WHILE most western-world car-makers struggle, those in China, Asia and Eastern Europe are roaring toward good times. And growing numbers of the latter are using CGI Consulting Ltd – a young Coventry company – to help move their products into the 21st Century.

Design flair and intellectual know-how are the stock-in-trade of a company making all its sales overseas…to the tune of more than £3.5 million in its first 12 months. Such is its export growth that it is a contender for the Coventry Telegraph’s UK Trade & Investment-sponsored International Trade Award.

Many of its customers are in countries which most British people wouldn’t recognise as having car industries – including Uzbekistan and Iran – but they do…and it’s a two-way trade. For many of those countries haven’t heard of British engineering, either. “And we put a lot into making them aware of the skills, innovative ability and value of UK companies,” said CGIC director Thomas Ashton. His company’s origins are in a consultancy with a long history of working for manufacturers the likes of Jaguar, Land Rover and General Motors Advanced Design.

CGIC was launched to deal with the world’s emerging brands and works at the highest levels with clients to help them establish the direction of their product development – from concept and design through to realization. The potential is huge. “China for instance has over 150 indigenous manufacturers. It is the third largest vehicle manufacturer in the world and will soon be number one. “Many have been manufacturing under licence and now want their own intellectual property…and we want British companies to be right at the centre of that growth.” Uzbekistan has been making 100,000 Daewoo-based cars a year – largely for the Russian market – and CGIC has been leading modernisation of that model. “Our team led development of Iran’s national car, and hope to continue that relationship. We have also done two for Tata (India) dealing directly with Mr Tata.” Working with UKT&I has helped CGIC make productive foreign connections. “They’ve been supporting us strongly, and in turn when we get out there we fly the flag for the rest of British industry.”

Two of Tata Mortors’ most anticipated new models were launched at the Delhi Auto Expo in January. Both vehicles spearhead a drive by the Indian manufacturer to build vehicles in line with Tata Motors’ aspirations to build its brand in Europe and North America.

The brief was to create a global family design language that was clean, rugged and refined and would attract buyers in the home market and abroad. Both designs are a giant leap forward over their predecessors in terms of design refinement, fit and finish.

The new Xenon XT (cross terrain) is a lifestyle pick-up with bold, rugged and stylish looks, comfortable car like interiors and excellent 4×4 off-road capabilities. The Xenon will be built in India, Argentina (badged as Fiat) and Thailand.

The new Sumo Grande combines the looks of an SUV with the comforts of a family car. It has been specifically designed to satisfy the needs of city customers in the areas of drivability, maneuverability and fuel efficiency. The Sumo Grande sports an all-new styling with clean, chiselled looks matching with flowing contours. The tall aggressive stance is complimented by large, clear headlamps, and a cutaway air dam in the front. The clean, rear look, with the spare wheel tucked under the body, is accentuated by attractive taillights and a chrome overlay.

“With the new Sumo Grande we are expecting about 30 per cent increase in the sales of the Sumo family” Mr Rajiv Dube Tata Motors President of Passenger Car Business (Source, Hindustan Times 09 01 08)

Arup, Lotus, MIRA, Ricardo, and Prodrive also took part and it was CGIC who focused on the latest automated processes that allow rapid review and generation of models and vehicle concepts.

Thomas Ashton Design Director was upbeat concerning the challenge China presents us with. `China is already an automotive powerhouse and we have the advanced understanding of product design, and the processes that I believe will make it the strongest global market for consumers and manufacturers’.

Г-н Томас Аштон, директор по дизайну, активно развил тему касательно препятствий, находящихся на пути Китая. «Уже сейчас Китай полон энергии на автомобильной арене, мы же обладаем передовым пониманием концепций дизайна и процессов. С моей точки зрения, в сочитании это создаст сильнейший глобальный рынок как для потребителей, так и для производителей».