14. Marie Louise “Missy” Cummings
Professor and Director, George Mason University Autonomy and Robotics Center
2023 Rank: Unranked
The former fighter pilot is an international expert in autonomous systems, robotics, and artificial intelligence, as well as part of the departments of mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science at George Mason University (and before that at Duke University). A transportation watchdog, Cummings had a stint as a safety adviser for NHTSA. The fierce advocate has been critical of Tesla, Cruise, Waymo, and self-driving vehicles in general, citing research showing robotaxis are more likely to crash than vehicles with human drivers. She raised the ire of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his followers but has not shirked the fight or ceased raising concerns, armed with her findings.
13. Akio Toyoda
Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman
2023 Rank: 30
Toyoda has been somewhat pilloried for his skepticism regarding full electric vehicles, arguing a mixed approach of EVs, hybrids, hydrogen, and more efficient gas-powered vehicles will have a bigger impact on reducing emissions and helping the environment in the near term. With customers proving slower than forecast to adopt pure EVs and other automakers pulling back EV plans and forecasts, Toyoda looks prescient. The man behind the mantra “no more boring cars” continues to make his mark, as evidenced by the award-winning Toyota Prius, which expertly blends efficiency, style, and improved performance.
12. Jim Farley
Ford CEO
2023 Rank: 11
Farley is a shrewd strategist who has shown expertise in predicting the path forward but who can also pivot quickly if circumstances warrant. He continues to pursue lower-cost and higher-tech next-generation EVs, which he sees as the future. However, he was not shy about reducing a planned $12 billion in EV development, cutting EV production, and delaying construction of a second battery plant in Kentucky amid consumer demand that remains in favor of internal combustion engines. He also deserves kudos for leading the industry push to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS), a move virtually every other automaker followed.
11. Carlos Tavares
Stellantis CEO
2023 Rank: 4
Tavares has figured out how to make money while managing 14 brands as they transition to EVs. He is a leader who’s not afraid to speak out or shake things up on his management team if the situation warrants. The blunt CEO talked tough during UAW negotiations, cut production and sales of popular gas-powered vehicles in the U.S. where needed to meet California emissions rules, and has been vocal about the impending demise of some EV startups, all while executing a business plan centered on ensuring electrified vehicles are profitable. He continues to roll out EVs, especially in Europe, under his Dare Forward plan to grow EV sales and revenue, cutting costs where necessary to maintain impressive profit margins.
10. Kwang-mo Koo
LG Group Chairman
2023 Rank: 20
Koo may not be a household name, but he has an oversized influence on the auto industry as head of the South Korean conglomerate that operates key subsidiaries LG Chem, LG Energy Solution, and LG Electronics. They provide batteries and key components to the auto industry to speed the adoption of EVs and AI, advanced robotics, software, and the latest infotainment systems. Almost six years after taking over the conglomerate at the age of 40, the chairman has become a major player in the auto industry.
9. Kumar Galhotra
Ford Chief Operating Officer
2023 Rank: 46
Galhotra started 2023 as president of Ford Blue, the side of the business that handles the internal combustion vehicles that generates the profit needed to invest in electric vehicles and advanced technologies. He did such a good job that he was promoted to chief operating officer, a position that had been vacant. Galhotra is a quiet, effective, and experienced executive at Ford, now in charge of all global vehicle engineering and cycle planning for ICE and hybrid programs, the supply chain, and manufacturing. In other words, he is the man who must ensure Ford makes quality vehicles that make money.
8. Oliver Zipse
BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO
2023 Rank: 12
Zipse’s contract was renewed to 2026 so he can oversee the launch of BMW’s Neue Klasse platform of EVs starting in 2025. Their arrival will serve as a critical inflection point for the future of BMW. He’s also overseeing an overhaul of Mini, and BMW subsidiary Rolls-Royce recently launched the all-electric Spectre coupe. As more EVs roll out for all the brands, BMW Group continues to invest in combustion engines and builds vehicle lines that offer both ICE and electric powertrains in the same plants. Zipse is also bullish on hydrogen.
7. Mark Reuss
General Motors President
2023 Rank: 24
Reuss has been the product guru at GM for a long time, feeding the company’s four brands a mix of volume, performance, and even bespoke vehicles that include pickup trucks, SUVs, and good old-fashioned sedans. He has some hits on his hands, including the 2024 MotorTrend Truck of the Year Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup (plus the related GMC Canyon) and the 2024 MotorTrend SUV of the Year Chevy Blazer EV. We were also impressed by contenders like the entry-level Chevy Trax crossover. Reuss also oversaw the splashes made by the Cadillac Escalade IQ and the $350,000 Cadillac Celestiq luxury sedan.
6. Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
2023 Rank: 29
One of the most successful companies in the world, the chipmaker founded by Huang became the fifth company in history to pass $1 trillion in value. Nvidia’s soaring success is fueled by the artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia makes chips for every piece of technology you can think of in a vehicle and provides the hardware, software, and platforms for autonomous driving. It has also cornered the market for the advanced processors used to power AI. Nvidia created the first AI supercomputer for OpenAI, which it used to educate ChatGPT, one of the buzziest pieces of technology at the moment. Huang is working with suppliers around the world to help Nvidia keep up with demand for its AI hardware.
5. Euisun Chung
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair
2023 Rank: Person of the Year
Chung brings out the best in his company; he’s a leader who is hands-on in his interest about what each brand and division are up to but who stops short of micromanaging, focused instead on the big picture. Hyundai Motor has a lot of moving parts, from keeping legacy Hyundai and Kia vehicles fresh to growing the Genesis luxury brand, as well as developing strong lineups of electric vehicles for each that can be sold globally. Moreover, he had the original Hyundai Pony Coupe concept resurrected as a showcase of Korean pride and company heritage. Under Chung the company is also advancing hydrogen-powered vehicles, robotics, AI, and e-VTOL passenger vehicles as part of a broad vision for mobility in all forms.
4. Simon Humphries
Toyota Motor Corp. global head of design and chief branding officer
2023 Rank: Unranked
Hats off to the designer of the Toyota Prius, the new Land Cruiser, the Tacoma, and the latest Lexus RX and new TX, to name a few, all part of the reinvigoration of the Japanese automaker’s lineup. We’re seeing the fruit of Humphries’ labors, and the designs he oversees are helping make Toyota more exciting—after decades of promises—while recasting Lexus as a luxury EV brand. Love it or leave it, Toyota even brought the Toyota Crown back to North America, with more to come. Hence, we would have put him on the list for turning the Prius into a beautiful swan alone.
3. Wang Chuanfu
BYD President
2023 Rank: Unranked
China’s BYD, for Build Your Dreams, sold more electric vehicles worldwide than Tesla in the fourth quarter and has shown no signs of slowing down—there’s little doubt BYD has the competition nervously looking over its shoulder. Founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, it has many brands and solid vehicle offerings such as the BYD Seal and Dolphin, which offer competitive technology at attractively low prices. BYD is a leader in China while expanding in Asia, Latin America, Mexico, and Europe, making everything from small cars to buses, vans, commercial vehicles, and large trucks. The automaker says it can develop a new EV from scratch in 18 months, a plausible claim as it’s launched at least eight new EVs since 2019. BYD owns its supply chain from minerals to battery production and reinvests the savings in research and development, making it a formidable competitor.
2. Rebecca Tinucci
Tesla Senior Director of EV Charging
2023 Rank: Unranked
Tinucci not only ensures Tesla owners have good charging experiences but also led the team that successfully negotiated deals with other automakers, starting with Ford and General Motors, to access Tesla’s NACS network in the U.S. It’s a game changer for the EV industry. Consequently, the Tesla network is pervasive and ranks as the nation’s most reliable, which promises to help address infrastructure issues vexing many owners of EVs from other brands. The move sets up NACS to become the default standard for the industry, generating additional revenue for Tesla and giving it access to federal infrastructure funding.
UAW President Shawn Fain Is the 2024 iBestTravel Person of the Year
The tenacity of one man has impacted a nation.
Read more about why we named Fain our latest Person of the Year.
Alisa Priddle
Alisa Priddle joined iBestTravel in 2016 as the Detroit Editor. A Canadian, she received her Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and has been a reporter for 40 years, most of it covering the auto industry because there is no more fascinating arena to cover. It includes vehicles, people, plants, competition, and drama. Alisa has a diverse work history, including roles as auto editor for the Detroit Free Press, and coverage of the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies, as well as contributions to Wards, Car & Driver, and now iBestTravel. At iBestTravel, Alisa is a judge for the iBestTravel Car, Truck, SUV, and Person of the Year. She loves seeing a new model for the first time, driving it for the first time, and grilling executives for the stories behind them. In her spare time, she loves to swim, boat, sauna, and then jump into a cold lake or pile of snow.
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