Page 68 - Motor Trend (January 2020)
P. 68
Håkan Samuelsson Stefan Weckbach
CEO, Volvo Taycan Chief Engineer, Porsche
2019 Rank: 3 2019 Rank: Unranked
Design overhaul—check. Creation of Weckbach is the man behind what
a more premium brand in Polestar— might be the most significant,
check. Big moves to go electric— ambitious Porsche of all time: its
check. Now the CEO wants to merge first electric car that retains the
engine operations with China’s Geely brand’s ultra-high-performance
to create a stand-alone powertrain DNA. The Taycan has
supplier. Those cost cuts familial styling cues,
can then be used punches you out
to fund all these of corners like a 911 18
future plans. Turbo, and offers a
20 19 range expected to Mike Manley
exceed 225 miles.
CEO, FCA
Mike Flewitt Thomas Ulbrich 2019 Rank: 12
CEO, McLaren Member of the Board of Since his sudden ascension
2019 Rank: 20 Management for E-Mobility, to the top job, Manley has
been quietly implementing
Flewitt is making McLaren Volkswagen the five-year plan, dealing
synonymous with “supercar.” 2019 Rank: 18
with sales and diesel legal
His latest salvo: the magnificent VW’s commitment to electric vehicles messes, and remaining open
Senna, which can deliver a is not lip service. The automaker has
to mergers despite a failed
spiritual awakening to even the started showing some of the 33 models attempt with Renault. He’s
most experienced drivers. The planned on the Modular Electric also returning an idled Detroit
company continues to Drive platform. The plant to production to make
grow its product line, Zwickau, Germany, a three-row Jeep Grand
production, sales, plant and half the
Cherokee.
17 profits, and stature Chattanooga plant
will be converted
under Flewitt’s
steady hand. 16 to make electric
vehicles.
Li Shufu August Achleitner
Chairman of Zhejiang Geely, Vice President Product
Volvo Cars, and Lynk & Co. Line 911 and 718, Porsche
2019 Rank: 9 2019 Rank: Unranked
This auto czar is bringing his interests
Mr. 911 calls it a career, but
together as Volvo and Geely create only after his final work:
a new stand-alone company to
the 992 generation of the
develop next-generation combustion sports car he had overseen
engines and hybrid powertrains.
for 18 years. Achleitner lovingly
Volvo will focus on electric powertrains 13
that it can supply to Geely, Lynk & crafted the evolution of the
icon that defines the
Co., Lotus, Proton, and LEVC automaker, without J.B. Straubel
15 (London cabs). 14 losing its elegant lines Co-Founder and Senior
or performance.
Adviser, Tesla
Eui-Sun Chung 2019 Rank: Unranked
Joy Falotico The former chief technical
Chief Marketing Officer, Ford; Executive Vice Chairman, officer at Tesla has stepped
President, Lincoln Hyundai Motor Group back from day-to-day
2019 Rank: 38 2019 Rank: 14 authority but will continue to
Falotico has overseen the The heir apparent makes all the apply his genius toward core
tech—especially around
right moves, with vehicles marked
launch of two more hits for by strong design, performance, batteries, power electronics,
Lincoln—the compact Corsair packaging, and value. They and an expanding network
and three-row Aviator—while
source Hyundai steel and smartly of superchargers. He is
upgrading the Nautilus. The share in-house component sets. essential to Tesla’s drive to
brand now has a strong lineup
A joint venture with Aptiv will retain EV tech leadership.
that is restoring the storied
develop autonomous cars, an
Lincoln name. She is also area where Hyundai was
overseeing Ford’s falling behind.
12 restructuring of its 11
global marketing
and agencies.
One to Watch: Mate Rimac
Marketer: Alan Bethke
Senior Vice President of Founder, Rimac Automobili
Marketing, Subaru of America 2019 Rank: Unranked
The Croatian entrepreneur builds
2019 Rank: Unranked
electric hypercars—the $2 million
Bethke peddles love. C Two comes out next year—and
Responsible for Subaru
makes advanced high-density
marketing, Bethke is steward battery systems for other
of the highly successful
brands’ high-performance
campaign that has boosted
vehicles. He has partnered with
brand awareness and sales for Seat and received investment
a decade. The tag line, “Love. It’s 8
from Porsche and Hyundai.
what makes a Subaru a Subaru,”
made it to a skit on SNL Showman: Charles Gordon-Lennox
and a question on Duke of Richmond, founder of Goodwood Festival of Speed
10 Jeopardy!. Say Lord March, as he was previously known, is the founder of the
2019 Rank: Unranked
no more.
Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival,
9 which attract 150,000 enthusiasts a day. It’s a model that could
become the auto show of the future.
