(JW Insights) Apr 10 -- Stellantis China Design Studio, a Chinese branch of Dutch design service provider Stellantis Design Studio (SDS), officially started operation in Shanghai, providing brands and product design services in the Chinese market, reported Yicai Global on April 7.

SDS, the sustainable products and brand experiences developer under global auto giant Stellantis, provides design services to companies and organizations engaged in transport, manufacturing, and service sectors. In addition to its Shanghai branch, SDS has units in Paris, São Paulo and Casablanca, and coming soon to Detroit and Turin, Stellantis announced on April 7 on its WeChat official account.

SDS's renowned partners include Airbus' helicopter business, rolling stock maker Alstom, business jet manfacturer Bombardier, home appliance giants Haier Group and Whirlpool, and piano maker Pleyel, according to its website.

Amsterdam-based Stellantis was formed in 2021 through the mega-merger of French auto giant PSA Group and Italian-American multinational Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. It reported an 18 percent jump in net profit to EUR 179.6 billion ($196.1 billion) for last year.

But in China, Stellantis has met with a setback. GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, one of its two Chinese joint ventures, declared bankruptcy last November, as it sold only 1,861 cars in the first half of 2022, versus 222,300 in 2017. Its revenue slumped 39 percent to RMB3.9 billion ($536.6 million) in 2021, with total assets down nearly 26 percent at RMB8.7 billion, said the Yicai Global report.

(Chen HX)