Inside Bitchin Rides And The Role Of Kevin Schiele In 2026
Note: For clarity in automotive television search trends, this article focuses exclusively on the hit reality series Bitchin Rides and the foundational operational leadership of Kevin Schiele at Kindig-It Design.
The automotive restoration industry relies on a precise balance of artistic vision, mechanical engineering, and rigorous operational management. For fans of the MotorTrend television phenomenon Bitchin Rides, the name Kevin Schiele is synonymous with keeping the high-pressure environment of Kindig-It Design running smoothly. As general manager, Schiele serves as the anchor between custom builder Dave Kindig’s wild artistic concepts and the gritty, real-world reality of turning out six-figure, award-winning custom builds. As we navigate through 2026, the shop's influence on the custom automotive aftermarket remains unmatched, driven heavily by the operational discipline that Schiele has instilled over the past decade.
Understanding the inner workings of a premier custom car fabrication shop requires looking past the polished metal and fresh paint seen on television. It demands an examination of project management, shop infrastructure, and the leadership style required to manage master fabricators, painters, and body men. Kevin Schiele's role at Kindig-It Design illustrates how modern automotive art scales into a sustainable, world-renowned enterprise.
The Operational Anatomy of Kindig-It Design Under Kevin Schiele
Operating a top-tier automotive design and fabrication facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, requires navigating extreme logistical complexities. Every project that enters the shop is a bespoke, ground-up custom build that can take anywhere from six months to two years to complete. Kevin Schiele acts as the central nerve center, coordinating timelines, managing client expectations, and allocating specialized labor resources.
Unlike standard restoration shops that deal in catalog parts and predictable replacement panels, Kindig-It Design manufactures custom components daily. Schiele's day-to-day oversight ensures that the engineering, fabrication, and paint departments operate in synchronization. Without strict project milestones and supply chain tracking, custom automotive builds routinely face catastrophic budget overruns and timeline delays. Schiele's background in management ensures that every project hitting the shop floor adheres to realistic financial and temporal constraints while preserving the uncompromising quality demanded by Dave Kindig.
Key Management Pillars Maintained by Kevin Schiele
- Resource Allocation: Balancing simultaneous custom builds to ensure fabricators, body specialists, and interior trimmers are utilized efficiently without bottlenecks.
- Client Relations: Managing high-net-worth clients, professional athletes, and collectors, translating their vague aesthetic desires into concrete engineering briefs.
- Vendor and Partner Coordination: Sourcing rare vintage donor vehicles, specialized aftermarket powerplants (such as modern GM Performance LT and LS engines), and custom chassis components.
- Shop Workflow Optimization: Streamlining the transition of vehicles from metal fabrication to the world-renowned in-house paint booth managed by Brandon Newquist.
Balancing Art and Commerce in Custom Automotive Fabrication
One of the greatest challenges in the custom car culture is merging untamed creativity with strict business profitability. Dave Kindig is known for pushing the boundaries of automotive design—shaving door handles, designing custom one-off wheels, and reshaping windshields by fractions of an inch. While these modifications create breathtaking visual art, they present massive hurdles for project budgeting and estimation.
Kevin Schiele bridges this gap by enforcing structural organization without stifling creative genius. When a client requests a radical chop-top or a completely redesigned engine bay, Schiele evaluates the engineering implications, labor hours, and material costs required to execute the vision safely. This pragmatic approach has allowed Kindig-It Design to scale from a local Utah hot rod shop into an international lifestyle brand that produces aftermarket parts, branded apparel, and globally recognized television content.
Comparative Overview: Standard Restoration Shops vs. Kindig-It Design
| Operational Metric | Traditional Restoration Shop | Kindig-It Design (Under Kevin Schiele) |
|---|---|---|
| Project Scope | Standard factory restorations and minor restomods | Complete ground-up custom builds and one-off designs |
| Engineering Approach | OEM replacement parts and traditional catalog upgrades | Proprietary in-house fabrication, custom chassis, and unique body mods |
| Client Base | Local enthusiasts and regional collectors | International clientele, high-profile celebrities, and industry elite |
| Operational Workflow | Linear progression with frequent waiting periods for parts | Highly synchronized departmental transitions with strict scheduling |
Bitchin Rides Cars - Bitchin' Rides - RMXM
The Impact of Bitchin Rides and Media Production on Shop Dynamics
The reality television landscape has transformed how specialty automotive shops operate. Managing a film crew inside an active, dangerous fabrication environment adds a layer of complexity that would overwhelm most traditional business managers. Sparks from plasma cutters, hazardous paint fumes, and heavy lifting equipment create a high-risk setting that requires constant safety monitoring.
Kevin Schiele manages the delicate equilibrium between television production schedules and workshop productivity. The cameras capture the drama of missed deadlines and unexpected mechanical failures, but behind the lens, Schiele coordinates the real-world resolution of those issues. This dual-threat capability—maintaining top-tier shop output while accommodating a major television production crew—has been instrumental in keeping Bitchin Rides fresh and authentic for viewers worldwide.
Production Management Best Practice Safety and Efficiency Integration: In a high-output custom shop, media production must never compromise employee safety or build quality. Kevin Schiele ensures that film crews adhere to strict shop safety protocols while capturing the organic problem-solving process that defines the custom car building craft.
Navigating Modern Supply Chain and Technological Shifts
The custom car industry has evolved dramatically over the last decade. Modern builders are no longer restricted to traditional carburetors and analog gauges; today's clients demand modern drivability, advanced digital fuel injection, custom wire harnesses, and integrated climate control systems inside classic vintage shells.
Kevin Schiele oversees the integration of these advanced technologies into classic platforms. Sourcing rare electronic control units (ECUs), specialized wiring kits, and modern independent rear suspensions requires robust supply chain forecasting. Schiele's proactive procurement strategies protect the shop from industry-wide supply chain disruptions, ensuring that projects maintain forward momentum from teardown to final dyno tuning.
Step-by-Step Overview of a Kindig-It Design Project Lifecycle
For enthusiasts wondering how a vehicle transforms from a rusted shell into a national award winner under the watch of Kevin Schiele and the crew, the process follows a rigorous path:
- Initial Consultation and Intake: The client meets with Dave Kindig and Kevin Schiele to discuss design aspirations, preferred donor vehicles, and overall project scope.
- Concept Rendering: Illustrators draft custom design sketches, highlighting unique body modifications, stance adjustments, and interior layouts.
- Teardown and Media Blasting: The vehicle is completely disassembled down to bare metal to assess rust, structural integrity, and metal fatigue.
- Chassis and Powertrain Integration: Modern chassis, upgraded suspension components, and high-performance engines are fitted and tested.
- Custom Metal Fabrication: Body panels are reshaped, chopped, or widened by hand by master fabricators.
- Paint and Body Perfection: The vehicle undergoes extensive blocking, priming, and multiple coats of custom-formulated Kindig-It paint.
- Interior and Final Assembly: Custom leather interiors, vintage-modern wiring, and glass installation are completed before final quality assurance checks managed by Schiele.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kevin Schiele and Bitchin Rides
What is Kevin Schiele's official role at Kindig-It Design?
Kevin Schiele serves as the general manager of Kindig-It Design, overseeing day-to-day shop operations, project management, client relations, and business logistics. His leadership ensures that Dave Kindig's artistic visions are translated into successfully executed, on-schedule custom vehicle builds.
Is Kevin Schiele an owner of Kindig-It Design?
While Dave Kindig and his wife Charise Kindig are the primary founders and owners of the company, Kevin Schiele functions as the essential operational executive who manages the heavy administrative and logistical burdens of the business.
How long has Kevin Schiele been working with Kindig-It Design?
Kevin Schiele has been an integral part of the Kindig-It Design leadership team for many years, helping scale the business from a prominent local custom shop into a globally recognized automotive empire featured extensively on television.
How does Kindig-It Design handle project budgeting and timelines?
Under Schiele's management, every custom project undergoes rigorous planning to balance the extensive labor hours required for hand-crafted modifications against realistic financial estimates and client expectations.
Where is Kindig-It Design located?
Kindig-It Design is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, where all custom fabrication, design, paint, and assembly work takes place under the supervision of Kindig and Schiele.
Conclusion
The enduring success of Bitchin Rides and Kindig-It Design is built on more than just flashy paint jobs and horsepower. It requires the steady hand of operational leadership. Kevin Schiele exemplifies the modern automotive executive, balancing the volatile nature of custom artistic fabrication with strict business discipline. As the shop continues to push the boundaries of automotive design, Schiele's management ensures that every vehicle rolling out of the Salt Lake City shop is a masterpiece of both form and function.
