Reimagining the VW Bus
A new concept version of the VW Bus recreates the charm of the original using new technologies, including generative design. Erik Glaser shares their development process.
In the next few years, Volkswagen will be releasing the ID Buzz, an electric vehicle based on the beloved VW Bus from the 1960s. And to pave the way, they’ve created a new concept version called the Type 20. While the old VW Bus was hardly considered high tech, the Type 20 was designed to showcase the technologies that are primed to transform the automotive industry. Generative design tools in Fusion 360 were key to creating wheels that are just as strong but 18% lighter and capable of being cast in aluminum, a proven process and material for automotive. Erik Glaser helped lead the redesign and shares how they got where they wanted to go.
About the speaker
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design, Erik Glaser spent 10 years with Volkswagen’s Innovation & Engineering Center in Silicon Valley, eventually becoming principal product designer. He’s now the lead UX designer for Rivian.
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