XR Collaboration in Automotive Design Delivers Immersive Remote Workflows

Enhancing Automotive Design with XR Collaboration

Creating an automobile from scratch is a complex process. From conceptualizing the design, sculpting physical models, and refining intricate details to collaborating with global teams, automotive development requires precision and efficiency. Manufacturers must also meet tighter deadlines and create diverse product lineups to appeal to increasingly critical consumer segments.

To address the growing demand for global team collaboration and efficient product development, auto manufacturers integrate XR collaboration tools into their workflows. Teams worldwide use virtual environments to work together on vehicle models in real time. The combination of Autodesk VRED software and high-performance graphics processing delivers an immersive design experience for many top automotive companies.

Hyundai Motors and the Shift to VR-Assisted Design

Hyundai Motors adopts VR-assisted design to streamline its model development process. Traditional design workflows involve multiple rounds of feedback across various teams, but Hyundai integrates XR collaboration technology to optimize efficiency.

Hyundai establishes one of the largest VR design evaluation facilities, where designers, engineers, and stakeholders simultaneously enter a virtual environment to review car designs. The Autodesk VRED system powered by advanced graphics processing enables precise rendering, allowing teams to examine even the most intricate design details.

Within the virtual experience, teams modify a car’s color, texture, and parts by simply adjusting the controls. High-fidelity renderings of car interiors allow teams to visualize how buyers will experience the vehicle. Virtual environments also place cars in real-world backgrounds, illustrating every design aspect with greater clarity. Hyundai continues integrating XR collaboration tools into its design workflow, aiming to transition to fully virtual design processes.

BUGATTI’s Virtual Design Process Reduces Time and Costs

BUGATTI combines traditional craftsmanship with XR-powered digital design to enhance efficiency. Car design at BUGATTI begins with an individual’s creative vision, which is translated into a digital model before being crafted into a physical form. The inclusion of XR collaboration technology reduces design costs by 25 percent and shortens development time by 50 percent.

With the adoption of VR and 3D design, the BUGATTI Divo was completed in six months instead of the usual year-long process. This transformation enables product teams to iterate designs faster while maintaining the brand’s high standards of quality and innovation.

Ford Conducts Real-Time Design Reviews in Virtual Spaces

During the pandemic, Ford distributed VR kits to engineers and design directors worldwide, ensuring continued progress on new vehicle designs. To facilitate real-time virtual collaboration, Ford developed a live virtual design review set in a digital airplane hangar.

This environment allowed teams to experience designs in both 2D and 3D, accommodating users with or without XR collaboration tools. The models showcased included designs from Team Fordzilla, the company’s esports team.

Utilizing Autodesk VRED and high-performance workstations, Ford created high-fidelity virtual models that could be examined without VR hardware. However, when paired with immersive headsets, the experience became even more detailed, enabling engineers to analyze how different light sources impact reflections on vehicle surfaces.

The Future of XR Collaboration in Automotive Design

The automobile industry continuously refines its complex development process using XR collaboration tools. Manufacturers leverage virtual reality, advanced design software, and powerful graphics processing to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve global team collaboration. These technologies drive innovation and elevate the car-buying experience for consumers.