Chinese manufacturer BAIC is set to open a new design studio in Turin, under the direction of designer Ivo Groen. This decision follows that of other Chinese companies that have decided to open their own design studios in Italy to study and strengthen their presence in the European market. The design center will mainly work on concept cars and advanced research. Founded in 1987 by the Beijing municipal government as a merger of Beijing Automobile Works (BAW), which specialized in off-road vehicles, and Beijing Automobile and Motorcycle United Company (BAM), BAIC also operates in joint ventures with foreign car manufacturers such as Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz through its subsidiaries Beijing Hyundai and Beijing Benz. Italian style is nothing new at BAIC, given that in 2010 the design development for the Senova brand was entrusted to Leonardo Fioravanti, while in 2017 Walter de Silva made his debut at BAIC, at the time tasked with creating a new stylistic language for the ArcFox brand.
Ivo Groen, who announced his new position at BAIC on LinkedIn, began his long career with the PSA Group in 1990, where he held the position of Responsible Product Design PSA D Segment before becoming Director of Advanced Styling & Cooperation Programs. In 2011, he was appointed Project Design Director at Peugeot and in 2016 Vice President Design Programs Style at the DS brand. In 2021, he moved to Lynk & Co, where he served as Vice President Head of Creative Design for almost five years.
