The judges of the 10th annual LA Auto Show Design Challenge named SAIC Motor the winner of the 2013 competition.
SAIC Motor beat out eight world-renowned auto design studios for the prestigious honor, with its innovative public transit solution aimed at alleviating urban problems such as air pollution and traffic congestion.
Inspired by a simple ant’s distinctive body structure and the mutually beneficial relationship between ants and trumpet trees, SAIC Motors designed Roewe “Mobiliant.” Mobiliant is a single-seat vehicle for urban public transit, which helps improve both transportation and operation efficiency for future urban ecological systems.
Though the competition was extremely close, the judges unanimously agreed that it was Mobiliant’s focus on the concept of mutualism that set it apart. The system was based upon the balance and harmony found in nature when two organisms of different species exist in a mutually beneficial relationship. The judges also agreed that the Mobiliant concept was optimistic, beautiful and best answered the competition criteria by mimicking a truly sustainable solution that resembled an ancient system that has worked for millions of years.
Themed “Biomimicry & Mobility 2025 – Nature’s Answer to Human Challenges,” the competitors focused on mobility solutions for a variety of transportation issues, such as congestion, pollution, safety and sustainability, with the design inspiration coming from Mother Nature.
Other auto design studios who participated in the LA Auto Show’s 2013 Design Challenge represented brands BMW, MINI, Changfeng, JAC Motors, Mazda, Qoros, Subaru and Toyota. From self-sustaining silk worms to long-forgotten waterways, the entries created fierce competition and long deliberation by the judges.
Entries were judged on various criteria: creative adaptation of nature’s laws (plants & animals); application of human intelligence to Biomimicry in unique ways to improve the efficiency of future vehicles; comfort, convenience, aesthetics of the vehicle; sustainability of the building, servicing, operation, and life cycle; and the personality of the vehicle.
In addition to the nine competing studios, three additional studios chose to highlight their team’s capabilities by displaying their concepts in this year’s Design Gallery, making for a total of 12 displays. These organizations include Hyundai Design and Research Center, Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center California and Nissan Design America. The concepts will be prominently displayed at the LA Auto Show in the newly created Design Gallery through the run of the public show (Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 2013).
