Don't ditch domestic design

In a recent article in Automobile magazine, Preston Lerner wrote that more auto manufacturers were closing down design studios in Southern California and that those still open aren’t really hiring.
According to Lerner’s article some people say “Southern California is losing its advanced design mojo.”
So who’s taking over? Some people say China and India are the new up-and-coming places for automotive design. And thanks to this neat little thing called the Internet, it’s easier than ever to work inter-continentally. Labor is already largely outsourced, so why not outsource design too?
That might not be the best idea. I’ve never been to China or India (although I’d like to visit) but from what I’ve seen in pictures and movies, those places don’t really resemble L.A. or Orange County.
I know fuel prices are climbing and some people are looking for energy-efficient cars, but that doesn’t mean we want to drive around golf carts all day (no offense to those of you that do).
Tata Motors Limited, India’s largest automotive manufacturing company according to wikipedia.org, recently began producing the Nano, a small car to be driven in a city. The Nano is roughly the same size as the Smart Fortwo, but the Nano is about 16 inches longer. Those extra inches make the Nano a four-door with a backseat. There is a great demand for the Nano in India, but I don’t know how much of a demand there will be from the U.S., especially Southern California.
Will India try to bring the Nano to the U.S.? I (sort of) hope not. I was initially excited about the idea of Smart cars in the U.S. until I realized that the compromise of size leads to a compromise of speed.
I don’t mean to hate on the Nano. I think it’s a great car for India, probably China and Europe too. But Hot Wheels weren’t made to drive on the U.S. highways.
Two years ago, I visited Germany with some family. We opted to rent a car instead of trying to use public transportation (I think the sizes of the suitcases factored into this decision). Since there were six of us, we rented a van — an Opel Zafira to be exact. The funny thing is, what the Germans called a van, seemed more like a tall station wagon.
Why such a difference? That should be obvious. Globalization may bring the world closer together in terms of music, movies, clothes and other information, but it can’t change the roads. Cities in Europe and Asia are designed with a good public transportation service, or things are within walking or biking distance. But here in the U.S. many large cities require a car. You could walk around some areas I suppose, but come on, nobody walks in L.A.
I love seeing cars in foreign countries because they are so different from what we have here in the U.S. It’s exciting to see what other people consider to be “big” and “compact.” That doesn’t mean I want their definitions at my local dealership.
The future of cars may be in India or China, but until all the giant trucks and SUVs are off the roads, I don’t think closing down design studios is a wise choice. Instead of outsourcing immediately, why not send designers abroad for inspiration? They can observe designs in other countries and adapt them to better fit the needs of the U.S.