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Global Automotive Forum hosts designer roundtable meeting in Chengdu, China

The second Global Automotive Forum took place last week in the Jiaozhi international conference center in Chengdu, one of the most important economic and transportation centers in Western China. The two-day event was based around the theme of 'Crossing from Producing to Innovation Country' and was attended by more than 80 people from the global automotive industry. While most of the sessions revolved around the greater automotive industry in China, Car Design News was asked to organize a session of the forum centered on design, which included a 'roundtable meeting' for designers.

Ford B-Max concept

The Ford B-Max concept from Geneva previewed more than just an evolution of the Kinetic design language. The B-Max demonstrates a production ready B-pillar-less sliding rear door, as well as other ecologically minded additions, strongly suggesting that the show car is little more than a thinly veiled doppelganger for a production model. The B segment car is powered by a turbocharged three cylinder, one liter EcoBoost engine, combined with a start-stop mechanism to produce significantly improved economy and CO2 ratings.

Robert Kidder, former Duracell chief, to head new Chrysler as chairman

Business consultant Robert Kidder is set to become the new chairman of Chrysler Group when it emerges from bankruptcy. Kidder, 64, will replace Bob Nardelli, who was hired in 2007 after Daimler sold Chrysler to private equity group Cerberus. A new board of directors, to be formed after bankruptcy, will hire a new CEO for Chrysler.