The SAIC Design Challenge is returning for 2019 with the search on to find the next generation of talented car designers.

Now in its seventh year, the competition is run by British brand MG’s Chinese parent company SAIC Motor and, for 2019, will task students to deliver their own design interpretation under the theme ‘Intelligent Frontier 2030’.

This year’s theme looks to test students’ abilities in designing the MG of the future where emerging technology such as 5G and intelligent driving systems are expected to underpin future mobility.

“Under ‘Intelligent Frontier 2030’, students can bring their imagination to life with scale-model concept cars that will exist in a hyper-connected urban environment in 2030 and beyond,” says MG.

Six shortlisted finalists will be selected to spend two months at one of the SAIC’s European car design studios, with their digital-based models and animations subsequently getting judged at the Europe Region Awards Ceremony in September.

Europe-based finalists will also gain experience and guidance from the in-house design teams at SAIC’s two UK-based design centres, namely, Advanced London and Advanced Birmingham.

The competition was officially launched last week at London’s Royal College of Art (RCA) in the presence of vice president of SAIC Design, Shao Jingfeng, alongside design director of SAIC Design Europe, Carl Gotham, and Dale Harrow, chair and director of the Intelligent Mobility master’s course at the RCA.

“MG is undergoing a tremendous transformation as it embarks upon a long-term growth strategy. Our two design studios in the UK employ 40 designers and this year’s competition enables our experienced team to mentor and connect with the up-and-coming future creatives who will be designing our range of MG products in the future. This is an opportunity for students to express their imagination and we are looking forward to judging each interpretation of their future MG designs,” said Gotham.

Students have until the 6th of June to submit their entries. For further information and how to enter, visit: www.saicmotor.co.uk/saicdesignchallenge.

Tags: 2019 SAIC Design Challenge, car design, Carl Gotham, China, Dale Harrow, MG, RCA, Roewe, Royal College of Art, SAIC Motor, Shao Jingfeng