Italdesign: trams for Chinese cities designed in Turin

Turin - The industrial design division of Italdesign has announced a partnership with the Chinese transport giant CRRC Guangzhou Electric Locomotive to produce a new tram for Guangzhou, the third most populated city in China. The Chinese company, which will be making a metropolitan tram for the first time, has chosen Italdesign for its extensive experience in the field, acquired over the years through many similar projects in Europe and, most recently, in the Middle East. The tram, to be presented in the fall, is the result of more than 18 months of hard work. The team of designers based in Turin worked side by side with their Chinese clients to develop an end product that offers a modern take on the classic stylistic traits of Chinese tradition and culture.

"The graphic part is certainly the most eye-catching," said Nicola Guelfo, Head of Industrial Design Styling, "but as always we took an all-round approach to our work. We focused particularly on ergonomics." The design of the project was based on two key elements: the traditional "dancing lion" of Guangzhou, which inspired the external lines and livery, and the distinctive architectural structure of the Canton Tower, one of the latest landmarks of the city, which inspired the handrails inside the cars. It is a 70% low vehicle, which means that 70% of the length of each car is at sidewalk level. This makes it easier to board and exit the tram, especially for passengers with prams and wheelchairs. "We are very pleased with this project and recently saw the first moving prototype of the tram," Nicola Guelfo concludes. "We were rather satisfied to see that it is very close to our proposal, which means that we have fully met the requirements and expectations of CRRC Guangzhou Electric Locomotive".