EV startup Sitech, ICONA team up on design of new EV model

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese EV startup Sitech inked on July 12 a strategic cooperation agreement with ICONA, a company specializing in car design, engineering and prototyping, to joint develop a new intelligent EV model code-named AEV, according to Sitech’s WeChat account.

The collaboration with ICONA will be part of the program that has been recently launched by Sitech to make users involved in the car design and development progress.

Under the idea of “1+SPACE”, the AEV is reportedly designed to offer users various interior seating layouts—2-seater, 3-seater and 4-seater—to satisfy different travelling demands for family members.

“Consumers are usually on the fence when they are buying a car with limited budget, while have to pick up one among numerous options to coordinate preferences of all family members. Besides, a right car will accompany a family for several years. Thus, we realized that we could bring some changes from the perspective of design. That's why we initiated the “AEV” program,” said Joe Chao, Chief Operating Officer of Sitech.

Founded in 2010, ICONA has its roots in the city of Turin, Italy and is able to offer all-round, cross-cultural vehicle development and design services for customers from all around the world.

At the 2019 Auto Shanghai, ICONA made its appearance with Chinese leading technology and automotive OEMs including JD Logistics, Meituan, and Chery New Energy, and showcased a range of innovative products.

Among the products exhibited at the show, the 2019 German Design Award winner Nucleus Concept drew a lot of attention with the synthesis of futurism and a human-centered mindset. With a fully autonomous driving system, the Nucleus jumps two generations ahead. Inside the vehicle, the absence of a driver does not only mean the absence of a steering wheel and a dashboard, but the opportunity for a new understanding of mobile living spaces, where the focus is no longer the road but the destination, said the design company.