From as close as Detroit to as far away as China, twenty one students around the world were chosen to design and engineer a hydrogen-powered car for the year 2020 as a part of the Annual Design Internship Program, by General Motors.

Each team of interns had a designer, an engineer, a sculptor, and a trim and color artist. Together, they came up with six futuristic concept cars. In addition to being gas-free, the concept cars also had to meet the needs of international drivers in the emerging markets of China, India and Russia.

While these concept cars probably won't be available in showrooms anytime soon, the students have gained real world experience to help further their future careers, hopefully designing petroleum-free transportation for all of us.

General Motors Corp, the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries.

In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.

Courtesy: Medialink and General Motors