GM Korea doubles size of its design center

GM has invested $40million in its Korea Design Center, doubling the size of the facility. The expanded studio opened on 25 April, and will give improved support for both exterior and interior design.

As well as more studio space, the upgraded facility now includes improved exterior modeling and 3D printing facilities, an outdoor viewing area with three turntables, and a virtual reality studio – the latter allowing design reviews to take place in real time with GM's network of nine other design centers in six other countries around the world.

The center is located within GM's Bupyeong assembly and engineering plant in Incheon, south-west of the capital, Seoul. It is GM's third biggest studio, behind its facilities in the US and Brazil, and employs 200 people.

Talking about the design center expansion, GM vice president of global design, Ed Welburn, said, "great design is not only understood and appreciated in Korea – it is celebrated. Today's announcement will allow the Korean design team to continue to positively impact GM's future product portfolio, and it will provide us the ability to attract and develop young Korean designers for many years to come."

GM Korea president Sergio Rocha added, "Our new operations reflect our parent company's strong commitment to enable our local team members to dream, create and develop design strategies for future products that will give GM a competitive edge."

In the past, GM South Korea has been responsible for the Chevrolet Miray concept, and Spark, Aveo/Sonic, Cruze and Trax crossover models. The design center's expansion will see it become a key player in developing the look of GM's new small cars, and its next EV, which will also be built at Bupyeong.

GM has invested KRW1trillion ($968million) in its South Korean facilities each year since GM Korea was established in 2002. The expanded design studio is part of a wider five-year $7.3billion investment and restructuring plan for GM's South Korean operations, which began last year.

By Tom Phillips