Hot Wheels Toy Designer Bryan Benedict Talks to 'Auto Trends'

Toy Designer Bryan Benedict (Photo Credit: JeffCars.com)

Bryan Benedict, who grew up like most boys collecting die-cast cars, is the design director of Hot Wheels and Matchbox. 

Benedict joins Auto Trends with JeffCars.com to talk about his progression to becoming a car designer to his transition to landing his dream job creating toy cars for Mattel. 

The vivacious toy car designer also shares how the toy company has remained relevant for over a half a century with both males and females. 

'Auto Trends' Talks One-On-One with Ford's First Black Female Car Designer (Two Shows)

 

Emeline King designed the interior of the 1994 Ford Mustang. (Photo Credit: EK)

As we celebrate Black History Month, Auto Trends with Jeffcars.com, a multicultural syndicated automotive program, shines the high beams on Emeline King, Ford Motor Company’s first Black female car designer. King, who was hired in 1983, was one of the first Black female car designers in the auto industry. Marietta Kearney Ellis, who was hired one-year earlier by General Motors, was the first in the industry.

Currently, there are approximately 30 Black car designers globally. Black car designers barely make up a fraction of this exclusive club of creative innovators. In fact, one has a better chance of being drafted at .03%, according to sports sources into the NBA, than becoming an automotive car designer.  

Design Director Andre Hudson Talks About His Latest Electric Vehicle Masterpiece (Part Two of Two)

Design director Andre Hudson with the Indi One all-electric vehicle. (photo credit IndiEV)

JeffCars.com is continuing part-two of our conversation with Andre Hudson, who is the design director for the California-based electric vehicle start-up company IndiEV. In case you missed part one of our conversation, as Hudson discussed what drew him to the company and the mark he made it in the automotive history books with the design of the stylish 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the launch of the Genesis luxury brand, click here.

 

Part 2 of our conversation with Andre Hudson.....

Andre, when behind the wheel, occupants will notice a series of computer screens. Tell us what inspired the use of the computer screens, which takes the place of the traditional instrument panel, navigation system, audio system and the like?

Design Director Andre Hudson Talks About His Latest Electric Vehicle Masterpiece (Part One of Two)

Design director Andre Hudson (photo credit: IndiEv)

Andre Hudson, who is currently amongst an elite group of approximately five Black designers around the world to lead a car design studio, goes one-on-one with JeffCars.com to talk about his latest work of art, the Indi One, which made its world debut last fall in Beverly Hills, California. 

Hudson is helping to usher in the electric car movement, albeit they only represented 3 percent of U.S. new vehicle sales in 2021. Before switching to electric vehicles, the creative genius made a name for himself at Hyundai, after composing the head-turning 2011 Sonata. The vehicle was named by the enthusiast's magazine, Motor Trend, as one of the top fifteen most important cars last decade. In fact, at its peak, the sexy looking sedan accounted for 40 percent of the Korean brand's annual U.S. new vehicle sales. The automaker made so much money from Hudson design they were able to launch the Genesis luxury line. 

Former High-Achieving Black Global Car Designer Talks Steering Into His True Purpose With 'Auto Trends,' While In The Midst Of Covid-19

 

How many times have you thought about changing careers or jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, but self-doubt and fear kept you from shifting gears?

 

With America being in the throes of a pandemic, a recession and been forced to reckon with social, economic and racial justice from the African American community, Brian Peterson, who was a member of an elite club, as one of thirty Black car designers in the entire world, decided to listen to his ‘Father,’ as he finally drummed-up the nerve to step out on faith to pursue his purpose, which centers around the homeless, his love for people and using his God given artistic gift.

 

In The Rearview Mirror: The Top Black Automotive History Makers From This Past Decade (2010-19)

photo credit: LE

While most of us are familiar with Elon Musk, the lead driver behind the all-electric luxury car company, known as Tesla, many of us would be hard pressed to identify blacks in the automotive industry who also played key roles in blazing new trails over the past decade.

As a new decade turns the corner, JeffCars.com has identified the top black automotive trendsetters and pioneers, who were either given the keys (or keyfobs) or literally took the keys (or keyfobs) to make their mark in history, during the years of 2010 to 2019.

Global Design Director Andre Hudson Gives Us a Peek into the Next Generation of Vehicles (Part Two of Two)

The exterior concept of the Nucleus (photo credit: Icona Design)

The interior concept of the Nucleus (photo credit: Icona Design)

Here's part two of our conversation with global design director Andre Hudson, as he gives us a glimpse on what we should expect from the next-generation of  fully electric, self-driving vehicles. In case you missed part one of our interview with Hudson, click here. 

Global Design Director Andre Hudson Gives Us a Peek into the Next Generation of Vehicles (Part One of Two)

Unless you've been literally asleep at the wheel, no pun intended, both electric and self-driving vehicles are in the pipeline. This next phase of passenger transportation, which is literally one of the most significant changes the industry has experienced, since the shift from horses and buggies to gasoline engine vehicles, is literally right around the corner.

A One-One-One Rewind With The Pioneering Black Car Designer Whom Was Rejected By All Of The Major Design Schools

While most designers of his era got their formal training at the mainstream design schools, this was not the case for our guest. During the 60s, he was rejected by every general population design school he applied to. However, this did not keep Ed Welburn, who went on to become the highest ranking Black global auto executive and car designer in the industry, from pursing his dream. Howard University, a HBCU, was the only school that accepted him. Not only did they  accept him, the HBCU literally designed, no pun intended, a special program specifically for the gifted artist. While attending Howard University some of Welburn's now famous classmates happened to be Roberta Flack,

Free 'Auto Trends' Shows On SiriusXM With Two History Makers Thru Tuesday, May 29

If you have not had a chance to tune in because your car does not have satellite radio, here's what you've been missing out on. We have an opportunity for you to hear a show for free on your mobile device or online.

From now until Tuesday, May 29, you can access SiriusXM for free in your car or online. 

And, for the first time, you can even tune in on the SiriusXM App for free to listen to on your smartphone. Visit SiriusXM now. No credit card is required.

Crystal Windham: The Highest Ranking Black Female Car Designer On The Globe Talks 'Auto Trends' And More

Crystal Windham is the highest ranking black female in automotive design on the globe. In fact, as Cadillac’s interior design director, she has blazed a trail where no woman, who looks like her, has gone. While only a handful of Black men have cracked this ceiling, being in the upper echelon of car designers, as a Black woman, this creative force is the lone ranger.

Chicago's NBC 5 Highlights During 6PM News How Kia and JeffCars.com 'Drives' Black History Month to the Classroom

One of the high school students from Chicago's Proviso West, who was the recipient of Kia's car designer Brian Peterson rendering, during a classroom activity.

Raymond Taylor of Kia University speaks to Chicago's Proviso West about electric and hybrid technology and its relationship to STEM and the Kia Niro, the brand's only dedicated hybrid.  

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Check out the video footage from the news coverage featuring Niro interior car designer Brian Peterson and event organizer and editor Jeff Fortson.

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New York Auto Show: 2018 Lincoln Continental And 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The 2018 Lincoln Navigator with out the wingdoors is slated to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The 2018 Lincoln Navigator was designed by Earl Lucas, who was responsible for reviving the current generation Navigator eight years ago.

The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio crossover

2017 Detroit Auto Show Debuts: Genesis, Lincoln And Kia

Erwin Raphael, the general manager for the new Genesis luxury line, is taking a gentleman pose in front of the 2018 G80 Sport, with its matted Bentley-like grille.

Earl Lucas is back, after making noise with reviving the current generation Taurus a few years ago. Lucas, a chief exterior designer for Lincoln, poses in front of his latest project, the 2018 Navigator Concept.  Unlike the show model, the production version will not offer gullwing doors.

Brian Peterson, a global interior designer for the Kia, has his first big project with the 2017 Niro. Kia's first, all-dedicated hybrid interior has Peterson's handprints all over the vehicle.

Airing This Saturday: Global Car Designer Brian Peterson Talks Faith, Cars And How He Personally Validates The Homeless

Brian Peterson is at his desk, working on a design project.

While most millennials are still discovering their purpose for being, Brian Peterson, the 29-year old rising star and global designer for Kia, seems to be hitting his stride. Peterson, a Miami native, who has a heart of gold, goes one-on-one with “Auto Trends with JeffCars.com” this Saturday.

Peterson, as you’ll find, from tuning into our riveting conversation, thrives on challenges. This is what propelled him into a career where only a few are chosen. In fact, Peterson will tell you in a very unassuming manner that one has a better chance of being drafted into the NBA, as opposed to becoming a car designer. And, unlike the NBA, there are only a small number of Blacks, whose creative talents allow them to squeeze into the highly competitive field of automotive design.

Editor's Tribute To Car Designer Michael Burton

Car Designer Martin Davis Reflects On What It Meant To Work Under GM's First Black Car Designer

Lighting Design Manager Martin Davis is holding the taillights of one of the many vehicles he's responsible for designing.

For our one-year anniversary show, honoring pioneer designer Ed Welburn, who spent 44 years as a designer of General Motors, we reached out to a few individuals who were mentored by the trendsetter. Welburn was the highest ranking black auto executive, before he retired on July 1. To find out more about Welburn and our radio interview, which airs Saturdays this month, click here.

What has it meant to have Ed Welburn as your design leader?

Airing This Month: GM’s First Black Car Designer Who Generated Billions Of Dollars For The Auto Giant Talks “Auto Trends with JeffCars.com” For One Year Anniversary Show

Welburn with one of his prized bankruptcy vehicles, the Corvette.

Ed Welburn is to General Motors what Johnny Ives is to Apple. That is Apple Computers. Johnny Ives, like Ed Welburn, is the creative force behind his company, designing products that keep customers coming back. Welburn, who retired on July 1, after breaking ever glass ceiling in his successful 44-year career, recently served as the global chief design leader at one of the world's largest automakers. 

Welburn was the first person at General Motors to rise to this position, making him the most influential black person in the auto industry.

Welburn, who was also the first black car designer to be hired by General Motors and the second to be working in the industry, has literally been responsible for generating billions of dollars for the automaker due to his creative designs, vision and quiet, but highly effective leadership style.

Two of the highest ranking Black Americans in their field, Ed Welburn, (l) and President Obama, (r) are touring the Washington Auto Show.

Detroit News: From Designing Jet Interiors To Remaking The Lincoln Brand

Earl Lucas is well-suited to design luxury Lincolns for Ford Motor Co. Before his job creating automotive exteriors in Dearborn, he put the bling in the personal aircraft of the Sultan of Brunei: dazzling designs in diamonds and gold, with other top-end touches.

Early in his career in the late 1990s, the Texas native, 45, was able to stretch the limits of his creativity with virtually no ceiling on the budget. His jet interiors included chinchilla bedding, gold-and-platinum-lined kitchen shelves, custome Baccarat cystal vases, deerhide leather seats and plush carpets that cost millions of dollars.

To continue reading the article, click here.