In this podcast episode At the wheel with Gabriel Gélinas, the host offers an interview with Simon Lamarre, an automotive designer with a rich curriculum.
In the introduction, Simon Lamarre says that he studied industrial design at UQAM. At that time, he did not have an automotive specialization.
The designer then meets his wife of Swedish origin. He moved to Sweden, where his professional career began at Saab, while he made models.
Some time later, Simon Lamarre made a transition to the Volvo company. It will become known to the public thanks to the design of the Volvo C30, a three-door compact that was in our market from 2008 to 2013.
After 20 years of service with the brand, he resigned to work with the Chinese company Geely, which owns Volvo.
Experience at Geely
Asked about the Chinese firm’s working methods, Mr. Lamarre tells us that the strategies are very different from ours. “They want things to happen, there is no planning, unlike in Europe and North America,” he says.
Moreover, thanks to Volvo’s know-how, Geely quickly became the “number one brand” in the country, according to the designer.
“What can we say about the quality of the products? », Asks the host. Mr. Lamarre explains that the design and manufacturing processes meet European standards. However, he adds that this is not the case for all brands in China.
“There are over 200 brands. Some appear and others disappear overnight, ”he concludes.
Listen to the podcast to better understand Simon Lamarre’s professional development, his experience with Geely, and above all, the future of the automobile!