UK gears up for motoring projects

The motor industry is undergoing a flurry of design activity, with a number of international groups using or considering UK consultancies for new projects.

Volkswagen Group has drawn up a five-strong shortlist to create interiors, signage and graphics for a major visitors centre in Wolfsburg, Germany. Two US and three European design groups, including at least one from the UK, are understood to be on the shortlist. The project will see an investment of 88m by the car giant.

The centre will be shared between all the group’s brands, including Audi, Seat and Skoda. Volkswagen Group was unavailable for comment on the identity of the shortlisted consultancies as Design Week went to press.

Meanwhile, Rover Group has appointed AKQA as its consultancy for new media applications, with an initial programme to develop global websites.

Individual sites will be launched in October for the group and for each subsidiary brand – Rover Cars, MG and Land Rover. They will link with local and national sites around the world.

Later projects may include interactive kiosks and CD-ROMs for special events such as motor shows. The design of the Rover websites AKQA creates will be based on work by branding consultancy Edward Briscoe, which continues to work for Rover.

Interbrand is working on showroom interiors for Swedish group Volvo (DW 14 March), and Porsche Cars Great Britain has employed Berryman Ball to implement the changes of its global identity review. The consultancy staged a corporate identity workshop for the UK arm of the sports car maker.