Chinese manufacturer Chongqing Changan Automobile announced on October 7 that it has appointed Klaus Zyciora, the former design chief at Volkswagen Group until 2022, as vice president to oversee and lead the company’s global design team. The move is expected to bring a “world-class design philosophy” to Changan’s existing design culture, as stated in a statement by the state-run automaker, which is also a manufacturing partner of Ford and Mazda in China. Zyciora, a world-renowned designer and former head of group design at Volkswagen, led design efforts across various lineups, contributing to the success of models such as the iconic Golf hatchback and midsize Passat sedan. After over three decades with Volkswagen, he left the company at the end of 2022. Volkswagen’s CEO Oliver Blume praised Klaus, stating, “Klaus demonstrated his abilities as an excellent designer, strong team leader, and creative forward thinker for more than 30 years,” in a statement published on December 14. [TechNode reporting, Changan statement, in Chinese]

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