Irvine-based Karma toasted its new design studio Thursday night as the luxury electric automaker continues to diversify its business.
Karma employees along with auto industry and design executives gathered inside the new 12,000-square-foot facility, where the concept cars SC1 and SC2 were on display. A panel later discussed design across disciplines.
The studio is part of $10 million in projects at the company’s headquarters and Karma’s multi-pronged approach to create new revenue streams. Last year it cut workers across offices, followed more recently by new executive hires.
Offering design services to other carmakers is part of its aim for the new studio space, which Karma CEO Lance Zhou said in a statement speaks to “the next phase of our future.”