Volkswagen People's Car Project Shows Future of Chinese Design

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has set up a design competition in China that it calls that People's Car Project that allows Chinese designers to submit design ideas for the future. The concepts are not limited to cars, designers also submitted ideas for future keys and other items. Volkswagen says that it received 119,000 submissions over 11 months. The idea was to allow Volkswagen to better understand the desires of Chinese consumers. 

One of the ideas was a Hover Car that would be a zero-emissions vehicle that would float along future electromagnetic roads. The Music Car has LEDs on the exterior that change to the music that the driver is listening to. The Smart Key has a touchscreen that tells the driver the fuel level, weather and car's security. 

The People's Car Project has been such a success in the eyes of Volkswagen that it is going to continue it indefinitely. The project was originally going to be just a year long. It is also expanding it to let people comment on others' designs. 

 ‘The design of our models will, however, continue to reflect the tradition of the Volkswagen brand. If at some time in the future we are to produce a vehicle from the ‘People’s Car Project’, it will be a combination of customers’ opinions and brand tradition," said Volkswagen Director of Marketing  Luca de Meo.