Former VW designer Klaus Zyciora conquers the Chinese market!

Former VW designer Klaus Zyciora conquers the Chinese market!

Klaus Zyciora, Volkswagen's former chief designer, has moved in completely different areas over the last year and a half. The German-born man now works as vice president of global design at the Chinese car brand Changan, which has its headquarters in Chongqing. With 32 million inhabitants, Chongqing is a metropolis that is much larger than Wolfsburg, the home of VW. “It is important to adapt to the culture and the way of working here,” emphasizes Zyciora in an interview. This should not only promote professional cooperation, but also expand your own understanding of work processes.

In his new role, Zyciora typically works 70 hours a week - which is not unusual in China. He was impressed by the necessary discipline, hard work and efficiency of his Chinese colleagues. He also found the structuring of the board meetings, which are heavily data-based, to be new and very productive. In comparison, says Zyciora, decision-making in Germany feels more like a traditional corporate environment.

A win for Changan

Changan's management is confident that Zyciora, with his impressive range of experience - over 30 years in automotive design and management, including leading design for twelve brands at Volkswagen - will be a valuable asset to the company. He was officially appointed to his role in global design on October 7, 2023. In this role, he plays a key role in developing the brand and emphasizing design as a key factor in Changan's success. The company has massive ambitions, and it's not for nothing that over 17,000 engineers from more than 30 countries work for Changan.

A look at the global automotive market shows that Changan has had various international research and development locations for years, including facilities in Italy, Japan, Great Britain, the USA and Germany. Zyciora sees the opportunity to implement his ideas in such a dynamic environment and to make a contribution that goes beyond China's borders.

An appeal to German industry

However, Zyciora also makes it clear that he views the German automotive industry critically. “The slow and bureaucratic structures in Germany could get us into difficulties in global competition,” he warns. He demands that the industry needs to “streamline” itself in order to remain competitive. In his eyes, the current developments in Germany resemble a “museum” compared to the digital advances that shape the agenda in China. This is particularly true given the increasing competition from Chinese automobile manufacturers and suppliers who also want to conquer the German market.

The importance of the automotive sector for Germany is undisputed. At a webcast by PwC on the topic of the competitiveness of German manufacturers in the Chinese market, experts discussed the opportunities and risks arising from the aggressive expansion of Chinese manufacturers. The relevance remains high and the cooperation opportunities between German and Chinese manufacturers remain promising. A recording of the webcast is available on the PwC website.

Lisa K., who reports on these developments in the automotive sector, states: "The automotive industry is a field in which the paths of tradition and innovation cross. Klaus Zyciora shows how important it is for Germany to break away from the paths it has followed so far in order to remain relevant in the future."

For Zyciora, the new job at Changan is the perfect “pressure tank” to express his creativity while at the same time promoting cultural exchange between Germany and China. It remains exciting to see how his work will impact global automotive designs.

In summary, it can be said that thinking outside the box is essential for the automotive industry in the age of digitalization. And who knows, maybe we will soon be in front of a new design from Changan that revolutionizes the current trends in the automotive world.

news38.de reports that Zyciora sees the need to adapt to new circumstances while autonews.gasgoo.com documented his commitment to Changan. Finally explained pwc.de the challenges of the German automotive industry in the face of global competition.