Volkswagen has appointed Jose Carlos Pavone as head of brand design for the North and South America regions. Pavone brings with him strong experience in integrating innovative approaches into the vehicle design process such as the use of augmented and virtual reality, which is faster and more effective for prototype development. Initially, Pavone will split his time between Volkswagen Design Centres in the US and Brazil. “Design will play an even more important role in adapting our vehicles to the specific needs of the market. JC brings with him a wealth of experience gained in Germany, the US, and Brazil, and he has an excellent track record in designing products that appeal to our consumers,’ said Pablo Di Si, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
Pavone has worked with Volkswagen for 21 years in the Brazilian, German and US markets. From 2011 to 2016 he worked at Volkswagen Group of America’s Design Studio in California, becoming head of exterior design in 2013. He was responsible for the design of the sixth-generation Jetta and Passat sedan for the US market, assembled in Chattanooga, TN, from 2011 to 2022. Most recently, Pavone was responsible for Volkswagen Brazil’s design for the South American market. He led the design process of the Volkswagen Nivus/Taigo, which was the first South American-designed vehicle produced in Europe. He was also responsible for the Virtus, also developed in the region.
