Ernst Fiala (automobile designer)

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Josef Herbert Ernst Fiala (born September 2, 1928 in Vienna ) is an Austrian automobile designer.

education

Ernst Fiala studied mechanical engineering at the Vienna University of Technology until 1954 . From 1952 to 1954 he worked as an assistant at the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Automotive Engineering during his studies. In 1954 he earned his doctorate in technical sciences with the work of cornering forces on rolling pneumatic tires .

Time at Daimler-Benz and at the TU Berlin

Fiala began his professional career in 1954 at Daimler-Benz in Sindelfingen . Until 1963 he worked there as a test and development engineer and most recently as head of the development department for car bodies. In 1963 he was appointed full professor at the Institute for Motor Vehicles at the Technical University of Berlin , where he was also entrusted with the management of the technical test center for motor vehicles until 1970. Because of the ability attributed to him to be able to explain complicated technical processes in an easily understandable way, he was appointed part-time to the directorate of the Hamburg Transport Academy.

Change to VW and development of the Golf

Due to student unrest, university reform and a new university law, Ernst Fiala left the TU Berlin in 1970 and moved to Volkswagenwerk AG in Wolfsburg. There he took over the central research department and in March 1972 provisional management of the research and development board department. In 1973 he was appointed member of the VW Board of Management and remained in this position until 1988. During his time, the VW Golf was introduced , which came onto the market in 1974, replaced the legendary VW Beetle and became one of the most successful models. In addition to expanding the vehicle range with Polo , Derby and Jetta and the VW commercial vehicle program ( VW LT ), he had to deal with the consequences of the first oil crisis in 1973/74, growing environmental awareness and increased safety requirements. He was involved in the development of the three-way catalytic converter , the reduction of air resistance , the diesel engine for mid-range cars and the steering to stabilize the direction of travel .

After reaching the age of 60, Fiala gave up his post to devote himself more intensively to scientific and journalistic work. As a consultant, he remained connected to VW, and as an honorary professor at the Vienna University of Technology, he taught the subject "Interrelationships between people and vehicles". To date, Ernst Fiala has published numerous specialist articles, he has been granted more than 100 patents , and he is a member of several supervisory boards .

Works

  • So Much Car Does Man Need (1990)
  • What comes after the car. On the natural history of mobility (1994)
  • Adventure electric car. A Controversial Technology in the Vacuum of Transport Policy (1994)
  • Growth Without Limits (2000)
  • Man and vehicle. Vehicle guidance and soft technology (2006)

Awards

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. List of all decorations awarded by the Federal President for services to the Republic of Austria from 1952 (PDF; 6.9 MB)