This is the 13th year that Motor Trend has produced its Power List to recognize the movers and shakers who made the biggest impact on the auto industry. 2017 was a year when we saw talk turn to action in an accelerated pursuit of electric and autonomous vehicles. But it did not stop the industry from introducing hypercars, supercars, and huge gobs of horsepower in general. Gasoline engines continue to improve, the word “diesel” is now said almost in a whisper, and new nameplates populate our roads.
The cars and technology these industry leaders helped make happen show the wild ride is just beginning. Our 50 top players include CEOs—but of equal importance are those who design, engineer, build, and market new cars, trucks, and SUVs. A growing population on our Power List comes from the tech world involved in creating vehicles that double as computers on wheels, have artificial intelligence, and can drive themselves. Some on the list deserve attention for setting rules, others for breaking them. We applaud those who stir the pot and make the industry expand its thinking.
Topping the list is the Person of the Year, the individual who made the biggest impact in 2017. But all 50 are people to watch in the 12 months ahead, and they will undoubtedly be joined by new cast members during this period of rapid change and innovation.
50. Johan de Nysschen
President of Cadillac
2017 Rank: 9
Amid continued reports of Cadillac in retreat, de Nysschen keeps fighting for his vision for the brand that he moved to New York three years ago and has been working to redefine ever since. Despite setbacks to an ambitious product plan and a decline in sales in the U.S., Cadillac continues to grow globally, largely helped by sales in China.
49. Jamal Hameedi
Ford Performance Chief Engineer
2017 Rank: Unranked
The Ford F-150 Raptor, Hameedi’s baby, is still fresh in showrooms, but the chief engineer for Ford Performance has already moved on to a new project: a Ford Ranger Raptor for Australia. (Please, can we have one too?) He has also been working on the Mustang GT500, which should break cover soon. Essentially, Hameedi gets to tinker with all things fun at Ford.
48. Matthias Müller
VW CEO
2017 Rank: 22
Despite the Dieselgate scandal, Müller has a contract to lead VW through 2020—moving the giant automaker beyond diesels to become a mass producer of electric vehicles. “Roadmap E” calls for 80 electric models by 2025 with an investment of $24 billion in greener technology by 2030. That’s a big move from a company that has paid out about $30 billion globally for the notorious emissions-test cheating scandal.
47. David Freiburger
co-host of Roadkill
2017 Rank: Unranked
There is a lot of love for Freiburger, co-host of Roadkill, a cool gearhead show he describes as hacking together sketchy cars for stupid fun. But Freiburger is so much more. After years as a print scribe, he currently hosts four shows: Roadkill and Engine Masters on Motor Trend OnDemand and the Motor Trend YouTube channel, as well as Roadkill Garage and the daily show Roadkill Extra on MTOD. He also has his hands on Hot Rod Garage and Put Up or Shut Up, is deep into events such as Roadkill Nights as a precursor to the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, and is all over social media, helping forge the path forward for automotive journalism.
46. Russ Ruedisueli
Director of SRT and Motorsports Engineering
2017 Rank: 44
An 840-hp muscle car is not just outrageous. It’s also educational. Engineering the Dodge Demon prompted Ruedisueli and his team to modify the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat’s 6.2-liter V-8 and supercharger. The transmission was upgraded to provide a transbrake to assist with drag-strip launches, and an innovative chilled intercooler system with two air-conditioning systems reduces heat. The result: Dodge and SRT remain cool.
45. Gill Pratt
CEO of Toyota Research Institute
2017 Rank: Unranked
Pratt heads a group that looks to bridge the gap between research and product development. Pratt is using his DARPA experience and Toyota’s $1 billion in funding to work in artificial intelligence and robotics research. The ultimate goal is creating a car that is incapable of causing a crash. The first project is building an autonomous Toyota by 2020.
44. Raj Nair
President, Ford North America
2017 Rank: 17
Nair finalized his product development chops by getting the Ford GT into production. Now he turns more to the business side with his appointment to lead operations in North America, where Ford makes the money it needs to continue product development. No pressure, Raj.
43. Luc Donckerwolke
Head of Hyundai Motor Design Center, Prestige Design Division
2017 Rank: 23
It’s hard to launch a new brand; it relies on outstanding product to break through the clutter. The job of capturing the world’s attention falls to Donckerwolke, who started with the top-end Genesis G90 sedan, challenged the compact luxury sedan segment with the G70, and has shown us what Genesis’ SUVs will look like with the GV80 concept.
42. Mary Gustanski
Delphi Vice President, Engineering and Program Management
2017 Rank: Unranked
An engineer by education and trade, Gustanksi oversees the mammoth supplier’s 20,000-strong team working on active-safety, autonomous, and self-driving technology. Delphi has partnered with Intel, Mobileye, Blackberry, and others to develop comprehensive technology that any automaker can use for its own self-driving cars.
41. Thomas Ingenlath
Volvo Chief Design Officer, Polestar CEO
2017 Rank: Unranked
As senior design director, Ingenlath left his styling stamp across the gorgeous and sophisticated Volvo lineup. He has since been named to the new position of chief design officer and tapped to head Volvo’s Polestar performance brand—reborn as an electric-vehicle skunkworks.
40. Al Oppenheiser
GM Chief Engineer, Chevrolet Camaro
2017 Rank: Unranked
If you have driven the Camaro ZL1 1LE, you will understand why Oppenheiser deserves to be on the Power List. Finishing fourth in Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car competition gainst a pack of six-figure supercars, it is the most track-capable street-legal car GM has ever sold (apologies to Corvette). The beauty is that engineering this exceptional trickles down into the rest of the lineup, making all Chevrolets better for it.
39. Alfonso Albaisa
Nissan Senior Vice President of Design
2017 Rank: Unranked
The Cuban-born American replaced the retired Shiro Nakamura, making him boss of Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun design as the automaker works to inject more excitement into the mainstream Nissans while continuing to hone Infiniti’s racier styling.
38. Patrick Little
Qualcomm General Manager, Automotive
2017 Rank: Unranked
If you love the infotainment system in your car, you can thank the telephony giant. Qualcomm has cornered the market in automotive connectivity and telematics, recently acquiring Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/GPS tech leader CSR and pushing to acquire NXP, the largest semiconductor/processor/microcontroller supplier. Now Qualcomm is setting its sights on the autonomous space.
37. Ralph Gilles
FCA Head of Design
2017 Rank: 39
Gilles has become adept at giving each of the FCA brands its own look and has sculpted some beautiful designs for the premium Italian brands, as well. Kudos to anyone who can work on a minivan, a Hellcat muscle car, a Wrangler pickup, and an Alfa Romeo Giulia and make them all look distinct and true to their heritage.
36. Logan Green
Lyft CEO
2017 Rank: Unranked
As ride-hailing competitor Uber imploded in scandals of its own making, Lyft has looked unstoppable. The $7.5 billion company already has GM as an investor and is talking to Google’s parent, Alphabet. Ford is now partnering with Lyft, as well, providing cars to the fleet with plans to eventually provide autonomous vehicles. With all this success, Green is looking to take the company public.
35. Thomas Doll
Subaru of America President
2017 Rank: 13
While sales of larger brands sputter, Subaru stays true to its roots and continues to grow sales, marketshare, and profits. The steady stream of new vehicles includes the fun-to-drive Crosstrek and an improved Impreza. Subaru used the Tokyo Motor Show to tease the next WRX. Doll is also expecting big things from the new Ascent three-row SUV coming next year.
34. Ian Callum
Jaguar Director of Design
2017 Rank: 19
Jaguar is expanding beyond its roots with SUVs and electric vehicles. Callum has ensured the Pace family is true to Jaguar DNA and distinct from the Land Rover products that share their platforms. And he continues to let his team experiment, which led to the Jaguar XE SV Project 8, an XE on steroids that made its debut in 2017.
33. Mike Manley
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Head of Jeep and Ram brands
2017 Rank: 30
Manley is the moneymaker as head of the Jeep and Ram brands. Recognizing how important trucks and SUVs are, FCA boss Sergio Marchionne took Asia-Pacific off Manley’s plate so he can focus on launching the new Wrangler, a Wrangler pickup, a new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and the next-generation Ram 1500 pickup. If he accomplishes a to-do list not for the faint of heart, Manley is a potential successor to Marchionne.
32. Carlos Tavares
Chairman of the Managing Board, PSA Peugeot Citroën
2017 Rank: Unranked
Vive la France! PSA Peugeot Citroën is making noise about returning to the U.S. market, first through a car-sharing service but eventually with cars and dealers. Tavares was the brains behind the purchase of Opel and Vauxhall from GM, giving PSA access to platforms that are already certified for the U.S. market. In creating Europe’s second-largest automaker, Tavares is helping sculpt the automotive landscape.
31. Andy Palmer
Aston Martin President and CEO
2017 Rank: 37
The brand that Bond popularized is well into a seven-year plan that is downright drool-worthy. Revenues are soaring, and the loss-plagued boutique brand is back in the black. Future products include a new Vantage, which Palmer describes as the most beautiful car yet. Aston is also working on a Vanquish, two Lagonda sedans, another mid-engine sports car after the Valkyrie hypercar, the DBX crossover, and the RapidE electric car. And for the lucky few: a Vulcan AMR track supercar.
30. Takahiro Hachigo
Honda Motor CEO
2017 Rank: Unranked
Honda is led by an engineer, and it shows in the vehicles the automaker is putting on the road. The Civic, CR-V, and Accord have all been brilliantly executed, and the Type R is engineering at its finest. Such excellence occurs most naturally when you have someone such as Hachigo at the helm to greenlight it. Honda is also accomplished when it comes to CVTs, fuel cells, and driver-assist safety technologies.
29. Donald Walker
Magna CEO
2017 Rank: 25
In addition to Magna’s role as a major Tier 1 supplier, its Magna Steyr assembly plant in Austria added another 3,000 employees to the 9,000 already in place and doubled capacity to 200,000 vehicles a year. As a contract manufacturer, Magna will be building some pretty hot vehicles, including the Jaguar E-Pace and I-Pace, BMW’s 5 Series and next-gen Z4, the Toyota Supra, and a much-anticipated update to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Magna is also looking at adding more assembly plants in Europe, China, and North America.
28. Mitsuo Hitomi
Mazda Managing Executive Officer and Senior Technical Fellow
2017 Rank: Unranked
For more than a decade, car companies have unsuccessfully tried to achieve the fuel efficiency of diesel engines via compression-igniting much cleaner-burning gasoline. Tiny Mazda’s Skyactiv-X engine will finally accomplish this mission with the 2019 Mazda3. Mastering the compression-ignited gasoline engine could be a seminal moment for powertrain technology.
27. Ola Källenius
Daimler Board of Management, Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development
2017 Rank: 14
Mercedes has invested heavily to stay on the tech forefront with advanced powertrains and assisted driving systems. As head of group research, Källenius oversees the efforts to lead the luxury pack and is heir apparent to the CEO office. Major achievements in 2017 include production of the Project One hypercar and the creation of the new EQ electric brand while also ensuring the passenger car lineup remains fresh and relevant.
26. Franz von Holzhausen
Tesla Motors Senior Design Executive
2017 Rank: 36
Musk’s design chief has deliberately kept his exterior designs in the mainstream so Teslas wouldn’t look like science projects (falcon doors on the Model X notwithstanding). But the interior of the Model 3 is revolutionary—clean and spare, save for the giant center touchscreen. Gutsy.
25. Mark Reuss
General Motors Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain
2017 Rank: 7
This is the man with GM’s product plan and who is charged with ensuring the lineup is timely, relevant, and desirable. He brought a swath of new crossovers to market at a time when consumers can’t get enough of them. Now he is working on the crucial full-size pickups while incorporating new materials and tech for autonomous and electric vehicles. And he walks the walk, putting aside his laptop to spend time behind the wheel to perfect the lineup.
24. Brian Krzanich
Intel CEO
2017 Rank: Unranked
With investments in companies and tech for autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, the CEO of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of computer chips is now a major player in the auto space. Intel bought Mobileye, an Israeli tech company that is a leader in vision-based driver assistance systems, for $15.3 billion. Now Intel is working with Waymo on self-driving cars and supplying chips to Tesla to power the Model 3’s giant touchscreen. Look for Intel to make greater inroads in the auto segment to come.
23. Sergio Marchionne
CEO Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ferrari
2017 Rank: 34
Marchionne has been less controversial this year, working on the succession plan for his pending retirement in 2019. He is also pursuing profit targets and debt reduction to put a shine on his legacy and make the automaker an attractive merger partner. He has been busy with recalls and investigations when he would rather be spending more time with Ferrari—where he will remain CEO until 2021. And he finally got Alfas on American roads.
22. Carlos Ghosn
Chairman Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, CEO of Renault
2017 Rank: 18
Can Carlos Ghosn actually retire? We doubt it. Although taking a step back from running Nissan as CEO, Renault-Nissan’s acquisition of Mitsubishi means Ghosn will apply his strategic leadership to the new automotive triad as chairman of all three automakers. He’ll also likely have his hand on the shoulder of his Nissan CEO successor, Hiroto Saikawa.
21. Li Shufu
Chairman of Zhejiang Geely and Volvo
2017 Rank: Unranked
The businessman who founded Geely bought Volvo from Ford in 2010, providing working capital and instructions to “liberate the tiger.” Under his leadership, the Chinese company continues to expand its holdings. It created Lynk & Co., an exciting new company that looks like it could succeed outside of China. Geely also owns London Taxi Company and just purchased a 51 percent controlling stake in Lotus Cars and 49.8 percent of Proton Holdings. There are also reports Geely is acquiring Terrafugia, a startup that aims to build flying cars.
20. Dieter Zetsche
Daimler Chairman and CEO
2017 Rank: 5
Under Zetsche, Daimler’s brands are peaking. The vehicles still offer the premium experience you expect from a Mercedes and have overtaken BMW in terms of dynamic handling. The automaker has updated its SUVs and has a new G-Wagen in the works, expanded AMG and added a hypercar, created the EQ electric car brand, and developed slick autonomous vehicle tech. He’s also working to make Smart profitable. Zetsche’s cool hand is ticking all the boxes.
19. John Krafcik
CEO of Waymo
2017 Rank: 46
Among the tech companies developing autonomous cars, Waymo (a division of Google/Alphabet) has evolved from testing pods to equipping Chrysler Pacifica minivans with self-driving technology. Krafcik leads a team that is developing software and hardware, including radar, lidar, and sensors, in-house. Waymo has every intention of being a leader in this space with affordable technology it wants to supply to all automakers.
18. Peter Schreyer
President and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group
2017 Rank: 12
Schreyer has had a busy year with a flurry of new Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles that must all be distinct and carry the proper brand DNA. The group has added new faces: the Hyundai Kona, Kia Stinger, and Genesis GV90 SUV concept, with more to come. The Korean brands continue to flourish in large part due to Schreyer’s fresh, intelligent design direction.
17. Ralf Speth
Jaguar Land Rover CEO
2017 Rank: Unranked
Jaguar Land Rover is flourishing. Both brands have greatly expanded their lineups of both cars and SUVs, and both have even managed to mix up the body styles between them while maintaining distinct brand DNA. Under Speth, JLR has introduced stunning new products with new engines and even announced the introduction of an all-electric support race series for Formula E. Under the Tata umbrella, JLR is returning to form.
16. Pam Fletcher
General Motors Vice President, Global Electric Vehicle Programs
2017 Rank: Unranked
Fletcher leads the teams that invent, engineer, and produce GM’s electrified and autonomous vehicles—meaning Fletcher has the keys to GM’s future and must execute the vision of CEO Mary Barra. Developing the new Volt and Bolt were warm-ups. Fletcher’s hands are also all over Super Cruise and other advanced technologies where GM has quietly taken leadership. She must now launch 20 new electric vehicles by 2023.
15. Joe Hinrichs
Ford Executive Vice President, and President of Global Operations
2017 Rank: Unranked
Under new Ford CEO Jim Hackett, Hinrichs was promoted to president of global operations—overseeing product development, purchasing, quality, manufacturing, labor, environmental, and safety engineering. The move comes after running North America, Ford’s profit engine, and building up operations in China. Success clings to Hinrichs. Like Farley, he is auditioning for the CEO position in the future.
14. Jim Farley
Ford Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets
2017 Rank: 16
Farley shepherded the turnaround of Ford of Europe and was promoted under new CEO Jim Hackett to a position where he will oversee all business units as well as global marketing and sales, Lincoln Motor Co., and the strategy and business model for Ford’s electrified and autonomous vehicles. Pulling that all off could be a path to the CEO suite.
13. Akio Toyoda
Toyota CEO and president
2017 Rank: 20
It’s easy to focus on the redesigned Camry. But we’re more excited about Gazoo Racing, which will bring aftermarket go-fast products to Toyota dealerships around the world. Akio’s youthful leadership also has inspired the Lexus LC coupe and upcoming Supra. He had the courage to kill Scion, having inculcated its lessons.
12. Euisun Chung
Vice Chairman Hyundai Motor Co.
2017 Rank: Unranked
The heir apparent to helm the Hyundai Group chaebol founded by his grandfather, the 47-year-old Chung already is running Kia Motors, as well as overseeing the launch of the Genesis luxury car brand and the N performance brand. The American-educated Chung seems set to succeed his 79-year-old father, Mongkoo Chung, as South Korea’s top car executive. And the automaker shows no signs of slowing down.
11. Tobias Moers
CEO and chairman of the board of management for Mercedes-AMG
2017 Rank: 2
2017 was the 50th anniversary of AMG, and under Moers the performance brand has never been stronger. It has a huge portfolio bookended by Project One, the street-legal hypercar with a Formula 1 powertrain at the high end and entry-level AMG “43” models, including a growing number of SUVs. AMG will produce 40 individual body styles by the end of the decade. Volume and profits continue to grow, and the innovation from AMG continues to infuse its dynamism into all Mercedes products.
10. The Outsider: Alejandro Agag
CEO of Formula E Holdings
2017 Rank: Unranked
The Spanish businessman moved early to acquire the Formula 1 TV rights for Spain, and today he is in charge of the Formula E Championship, which had its inaugural season in 2014. As the CEO of Formula E Holdings, he oversees races for the all-electric series as it expands its global footprint. With the growth of EVs and more automakers joining in, Formula E is here to stay and is a powerful way to promote the technology.
9. The Performance Guru: Dave Pericak
Engineering director, unibody vehicles
2017 Rank: 21
This ranking honors Pericak’s work in getting street-legal versions of the Ford GT on the road, punctuating a journey that included the return to—and win at—the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford’s growing performance lineup will include 12 vehicles by 2020, and we can’t wait to see them. Now, Ford is asking for Pericak to lend his skills to the engineering, interiors, and exteriors of all Ford cars globally.
8. The CEO: Häkan Samuelsson
CEO of Volvo Car Group
2017 Rank: 15
The XC90 was Motor Trend’s 2016 SUV of the Year, and it has been followed up by the equally impressive S90, V90, XC60, and XC40. If those weren’t attention-getting enough, Samuelsson announced that all Volvo vehicles sold starting in 2019 will be hybrid gas-electric or pure-electric vehicles. Volvo’s performance arm, Polestar, is now a standalone brand within the Volvo Group and dedicated to electric performance vehicles. Volvo is also building a factory in South Carolina, which will be ready to build the S60 and XC90 this fall. Samuelsson shows what mobilizing your DNA and resources can do.
7. The Futurist: Jensen Huang
Founder and President of Nvidia
2017 Rank: Unranked
The Taiwan-born, Stanford-educated Huang founded the graphics-processor company Nvidia in 1993 to give the gaming industry crisper graphics. Then he took the deep learning capability of his GPU (graphics processing unit or programmable chip) to steer Nvidia into artificial intelligence. His processors are the brains of self-driving cars, computers, and robots, attracting customers from Tesla to Volkswagen and Toyota. Personal net worth: $4.4 billion.
6. The Marketer: Tim Kuniskis
FCA North America Head of Passenger Car Brands: Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, and Fiat
2017 Rank: 28
Kuniskis grabbed the auto world’s attention with the 840-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, which launches so hard it does wheelies. He led marketing coups and reinvigorated sales with these low-volume versions of dated platforms—teasing out Demon details for weeks to create buzz and partnering with Roadkill to promote drag racing and the Dodge brand.
5. The Designer: Gerry McGovern
Land Rover Chief Creative Officer
2017 Rank: 32
Sure, SUVs are hot, but McGovern shows they don’t have to be cookie-cutter designs. The Velar, which shares bones (but no body panels) with the Jaguar F-Pace, has a stunning architectural look, dramatic proportions, and an optional wool-blend interior. It is the icing on the cake—McGovern helped his team modernize the lineup by reinventing old favorites such as the Discovery and the much-anticipated Defender family.
4. The Engineer: Roberto Fedeli
Head of Product Development, Alfa Romeo and Maserati
2017 Rank: Unranked
The two iconic Italian brands have been rejuvenated with the sexy and dynamic Alfa Romeo Giulia (our 2018 COTY) and the addition of a pair of mold-breaking SUVs in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Maserati Levante. Fedeli and his team have engineered vehicles that reintroduce the world to great nameplates, giving them the power to stand out from the crowd—and leave their competition in the dust.
3. The Product Developer: Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
Honda R&D Chief
2017 Rank: Unranked
From the elegant simplicity of the Civic redesign to the unstoppable excellence of the CR-V (Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year) to the exquisite refinement of the Accord, Honda has its mojo back with grand slams of its three top-selling vehicles. Don’t even get us started about the white-hot Civic Type R, which is every Fast and Furious fan’s fantasy.
2. The Disrupter: Elon Musk
CEO of Tesla
2017 Rank: Motor Trend Person of the Year
Defying skeptics, Musk launched early models of the mainstream $40,000–$60,000 Model 3 compact electric sedan. He also opened Tesla’s hulking Gigafactory to produce 35 GWh/year of lithium-ion battery cells—as much as the rest of the world’s battery production combined, and is working to help rebuild the power infrastructure of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Looking ahead, 2018 will be a make-or-break year for Tesla as it goes from building 100,000 electric vehicles a year to five times that amount while attempting to introduce a better way to manufacture cars.
1. Person of the Year: Mary Barra
Chairman and CEO of General Motors
2017 Rank: 11
Barra is quietly and efficiently executing GM’s plans to expand into electric vehicles with the remarkable Bolt and at least 20 new EVs by 2023, ride-hailing with partners such as Lyft and the creation of its own car-sharing service, Maven, and autonomous vehicles with Super Cruise and a test fleet of Bolts running around San Francisco. She continues to mind what’s popular on the shelves, as well. Most of the crossovers have been redone, and new pickups are in the works. General Motors has shown it knows how to do performance with the powerful Camaro ZL1 1LE, and a mid-engine Corvette is in development. The company has gone from bankruptcy to record net income in one of the most successful business turnarounds in the modern age. Barra has overseen the financial restructuring and continues to make the hard decisions, such as selling underperforming Opel-Vauxhall and reducing production when needed to avoid relying on heavy incentives to move a glut of product. She has also led the cultural transformation needed after GM’s ignition switch recall revealed huge cracks in the operation, with a renewed emphasis on quality. The automaker is leaner and more focused while making savvy acquisitions to position itself as a leader in the era to come. In short, Barra gets it, and GM is the stronger for it. At press time, its stock price was at an all-time high.
The post The 2018 Power List – and the Person of the Year Is… appeared first on Motor Trend.
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