(1907 – 1997)

Engineer, auto safety pioneer. The ‘Father of Passive Safety’.

He created the field of passive safety, acquiring more than 2,500 patents in many classifications including sleds, ships, airplanes and automobiles. He developed many vital safety innovations.

Invented: basic design of the VW Beetle (1925), collapsible steering column, non-deformable passenger cell.

Credited with: Safety belt.