metalboxes

The big auto manufactures are busy developing and producing cars for the Chinese market. Almost everyone has noticed this Huge potential to make profit. In a way it's the old story. When you have exhausted or saturated your current market with the same old  uninspiring products, It seems human nature to turn to greener grasses.
Having read this article from wired >>
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/automotive-design-for-china/  >>>
I'm disappointed to say the least. Having worked as a car designer it has always been frustrating to try and understand how these big auto company management teams think. They are run by bean counters and paper pushers and designers just have to follow the marketing and business model guidelines and produce a safe, cost effective products.
A few years ago BMW under the design director Chris Bangle started to take the company in a new direction, away from the conservative past. Revolution replaced evolution. It may have only been skin deep, but it was a dramatic change for them.
A risk perhaps, but the foundation of a well established auto company with sporting heritage and quality cars. Still they are cars the same as all others. Made of Steel. heavy and dangerous. All the airbags in the World do not save pedestrians!

In my mind there is no vision or innovation in vehicle design in terms of the future user. The auto shows are supposed to be the place to show the future. It's just bad show business where suits rub shoulders and exchange thoughts while nervously looking to see who is who. But it's the same old configuration of vehicles. A bit more chrome or a bigger grille.
In most cases just ugly boxes.
It's not about designing new "smart designs" for the future.
It's about profit in an old well established safe process which is tuned to what the auto gurus think a market wants tomorrow.
I guess some kind of catastrophe is the only thing that will stop this insanity of making cars complex, heavy, inefficient and really old World. The future generations will look back at this time and wonder at the mess being created. I just hope someone can come along soon and "shake the tree". T