- Date: 2021 – 2022
- Developed by: Harman International
- Customers: BMW, Audi, Daimler, Volvo, Volkswagen, Aston Martin, and others
- Creators: a global team of engineers and subject matter experts
- Raúl’s contribution: Director of Engineering, amplifiers and speakers
- Market: Automotive / Tier 1 supplier
- Product category: Audio and multimedia systems
Between 2021 and 2022, Raúl Bartolomé directed Harman International’s European engineering group of subject matter experts for amplifiers and speakers. During this period, he and his team delivered premium loudspeaker solutions for leading OEMs such as BMW, Audi, Daimler, Volvo, Volkswagen, and Aston Martin — strengthening Harman’s position as the world leader in automotive audio.
Developing automotive loudspeakers is a demanding discipline that blends acoustics, mechanical design, and electronics. Unlike consumer audio products, car speakers must perform reliably in small, irregularly shaped enclosures and withstand heat, vibration, and humidity — all while delivering the highest standards of sound quality expected from premium brands.
A modern vehicle typically integrates dozens of loudspeakers across the cabin, from delicate tweeters to powerful subwoofers. Each component must work in harmony to create an immersive soundstage. Achieving this requires balancing key factors: acoustic pressure, frequency linearity, harmonic distortion, packaging constraints, durability, manufacturability, and the distinct sound identity of each automotive brand.
Raúl’s leadership focused on ensuring technical excellence and cross-functional collaboration. He aligned teams across acoustics, electronics, and manufacturing engineering, while also harmonizing processes across Harman’s European operations. His group supported programs for multiple OEMs simultaneously, demonstrating the scale and reliability expected of a Tier 1 supplier.
The speakers developed under Raúl’s direction were branded not only under Harman’s iconic labels — Harman/Kardon, JBL, Infinity — but also under prestigious licensed marques such as Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen. These collaborations ensured that each carmaker could deliver a sound experience consistent with its brand identity, from the precision of BMW to the luxury of Aston Martin.
This work represented a culmination of Raúl’s expertise in engineering leadership, combining his technical depth with his ability to manage complex OEM programs across Europe. It also laid the foundation for his later role leading cloud-based software product lines, showing his ability to guide innovation across both hardware and software domains.
For more information visit HARMAN international website, particularly https://car.harman.com/solutions/car-audio
