---
title: "VR Development: Design Visualization for Automotive"
content_type: course
url: "https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive?language=en"
language: en
difficulty: beginner
duration_minutes: 360
supports_all_unity_versions: true
last_updated: "2026-08-04T14:20:52.000Z"
---

# VR Development: Design Visualization for Automotive

Turn concept into reality with this course on virtual reality (VR) for automotive manufacturing! This course equips you with a robust toolkit of skills for the Unity 3D engine. Learn how to build and use virtual reality during the automotive planning phase to evaluate designs and finishes in real-time, familiarize executives with the car, and communicate design and engineering decisions with clients and  stakeholders.

Throughout this course, you will learn how to build your own VR applications with Unity for immersive automotive design iteration and team collaboration.

## Contents

### [An Introduction to Unity](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/get-started-with-unity-an-intro-to-the-editor-object-transformation?language=en)

 This project is divided into two tutorials: a learning tutorial and a challenge tutorial.

- In the learning tutorial, you'll learn how to navigate around Unity's editor and maneuver in a 3D space.​​​​​​​
- In the challenge tutorial, you'll learn about GameObjects, the basic building blocks of a Unity project, and how to manipulate them to create a 3D scene.

### [Real-Time Environments](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/real-time-environments-1?language=en)

By the end of this project, you’ll be able to:

1. Distinguish between and use the three most common types of Unity lights: Directional Light, Spot Light, and Point Light
2. Illuminate a simple scene using multiple light types
3. Illuminate a car scene using multiple light types

- [Challenge — Illuminating Automotive Sites with Unity's Lighting System](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/real-time-environments-1/tutorial/challenge-illuminating-automotive-sites-with-unity-s-lighting-system-1?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/real-time-environments-1/tutorial/challenge-illuminating-automotive-sites-with-unity-s-lighting-system-1.md?language=en)) — Practice lighting a car with Unity’s Lighting system to gain a basic understanding of how to light a Scene.
- [Challenge — Adding Video and Audio in Your Scene](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/real-time-environments-1/tutorial/challenge-adding-video-and-audio-in-your-scene-3?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/real-time-environments-1/tutorial/challenge-adding-video-and-audio-in-your-scene-3.md?language=en)) — Use the Video Player component to repair a showroom display and apply the same workflow to other VR media elements.

### [The CAD Workflow and Animation](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2?language=en)

By the end of this project, you’ll be able to:

1. Create simple animations using animation clips
2. Add a rotation animation to a cube
3. Make a car rotate on a turntable

- [Challenge — Animating Objects](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-animating-objects-7?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-animating-objects-7.md?language=en)) — Animate a car rotating on a pedestal with Animation Clips so users can inspect the 3D model from every angle.
- [Import CAD Models with the PiXYZ Unity Plugin](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/import-cad-models-with-the-pixyz-unity-plugin?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/import-cad-models-with-the-pixyz-unity-plugin.md?language=en)) — Learn to import CAD models with the Pixyz Plugin and adjust them using Pixyz Studio.
- [Challenge — Importing CAD Models with the PiXYZ Unity Plugin](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-importing-cad-models-with-the-pixyz-unity-plugin?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-importing-cad-models-with-the-pixyz-unity-plugin.md?language=en)) — Use a web-streamed Unity Editor to learn the Pixyz Plugin workflow for importing CAD models, with tips that build on the Sandbox demo.
- [Challenge — Importing CAD Models Using PiXYZ Studio](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-importing-cad-models-using-pixyz-studio?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-importing-cad-models-using-pixyz-studio.md?language=en)) — Practice replacing a placeholder car by converting a .wire model in Pixyz Studio to FBX and updating it in Unity.
- [Challenge — Sequencing Animations with Timeline](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-sequencing-animations-with-timeline-3?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/the-cad-workflow-and-animation-2/tutorial/challenge-sequencing-animations-with-timeline-3.md?language=en)) — Animate a brake model in Unity to clearly show how each component moves and interacts.

### [VR Functionality](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2?language=en)

In this project, you will learn how to  manipulate different objects in the scene by a controller-button  interaction pattern (rotating, scaling, moving, and spawning objects with touchpad input, throughout the 3D space).

By the end of this project, you will be  able to set up this interaction pattern in any scene, and rotate, scale, move, and spawn any pre-selected objects of your choosing.

- [Object Interaction with Controller Input](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/object-interaction-with-controller-input-1?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/object-interaction-with-controller-input-1.md?language=en)) — Learn to build a controller-button interaction that lets users move, rotate, scale, and spawn selected objects in any Scene.
- [Challenge — VR Interaction](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/challenge-vr-interaction-1?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/challenge-vr-interaction-1.md?language=en)) — Practice using a Touchpad Interaction script by rotating a car model to support automotive design reviews.
- [Challenge — Interactive UI Menus](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/challenge-interactive-ui-menus-5?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/challenge-interactive-ui-menus-5.md?language=en)) — Create a Vive-interactable UI panel that controls scene environment type, lighting, object rotation, and materials.
- [Save and Load Runtime Scene Changes](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/module-save-and-load-runtime-scene-changes?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/vr-functionality-2/tutorial/module-save-and-load-runtime-scene-changes.md?language=en)) — Learn to add and use a Save and Load component in any iterative Unity design project.

### [Polish and Performance](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance?language=en)

By the end of this project, you will:

- Understand the differences between direct and indirect lighting and how each type affects your scene
- Recognize the differences among baked, real-time, and mixed lighting and the implications of each on runtime performance
- Understand how to use additional Unity lighting features such as Skyboxes, Reflection Probes, and Area Lights

- [Challenge — Optimizing with Light Baking and Reflections](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance/tutorial/challenge-optimizing-with-light-baking-and-reflections-3?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance/tutorial/challenge-optimizing-with-light-baking-and-reflections-3.md?language=en)) — Compare realtime and baked lighting, Skyboxes, and Reflection Probes to improve the realism of your Scene.
- [Leaving Audio Notes for Real-Time Feedback](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance/tutorial/leaving-audio-notes-for-real-time-feedback-1?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance/tutorial/leaving-audio-notes-for-real-time-feedback-1.md?language=en)) — Learn to integrate voice note recording and playback into your project with the Audio Notes component.
- [Challenge — Enhancing Visual Quality with Unity's Post-Processing Effects](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance/tutorial/challenge-enhancing-visual-quality-with-unity-s-post-processing-effects-4?language=en) ([md](https://learn.unity.com/course/design-visualization-for-automotive/unit/polish-and-performance/tutorial/challenge-enhancing-visual-quality-with-unity-s-post-processing-effects-4.md?language=en)) — Apply post-processing effects to enhance realism and visual quality in your Scene.