Kia’s Europe Design Center in Frankfurt integrated VR and mixed reality into car-design reviews. Designers use Varjo XR-1 headsets with Autodesk VRED to examine full-scale virtual vehicles beside physical prototypes, or overlay digital details on clay models and seating bucks. Autodesk documented the collaboration with Kia, Varjo and NVIDIA in September 2020, when VRED 2021.1 introduced XR-1 Developer Edition support.
Teams can discuss the same model across studios, making remote review practical when pandemic restrictions prevent travel. Autodesk’s June 2021 account says Kia Europe began collaborating in VR before the pandemic and held presentations to management in Korea at least weekly, with up to 30 people globally. Some participants explored the model in VR while others watched on a large screen. Reviewers could change paint, upholstery and the surrounding scene, compare models, and inspect technical components using cutaway views.
Design leader Gregory Guillaume reported replacing a review requiring at least four days, including travel to Korea, with a one-hour virtual session. This is a reported workflow comparison, not a controlled productivity trial. The case study establishes operational use but gives no precise installation date, headset fleet size or deployment budget.
