Robert Riggs

Conducted research and design development. Engaged design consultancies in consumer and military products at Stewart Reed Design and Sundberg Ferar.
Crafted concept Toyota Avalon police package shown at SEMA. Generated military vehicle proposals in connection with the DOD. Cultivated interior and exterior features for the Cadillac STS SAE 100; served as working laboratory that aided engineering in developing future production vehicles.
Conceived consumer products and automotive vision solutions with rearview cameras.
Designed and built following prototypes for General Dynamics and Lockheed military: M1 Recovery Tank and Special Ops Reconnaissance Reconfigurable Troop Carrier, RRTC, Special Ops rapid deployment team multipurpose vehicle (selected by US Navy Department of Defense for further development).
Pioneered engine dynamometer for AVL Inc., used by Indy and NASCAR teams for engine development.

Created exciting new exteriors / interiors for Ford, SUV, BEV and Autonomous vehicles. Transformed user experiences through clinical research, emissions reduction and safety improvements.
Conceptualized IP, doors, overhead console, interior trim and components for Ford autonomous vehicles.
• Crafted more comfortable seat styles for 2022 Maverick (using Color and Materials Studio). Provided XL, XLT, Lariat designs for entry level truck production; led to future BEV truck development.
• Conceived exceptional seating designs for 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E base and premium models. Contributed to interior design features to become first all-electric Ford battery electric vehicle.
Collaborated with industrialization team to solve interior production problems without losing design intent for 2020 Ford Escape SUV; propelled IQS quality score to top ranking in its class.
Directed Industrialization team to improve interior trim fit-finish for 2018 Transit Connect passenger van.

Designed, developed and managed new North American truck, bus and RV products.
Received 25+ US patents for Navistar Truck, IC Bus & Monaco/Holiday Rambler RV products.
Directed C&M Studio, trim quality interior/exterior color mastering; developed finish/trim variations.
Created new line of aluminum cab interiors for Severe Service Navistar HX models.
Established unique Caterpillar and International Interior brands through design, materials, and finishes.
Led Caterpillar, Navistar Design and Engineering to identify Caterpillar’s first “On Highway” vocational truck. Earned following awards: 2012 IDSA Bronze and 2011 Good Design Industrial Design International.
Led design of next generation commercial Navistar IC Bus school buses. Oversaw AC commercial bus through CE & RE school bus models, with new and enhanced exterior and interior styling and features.
Redesigned 10 motorized coaches, responsible for exterior, interior styling, graphics, aerodynamics, and ergonomics of new generation of fuel-efficient Monaco and Holiday Rambler RV’s, Vesta and Trip.
Created Navistar “LoadStar” truck exterior/ interior, that customer surveys showed exceeded customer expectations.

Developed, designed and managed mass-customized vehicles. Strengthened successful first year aftermarket business of $12 million in new OEM products. Developed early concepts for Mercury Cougar Special Edition C2. Crafted new concept vehicles to provide customer awareness that led to new products for 2000 SEMA show.

Designed interior seating systems for Ford, Chrysler and Asian customers. Facilitated JCI’s design studio resources to expand from 6 to over 140 designers worldwide. Crafted automotive seating for Ford F-Series truck cab configurations with Seat-Integrated-Restraint (SIR). Designed interior improvements, improved seat comfort for Jeep brand, and developed new seating for 6 vehicle brands (Dodge, Eagle, Chrysler).

Specialized in management, design, rendering and advanced programs. Selected to participate in exchange program with SAAB Automobiles in Trollhättan Sweden that led to styling of SAAB 900 coupe and convertible. Created exterior and interior designs following builds of multiple show vehicles for ASC and customers. Conceptualized production convertible vehicle programs for OEM through to completion. Created specialty performance vehicles for Ford and GM.