 will serve as the epicenter of U.S.-based designs for the VW brand. “Mr. Brun will oversee the DCC […] "'Pin It")
Reto Brun to Helm Newly Dedicated Volkswagen Brand Design Center
Reto Brun is now the Director of Design at the refocused Volkswagen brand studio located in Santa Monica, California
Photo: Volkswagen Media
The new Volkswagen brand studio located in Santa Monica, California, is now under the direction of Reto Brun, who has accepted the position and title as Director of Design.
According to Volkswagen, the Design Center California (DCC) will serve as the epicenter of U.S.-based designs for the VW brand.
“Mr. Brun will oversee the DCC design team and development of Volkswagen concepts exclusively for the U.S. market, and ensure effective collaboration with the Volkswagen Group of America Engineering and Planning Center (EPC) in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg, Germany,” reports VW.
Brun graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with a Bachelor of Science degree in transportation design. He began his career with the automotive group in 1996, and has held multiple positions throughout his VW career, including his previous post as Design Manager at the DCC. In this role, he oversaw design plans for the Audi Q6 models, U.S. Volkswagen Passat, Audi A8 models, Shanghai-sold VW Lavida, and Audi A5 models.
“We are excited to welcome Reto to his new role at the DCC,” said Matthias Erb, Executive Vice President & Chief Engineering Officer, Volkswagen Group of America. “His strong design background and expertise in the U.S. market will be integral in leading the conceptualization of products that are competitive, desirable to American buyers, and accurately reflect Volkswagen ideals.”
According to VW, the newly focused DCC is under the umbrella of Volkswagen’s North American Region (NAR). Due to its new affiliation, the DCC will direct focus on steering market-centric products as well as develop ways to “tailor its products to market needs” while “continuing to leverage design resources from around the world.”
As Europe’s biggest automaker and one of the world’s most prominent makers of passenger vehicles, Volkswagen Group of America (VWoA) counts an impressive selection of quality vehicles in its lineup including the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Atlas, Jetta, Passat, CC, e-Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Touareg, and Tiguan models.
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