Chery snags former Porsche designer

Chery qq3

Hakan Saracoglu appointed the company's design director

Chery International isn't known for being a design powerhouse, but the company has managed to sway former Porsche designer Hakan Saracoglu into their camp.

Saracoglu isn't exactly a household name, but the 47-year-old has previously worked at Ford of Europe where he helped to design the Focus and Mondeo. He eventually moved to Porsche where he worked on models such as the Boxster, Cayman and 918 Spyder.

In his new position as Chery's design director he will oversee the styling direction of a variety of new models from the company's design center in Shanghai. Speaking to Automotive News, Saracoglu said "The company is redefining itself. Chery is standing for value, for design and gaining customer confidence. That's where we want to go."

Saracoglu is just the latest in an increasing number of designers who have taken jobs in China as salaries there are reportedly as much as three times higher than they are in Europe or the United States. When asked how much he was making, Saracoglu declined to answer but hinted "Let's say I'm not unhappy."