Byton has hired two key executives and is expanding with a new facility in Los Angeles, California. While the company’s headquarters in Silicon Valley will continue with the development of the Smart Intuitive Vehicle (SIV), the new Future Lab will work on user experience and future-looking concept development.
User experience is a key area for Byton: its SIV concept includes a Shared Experience Display, gesture controls and a tablet in the steering wheel console. Located in a global hub for automotive design and innovation, the new facility is charged with “ensuring that Byton remains a leader in intelligent and intuitive UX design”.
“Revolutionising the user experience in the car is at the core of Byton,” said Dr Carsten Breitfeld, CEO and co-founder, Byton. “We’re working very hard to make sure your Byton vehicle is a next-generation smart device a smartphone on wheels. Our LA Future Lab will push that idea to the bleeding edge of what’s possible, and we’re already excited for what we will be able to share in the future.”
The two new additions to the company’s senior management team are Chad Harrison, who joins as vice president of product line management, and David Twohig, now chief automotive engineer. Harrison is a 22-year veteran of the automotive industry and formerly Honda R&D America’s chief automotive engineer. Twohig most recently led the development of the Alpine A110 as chief engineer at Alpine and head of vehicle engineering at Renault Sport.
Byton’s SIV will soon make its European premiere at Milan Design Week, on 17-22 April 2018, and its Asian premiere at the Beijing Motor Show, on 20-26 April 2018.
