Karl Ludvigsen
Partner | Ludvigsen Partners
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UNITED KINGDOM
Draws compelling and fascinating lessons from a lifetime in the world car industry.
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Biography
Karl Ludvigsen has been so active in so many aspects of the world of cars that a leading German newspaper dubbed him "The Man with Two Lifetimes". He is a fluent and fascinating speaker on a wide range of topics who is often asked to keynote major events, chair conferences and address executives and enthusiasts. Karl is called upon often to comment on business trends by publications and broadcasters who appreciate his independent perspective.
Enthusiasts probably know Ludvigsen best as an author of books and articles on cars. At the precocious age of 22 he was the technical editor of Sports Cars Illustrated and three years later he was its editor, transforming it into Car and Driver. He is the author of more than four dozen books on cars. His histories of the Corvette, Porsche and the racing cars of Mercedes-Benz are considered the standard works on those subjects. Ludvigsen's acclaimed series on racing drivers now includes such immortals as Alberto Ascari, Dan Gurney, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bruce McLaren and the great Juan Manuel Fangio.
Industry Expertise (5)
Public Relations and Communications
Government Relations
Automotive
Military
Aerospace
Areas of Expertise (3)
Vital Need for Customer Care
Careers of Great Racing Drivers and Designers
Professional Life in the World of Cars
Accomplishments (1)
See LinkedIn profile (professional)
Education (1)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Pratt Institute: Mechanical Engineering; Industrial Design
Hired from Pratt straight into General Motors Stytling Staff to begin industry career.
Affiliations (6)
- Society of Automotive Engineers
- The Addison Club
- RaceLegends.com
- Guild of Motoring Writers
- Society of Authors
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Links (2)
Event Appearances (1)
Title
Too numerous to list. Ask for details. Europe and America
Sample Talks (1)
Battle for the Beetle
When World War II ended the Volkswagen factory, by far Europe's largest, was open for exploitation. Ludvigsen tells the fascinating story of the many parties who wanted to seize it, including Austrialians, the French, the Czechs, the Russians and the Ford Motor Company. As well he introduces the British who wanted to destroy it -- as a threat to their export trade -- and those who wanted to save it. He overturns many established legends in a richly illustrated talk.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
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