Luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Karma Automotive is ready to share the wealth.
The Irvine-based company said last month it has established a new business unit—Karma Design—offering design services to other automotive companies and luxury lifestyle design services outside of the auto industry, in addition to overseeing Karma’s design aesthetics.
Karma Chief Executive Lance Zhou said it will help diversify Karma’s offerings and enter new markets beyond the traditional automotive model, which typically focuses on design, manufacturing, and retail.
“Karma is creating a new business model—not just automotive and not just technology—but a combination that will maximize value with diversification,” Zhou said in a statement. “Karma’s luxury electric vehicle niche and in-house design and styling talent create opportunities for the company to diversify revenue streams and maximize opportunity.”
Andreas Thurner will lead the new division as vice president of global design and architecture, a newly created role that reports directly to Zhou.
Thurner said in a statement the role is an “opportunity to move our company forward in new and exciting directions.”
He joined Karma in 2016 as exterior design lead from BMW Group, where he led advanced design for interior and exterior, and design innovation management. Thurner has also served as concept exterior designer and led projects at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, where he designed the Ghost, Ghost Series II, and Dawn.
Karma said it will be rolling out its 2020 Revero GT model to dealer showrooms later this year.
