DesignworksUSA, the design consultancy and subsidiary of BMW Group, announced the start of an urban transit project in co-work with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the Bay Area’s regional transit provider.
Photo: BMW AG

Joining forces with BART, DesignworksUSA will create the ‘Fleet of the Future,’ a new generation of premium train cars that are to enter service by 2017.

BART has been operating train cars since 1973, now it owns the oldest fleet of train cars in the USA.

DesignworksUSA, a creative consultancy with almost 40-years history, was acquired by BMW Group in 1995. Its clients include Coca Cola, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, John Deere, HEAD, HP, Microsoft and many others.

DesignworksUSA’s work for the ‘Fleet of the Future’ project includes the train cars’ exterior, which will convey a style and shape with unique signature expression to the exterior passenger information system. The company will also create the main interior design features of the new train cars, and incorporate the controls in the design of the train operator’s cab.

“DesignworksUSA is invigorated to join BART in their continuing commitment to delivering a premium ridership experience,” says Laurenz Schaffer, President, BMW Group DesignworksUSA.  “We are passionate about creating innovative solutions for mobility in increasingly dense urban centers such as the Bay Area, and we are excited as our collaborative partnership with BART gets underway.”

DesignworksUSA’s big portfolio including premium design not only in the train category, but also in the aviation and automotive categories, was a key differentiator for BART to select the company for this project.

Several days ago BMW presented its first vehicle to enter the 2012 Olympics, a bicycle. The company’s Art Car Collection now is available online.