Ben Delphia of Magna Seating Systems Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
16 May 2000
Ben Delphia of Magna Seating Systems Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
LIVONIA, Mich., May 16 Ben Delphia, Director of Styling,
Design & Graphics at Magna Seating Systems, received the 2000 Lifetime
Achievement Award at the Automotive Interiors International Award dinner last
night at the Antheneum Suite Hotel, Detroit, Michigan.
This prestigious award recognizes Mr. Delphia's substantial and lasting
contributions toward the advancement of design in the automotive interiors
industry. Beginning with his design involvement at Chrysler Corporation
nearly 40 years ago, he continues to have a measurable impact as a leader in
the field.
A graduate of the Art Center College of Design, Ben Delphia has always had
a passion for automobiles. From a teenager building street rods in
California, to the muscle car cruising era of Woodward Avenue in its hey-day,
Ben has pursued the balance between innovation and style throughout his life.
Ben's automotive career started in 1962 as a Design Executive at Chrysler.
Gaining global experience, five of those years he was the Assistant Director
for Chrysler Europe Styling. Other achievements at Chrysler included managing
the design of two vehicles that were named Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1978
and 1980: the Omni/Horizon and the K-Car. The Caravan/Voyager, which
continues to be the leader in DaimlerChrysler's North American vehicle sales,
was introduced in 1984 and experienced the first major design revision in 1991
under Delphia's management. He was also responsible for the startup and
management of the Design Office's Advanced Interior Chrysler Development
Group, which concentrated on new product directions and related future
corporate technology goals.
In the early 1990's, Delphia left Chrysler and formed his own styling
studio specializing in interior styling services to OEM suppliers. Delphia
Technologies Corporation was able to not only design and illustrate an initial
concept, manufacture and market new products for the swimming and diving
industries, and offer complete modeling, tooling and manufacturing facilities,
but also was able to provide U.S. patent law and licensing expertise. One of
the most prominent products developed was the Div-Aire snorkel, which was one
of Ben's personally patented concepts. All in all, Ben holds 18 individual
patents and more than 30 corporate co-patents.
In 1995, Hawtal Whiting invited Ben to join their Transportation Styling
and Industrial Design Studio as Program Manager. While there, his efforts and
experience were devoted to establishing Hawtal Whiting, Inc. as a world-class
industry leader in Concept Design and Development.
In September 1996, Magna Interior Systems named Ben as Director - Styling,
Design, & Graphics. Since that time, Magna Seating Systems has become a major
supplier of seating systems and interior trim components to the automotive
industry. Mr. Delphia's leadership and commitment to automotive styling was
and continues to be, a significant factor in Magna's success.
"Ben's insight and experience will continue to be the basis of Magna
Seating Systems leadership in this field," commented Dick Banfield, President
of Magna Seating Systems.
Magna Seating Systems is a full seat systems provider with specialized
expertise in delivering feature-based functionality through mechanical
systems. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, Magna Seating Systems is a
global automotive supplier with more than 10,000 employees and operations
worldwide. Magna Seating Systems is a Magna go-to company.