stories with the world," Zhang said.
In August 2024, Dongfeng Motor inaugurated its Global Innovation Center. This center aims to conduct basic scientific and forward-looking technological research for the next five to 10 years, injecting new momentum into Dongfeng Motor's release of "electrification + intelligence" technological innovation capabilities.
