After several weeks in Asia, I’m back in Europe, where our automotive and lamp industries started more than a century ago. Last week, I was maybe a bit provocative in my editorial about Chinese passion, skill, and speed. Don’t mistake me; we have passionate, talented, young (and less young) engineers and designers in Europe, too, and that is what I shall demonstrate this week with a report on my long visit to Czechia, visiting Škoda and preparing for our event in Ostrava.
During DVN Munich in February, we talked with Škoda Lead Exterior Lighting Designer Petr Nevřela, and we made plans for a visit to the Škoda Design office in Czechia, the main studio in Mladá Boleslav, and also their Prague Studio. We decided on a visit after IAA, when Škoda’s Vision O was revealed, for a long talk about Škoda’s lighting vision, plans, and challenges.
Because I worked previously in Romania for the Dacia lighting team, I understand the story behind the brand, the legacy behind it, the long history in Czechia (and its predecessor country, Czechoslovakia) for the automotive and lighting industries, and also the importance placed on value for money – how to define the right design, content, and performance for Škoda, a popular brand whose cars must be practicable and affordable. This was also the right time to visit Czechia for the final preparation of our first-ever DVN event in Ostrava on 1 December, where Petr will be one of the keynote speakers.
We are really pleased to publish this week the final docket for the Ostrava event, with our heartfelt thanks to the Czech vehicle lighting community for their great support. We are hard at work to make this event a great success, and already 140 people are registered. Come join in, won’t you? Registration is open online. In addition to that, and in preparation for it, we have put together, cooperatively with the Czech lighting community, a report about the Czech vehicle lighting ecosystem. Find it here.
Enjoy this week’s DVNewsletter, and I hope to see you in Ostrava!
Take care,
