General Motors inaugurated its newest design center in Incheon, Korea, last week. The newly expanded Korea Design Center is the latest in a network of 10 design facilities in seven countries around the world (the US, Germany, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and India) and represents an investment of $40m.
The expanded design center doubles the size of GM’s design operations in Korea, making it the company’s third largest design facility. It will support exterior and interior design as well digital design and studio engineering for GM’s global vehicle programs.
“We view our design operations in Korea as a key component within our global network of Design Centers,” said Ed Welburn, GM’s Global Design VP. “That is because great design is not only understood and appreciated in Korea — it is celebrated.”
The expansion of GM Korea — one of only seven fully integrated design, engineering and manufacturing operations within the company — will create an environment for designers to develop new designs as well as design strategies for GM’s future product portfolio globally.
Welburn said the expanded facilities and state of the art technology will enable the Korean design team to continue to positively impact GM’s future product portfolio around the world, adding “it will provide us the ability to attract and develop young Korean designers for many years to come.”
The Korea Design Center has been responsible for the design of many of GM’s best-selling products, including the Chevrolet Spark, Aveo and Cruze. The company has invested an average of more than $1m annually in Korea over the last 11 years since the establishment of GM Korea in 2002.
