Volkswagen of America appoints Reto Brun as Director of the VW Design Center California

Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) today announced the appointment of #retobrun as Director of the Design Center California (DCC) in Santa Monica, Calif., now a dedicated #volkswagen brand studio. In this role, 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.

“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.”     

The new position operates as part of Volkswagen’s North American Region (NAR) structure, formed to permit greater autonomy in responding to customer demands unique to Mexico, Canada and the United States. Prior to the restructure, the DCC served as the pulse of #volkswagen Group design for both international and American markets, driving design strategy as well as delivering relevant U.S. consumer insights and trends to Wolfsburg headquarters.

Under the NAR, the DCC will be deepening its role in steering market-centric products, working directly with U.S. model line, marketing, sales, and procurement teams, while continuing to leverage design resources from around the world. The Passat GT concept, a special edition model built based on extensive feedback from U.S. customers and dealers is one example of how #volkswagen can tailor its products to market needs.

Mr. Brun joined the #volkswagen Group in 1996, serving in various capacities within the company. Most recently, he was Design Manager at the DCC, responsible for design proposals for the U.S. #volkswagen Passat, Audi Q6, A8 and A5 models, as well as the #volkswagen Lavida, sold in Shanghai.

Mr. Brun holds a Bachelor of Science degree in transportation design from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif.