Huaxia Shenzhou Group, a new-energy vehicle company, signed a deal with the renowned Luigi Colani as its chief designer, eyeing opportunities in developing a new-energy bus.

According to Xue Xuejun, Huaxia Shenzhou's chairman, quality internal-combustion engines and eye-catching design each plays a role in new-energy vehicles just as they do for traditional vehicles. And that's why the company has hired the world-famous designer.

Colani is a Berlin-born German industrial designer whose career began in the 1950s when he designed cars for companies such as Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Volkswagen and BMW.

His unconventional designs have made him famous, not only in design circles but also to the general public.