Report : Mercedes CLS designer headed to BAIC

Chinese car makers are looking to make an intentional effort to make their car world class and appealing and so they are in the process of hiring noted and well known designers from the European companies.

The latest recruitment heading to China is Peter Arcadipane who helped to create some of the most iconic Mercedes models like the CL, CLS and M-Class. He will reportedly become BAIC’s Design Director and will also manage over 130 other designers.

His first task after joining will be to create a range of world class vehicles that have sophisticated styling and great proportions and will attract customers across the world. Not much detail is available about the cars that would be designed, but Arcadipane told in an interview that BIAC wants them to appeal to people who would buy vehicles from well known car makers like Audi, BMW or Mercedes.

The first model is expected to be a medium to large size sedan that may have a rear-wheel drive and Daimler underpinnings. It is most likely to be followed by a crossover, but there’s no detail on when it could hit the market.