Chen Zheng, head of design at Geely Auto, recently publicly criticized the chaos in industry design, saying bluntly that "some automakers blindly imitate others to chase traffic, dragging down the design height of Chinese cars," sparking widespread discussion.
He pointed out three major current problems: first, the proliferation of "traffic-driven design," simply piling up traditional elements such as lanterns and red lacquer to grab attention while ignoring substance; second, "benchmarking addiction," blindly imitating popular foreign designs, causing cars priced from over 100,000 to 500,000 yuan to all look similar; third, "cultural collage," with a single car mixing styles from multiple countries while lacking its own core idea.
Chen Zheng believes that true Chinese design must have "roots, propositions, and characteristics"—understanding the wisdom of traditional culture, adhering to design propositions that suit Chinese aesthetics, and forming recognizable visual features.
At present, brands such as BYD and Zeekr have begun establishing "Chinese Aesthetics Laboratories," attempting to integrate elements such as calligraphy and ink painting into design. Official authorities have also issued new regulations encouraging original creation.
Rapid View:
Now that Chinese cars have achieved catch-up in technology, the "face" of design has become a new battlefield. Rather than chasing short-term traffic or imitating others, it is better to calmly create designs with a true cultural soul. After all, what we want the world to remember is a truly Chinese, recognizable face. What do you think a "Chinese car" should look like? You are welcome to share your views in the comments section!
