Interiors

Interview: Brian Balicki, head of design, Volvo Trucks North America​

By 2024-09-30T17:32:00

Volvo Trucks new VNL front side skirts

The interior of the new Volvo VNL truck highlights the crossover (and constrast) between commercial vehicle and passenger car design

Heavy-duty (HD) trucks do not tend to make frequent appearances on Car Design News for obvious reasons, but the latest work from Volvo Trucks North America highlights the parallels with both car exterior and (even more so) in interior design.

The team led by head of design Brian Balicki took it upon themselves to make the new VNL not only spacious, comfortable and efficient, but to do so with as much style as a big rig can offer. In this interview, Balicki shares the design process behind a Class 8 truck, the challenge of creating an interior that is both workplace and bedroom, and why interior lighting plays such a pivotal role for driver safety and well-being.  

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Car Design News: You say the new VNL presented a “blank sheet” opportunity for the design team. How so? And does that level of freedom almost present its own challenge? 

Brian Balicki: We were given the opportunity to redesign 90% of the vehicle! There were challenges using a ‘blank sheet’ but thankfully we had many knowledgeable stakeholders within our company. They provided critical prerequisites and technical input to apply to the development of the all-new VNL. Influences include the Greenhouse Gas regulations, our new electrical architecture plus feedback and input from drivers and customers.

CDN: Did you draw any inspiration from outside industries – hotels, airlines, restaurants – to help shape the interior?

BB: The…

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