Motor Trend introduced the Power List in 2005 to recognize the most influential people in the automotive industry. The people who made the vehicles we drive better, faster, safer; the people whose leadership made great cars and trucks possible; the people who disrupted the status quo.
Inevitably, perhaps, CEOs grabbed many of the top spots. But we wanted to recognize some of the many others who work in—and around—one of the world’s largest and most complex industries, an industry in which people, politics, and process combine with a mysterious alchemy to create products that largely sell on emotion.
So we’ve recalibrated our list. The top 10 on the Power List are now those who, in terms of their particular area of expertise, have had the most impact on the industry over the past 12 months. As you’d expect, we’ve included engineers and designers and marketers and product development specialists, but we’ve also included those whose work directly impacts the industry, even if they are not directly working in it, hence the Disruptor and Outsider categories.
And No. 1 on the list is Motor Trend’s Person of the Year, the individual whose impact and influence on the auto industry over the past 12 months has clearly exceeded that of his or her peers.
50. Guy Melville-Brown
Exterior Designer, Honda R&D
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Melville-Brown is one of the people responsible for the new exterior design of the revolutionary 2016 Honda Civic. The top-selling compact is one of Honda’s most defining vehicles, and with Melville-Brown’s work, it will remain so.
49. John Krafcik
CEO, Google’s Self-Driving Car Project
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Krafcik’s range, experience, and media savvy make him the perfect fit at Google. It needs someone with car sense and a passion for technology to move Google’s autonomous car from shuttling journalists around parking lots to transporting people on public roads. Krafcik, who has worked at Ford, Hyundai, and TrueCar, has the résumé to help Google build, manage, and sell those cars in the near future.
48. Tadge Juechter
Chief Engineer, Chevrolet Corvette
2015 Rank: 17
Juechter’s work speaks for itself. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is a supercharged madman that truly demonstrates what an Insane mode should feel like. The 650-hp/650-lb-ft of torque crushes most sports cars costing twice its price. The challenge for Juechter is to find more ways to stretch the Corvette brand and attract new buyers into the fold.
47. Jay Leno
Comedian, host, Car Enthusiast
2015 Rank: Unranked
Since retiring from more than 20 years in late night television, the former host of “The Tonight Show” has kept busy with his most enduring passion aside from telling jokes: collecting cars. In 2008, Leno turned his hobby into a YouTube show that amassed 1.4 million subscribers. Last October he took “Jay Leno’s Garage” to the cable channel CNBC, where it had the biggest debut in the network’s history: 916,000 viewers. Those numbers and Leno’s authentic love of cars should keep fans and advertisers tuned in.
46. Kenneth Feinberg
Attorney, Mediator
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Feinberg deals with catastrophic aftermaths. He has worked as the fund administrator for victims of 9/11, TARP, and now GM’s ignition switch debacle. GM expects to dole out almost $600 million to victims and another $900 million in fines. Feinberg will make sure that everything runs smoothly and quietly.
45. Russ Ruedisueli
Director of SRT and Motorsports Engineering
2015 Rank: Not ranked
The engineering mastermind behind the 707-hp Hellcats, Ruedisueli has pumped new life into FCA’s high-performance SRT sub-brand. The Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcats claimed the title of the two most powerful American production cars and have been flying out of dealerships. Dodge has sold every one built and hopes to continue that success next year.
44. Chris Urmson
Director, Google Self-Driving Car Program
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Urmson wants to eliminate the most dangerous part of every motor vehicle: the driver. His vision of the future includes a more productive, safer, and traffic-free world. Just watch his TED Talk, and see how his project could change the world.
43. Dave Leone
Chief Engineer Cadillac
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Leone was recently appointed to oversee all of Cadillac’s vehicle programs. He has established the brand as a true competitor to European luxury-performance vehicles with the V-Series Cadillacs, and soon the CT6 arrives, loaded with big promises. Leone must make sure it delivers on every one.
42. Barb Samardzich
Chief Operating Officer, Ford Europe
2015 Rank: 34
Samardzich remains in a awkward spot. She works in a money-losing European division that has still not shown much of a recovery, and there are few spots for her to advance to in America. However, that does not seem to slow Samardzich down. Her work with connectivity and alternative ownership models may allow her to create an entirely new position that would allow her to develop programs in the U.S. Don’t underestimate her, ever.
41. Jamal Hameedi
Ford, Global Performance Vehicle Chief Engineer
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Hameedi is the man responsible for the GT, Focus RS, and other SVT vehicles Ford is rolling out next year—vehicles whose performance will directly reflect Hameedi’s performance. Judging by the abilities of the Mustang GT350R, he’s doing just fine. In 2016, expect to see a lot of Hameedi’s work.
40. Ralph Gilles
FCA, Head of Design
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Every vehicle coming out of FCA will have Gilles’ approval—and likely a touch of his design philosophy. Gilles, who took the helm of global design in April, continues to carry a passion for all things mechanical and fast. He also is a member of FCA’s group executive council.
39. Adrian Lund
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety President
2015 Rank: 29
Cars will never be completely safe. But Lund will continue to push carmakers to make them safer. When IIHS added a small overlap frontal crash test, carmakers began engineering vehicles to perform well on it because more consumers will consider a vehicle that has earned a high mark from IIHS. Now, under Lund’s guidance, IIHS wants more cars to come with more active safety features. The institute was partly responsible for getting 10 automakers to agree to begin placing automatic emergency braking in all of their vehicles.
38. Luc Donckerwolke
Head of the Hyundai Motor Design Center, Prestige Design Division
2015 Rank: Not ranked
The 23-year VW Group veteran joins the legendary Peter Schreyer at Hyundai/Kia, cementing the Korean automaker’s potential to continue outpacing Japanese rivals in terms of consistent, high-quality design. During his tenure at VW, Donckerwolke helped create the Audi R8 Le Mans, Lamborghini Murcielago, and Bentley Speed 6 Concept. Although the cars were extreme, his design aesthetic is beautifully restrained. From the middle of 2016, Donckerwolke will lead the Prestige Design Division responsible for the design of the newly revealed Genesis brand of vehicles.
37. Franz von Holzhausen
Tesla, Senior Design Executive
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Tesla represents more than just green transportation. It’s also known for its style, which is futuristic and emblematic of modern design. That’s where von Holzhausen’s work continues to inspire the automotive world. His designs combine simplicity and progressive ideas. Now that the Model X has launched, his work on the Model 3, where he has more freedom, becomes that much more important.
36. Sheri Hickok
GM, Chief Engineer, Full-Size Trucks
2015 Rank: Not ranked
There is no task greater at GM. Hickok heads the engineering of the next-generation full-size pickups. She will manage the materials and platform and focus on reducing weight while adding capability. During the last makeover, GM dragged its feet and didn’t do enough. Hickok won’t make that mistake, and that means she will see her stock rise.
35. Herbert Diess
CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars
2015 Rank: 18
Diess will have one of the most important roles at VW in the coming year. As head of the brand now known around the world for having cheated on emissions tests, Diess will have to focus on repairing the damaged marque, sincerely apologizing to customers, and finding ways to mend VW’s fractured relationships with governments around the globe. It’s a monumental task, especially for someone who has not been at the helm for even a year.
34. Gina McCarthy
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
2015 Rank: 36
Embarrassed by VW cheating its way past the EPA tailpipe testing, McCarthy says the EPA will become much more diligent. Only heaven will be able to help any other carmaker that is found trying to game the system. Furthermore, new smog standards announced this fall to regulate ozone emissions could have a big impact on the auto industry, as it struggles to meet those regulations. An infusion of cash from GM and what will likely be billions more from VW might also help.
33. Shiro Nakamura
Nissan, Chief Creative Officer
2015 Rank: 39
Nakamura is willing to take design risks. His work includes the likes of the Cube, Juke, Maxima, and Titan XD. But with risk comes reward. The new Murano has seen sales jump 30 percent in the U.S., demonstrating that a sharp exterior and well-executed interior will draw new customers. In the coming years, Nakamura’s work on Infiniti will also determine whether that luxury brand can move forward or will wither away. If the new Q60 is any indication of Infiniti’s direction, it’s on track to challenge Lexus.
32. Ken Block
Hoonigan Racing, Professional Driver
2015 Rank: 47
Block’s driving abilities are insane. But his impact on popular culture is the reason he’s here. Whether in his Gymkhana 850-hp all-wheel-drive ’65 Ford Mustang or during Global Rally Cross, this drifter has found his home as a Ford spokesman and YouTube sensation. His videos garner tens of millions of views. He recently partnered with Ford to help create the Focus RS. All of his skills are on display in a Ford-produced documentary about the car and Block. More important, he connects with a young audience that carmakers around the globe have had a tough time reaching. Block makes that as easy as doing donuts at a donut shop.
31. Ed Welburn
GM, Vice President of Global Design
2015 Rank: 19
Welburn rarely makes bad choices. The new Camaro’s evolutionary design creates a more muscular-looking vehicle to match its newfound power. Those decisions can make or break a brand, and Welburn nearly always creates stunning vehicles. The next big test for this veteran design chief will be Cadillac’s new CT6 and how it is received.
30. Takuji Yamada
President Honda North America
2015 Rank: Not ranked
America remains one of Honda’s most important markets for sales and the company’s reputation. Honda dismissed Tetsuo Iwamura earlier this year, and Yamada takes his place. The new Civic should help Honda remain a small-car leader, and the early success of the HR-V has provided overall sales gains. But Yamada will need to quickly address the lackluster performance of the Fit, especially if Honda wants to prevent Nissan from overtaking it in total sales volume in the U.S.
29. Adrian van Hooydonk
BMW Group Chief Designer
2015 Rank: 28
Van Hooydonk, who oversees Mini, BMW, and Rolls-Royce design, has a stunning lineup of vehicles parked on his résumé. But most—whether it’s the latest generation Mini or the new 7 Series—are beginning to look very evolutionary in terms of design and execution. Exorcising the ghost of Chris Bangle, which clearly still haunts senior management in Munich and is (apart from the i3 and i8) stifling any hint of adventurous new design directions, is now van Hooydonk’s biggest challenge.
28. Tim Kuniskis
Head of Passenger Car Brands: Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, and Fiat
2015 Rank: Not Ranked
Riding hard on the back of Hellcat mania, the live-wire Kuniskis has guided Dodge to become FCA’s mainstream car brand in the U.S. He’s also deftly overseen the quiet reintegration of SRT and Viper back into the Dodge fold. Next year will be more challenging for him, as he’s just been given responsibility for Chrysler and Fiat. The once-proud Chrysler lineup is down to two sedans and a minivan, and then there’s the task of ensuring that the launch of the Fiat 124 Spider sports car doesn’t get lost amid the noise of Alfa Romeo’s comeback.
27. Walter de Silva
Volkswagen Group Adviser, Formerly Head of Volkswagen Group Design
2015 Rank: 22
In September, de Silva was named chairman of Italdesign Giugiaro, where he will oversee design and innovation for some of VW’s most important brands, including Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Ducati. De Silva already had some of those responsibilities as head of VW group design, a position he will also hold, but now he has even more influence. Editor’s Note: Earlier this month, de Silva retired but will maintain a relationship with the Volkswagen Group as an adviser.
26. Elon Musk
Tesla CEO
2015 Rank: 12
The new car smell has left Tesla, and Musk must find ways to get it back. Once the biggest disruptor in the automotive business, Musk has done less disrupting and more apologizing, perhaps feeling the weight of an unprofitable vehicle and financial constraints of building its new Gigafactory. The company was once miles ahead of everyone else with ideas, technology, and drivable electric vehicles. Now other carmakers are catching up.
25. Ian Callum
Jaguar Director of Design
2015 Rank: 38
Pick a Jaguar, any Jaguar. It’s stunning. It’s beautiful. And that means it has Callum’s fingerprints all over it. The XE, the F-Pace, and the XF all have a familial likeness that promises performance and luxury. Better yet, engineers have been able to match Callum’s design excellence with high-horsepower performance. Expect Callum’s work to continue to draw the biggest crowds at auto shows and more customers to the resurging brand.
24. Mike Manley
FCA Head of Jeep and Ram
2015 Rank: 35
Manley heads Jeep, the most successful brand at FCA, and in October was given responsibility of all trucks and SUVs, including Ram pickups. That means Manley directly oversees the two most successful brands at FCA, as well as development of all FCA vehicles in the Asia Pacific region. The Renegade is a proven success overseas and in North America, and Manley has proven himself in both locales, as well.
23. Gerry McGovern
Land Rover Chief Creative Officer
2015 Rank: 32
McGovern has played an important role in Land Rover’s revival. His beautifully tailored Range Rovers are now among the most sought-after luxury SUVs in America, generating resale values among the top of the class. His Land Rover Discovery Sport promises to do the same for the more mainstream Land Rover brand, as will the next-gen Discovery. McGovern takes design beyond drawings and vehicles. It is the lens he views life through that makes his work that much more meaningful.
22. Olivier François
Head of Fiat, Chief Marketing Officer
2015 Rank: Not ranked
The French-born François stretches the edges of marketing and brand meaning at Fiat-Chrysler and has personally overseen many of the company’s most memorable ad campaigns. Although there’s no way to confirm that François had anything to do with the Pope riding around America in a Fiat 500L and a modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, we wouldn’t be surprised to find out he did.
21. Johan de Nysschen
President, Cadillac
2015 Rank: 27
Much of what we’ve seen so far, from the hot new V cars to the move to New York City, was underway before he arrived, but the experienced and demanding de Nysschen is charging hard to further transform GM’s luxury brand. And that’s exactly what Mary Barra and Mark Reuss want him to do. He won’t have had much say in the new CT6, either, beyond crafting the new naming convention and the sales and marketing campaign, but he will have a big say in all future products, including the forthcoming S-Class fighter and rumored mid-engine supercar. De Nysschen’s biggest challenge will be maintaining his talented outsider status within the GM bureaucracy. Working out of NYC will help that.
20. Sergio Marchionne
FCA Chairman, CEO
2015 Rank: 3
A mad genius or just plain mad? Marchionne’s press to merge with GM was less about meaningful synergies than trying to secure the long-term survival of FCA, burdened with too many ill-defined brands and underperforming models. And so far even Wall Street seems to agree, though Ferrari’s IPO is pending and that alone could raise $1 billion for FCA. But Marchionne still needs Alfa Romeo to succeed in the U.S. if he expects to see profits grow, and he needs to figure out a fix for the beleaguered Chrysler brand, now down to just three models.
19. Dave Pericak
Director, Ford Performance
2015 Rank: Not ranked
As the Mustang’s chief engineer, Pericak helped build an iconic vehicle that just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Now he’s on a path to become an icon himself. Directing Ford Performance—which includes Ford’s SVT division, Team RS (European performance), and parts and accessories—will test his management abilities. Launching the Ford GT and the Focus RS in 2016 could make him an influential executive.
18. Matthias Müller
Volkswagen CEO
2015 Rank: 41
Müller may have the toughest job in the automotive world. Picked to replace disgraced CEO Martin Winterkorn after VW admitted 11 million diesel vehicles have cheated on emissions performance around the world for the past seven years, Müller must fix the mistake and begin to restore VW’s shattered reputation. It was easy to sell Porsches, the brand he headed prior to his new assignment. This job is going to be much tougher, but his early statements suggest he’s going to have the character and determination to drive big changes at Volkswagen.
17. Dan Ammann
GM President
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Few moneymen make the Power List, but Ammann is not like most. He has directly influenced GM on where to focus its energies and with what types of vehicles. He has pushed for more emphasis on Cadillac and suggested GM move out of Russia. In the end, the car business needs savvy businessmen, and Ammann is one of the savviest.
16. Raj Nair
Ford Motor Company Chief Technical Officer, Global Product Development
2015 Rank: 15
Behind every great design is an engineer who puts it together, and the unflappable Nair has helped create a stunning portfolio of vehicles at Ford. The Ford GT continues to leave audiences awestruck a year after its unveiling. Nair magnificently orchestrated Ford’s switch to aluminum-body pickups and continues to press for better performance in its racing vehicles. If the GT wins at Le Mans, Nair’s reputation will only improve.
15. Mark Fields
Ford Motor Company CEO
2015 Rank: 11
Steady as she goes. Having completed his first full year at the top of Ford, Fields has done an admirable job since stepping into Alan Mulally’s shoes. Mulally left a well-running machine, and Fields has resisted the temptation to move it in a different direction. The new Ford Performance division will enhance Ford’s racing image, and Fields’ push into more areas of technology will keep the Blue Oval at the forefront of telematics. The aluminum F-150 launched without problem and remains the best-selling pickup in America. In the coming years, we’ll see more of Fields’ influence on the company, but so far, so good.
14. Mark Reuss
GM Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing, and Supply Chain
2015 Rank: 8
Reuss is tenacious when it comes to product. His obsession with reducing weight means every future vehicle will undergo his scrutiny to cut mass. We’re already seeing the real-world results with the Chevy Volt and Malibu going on extreme diets. Reuss also keeps GM’s product portfolio fresh with an eye toward the future. The electric Chevy Bolt could reshape GM’s image, and the Cadillac CT6 will revolutionize the way GM manufactures vehicles. Reuss also is aggressive on developing both semi-autonomous and autonomous driving programs. Ultimately, carmakers are about product, and Reuss has positioned GM to have excellent product for nearly every kind of consumer.
13. Akio Toyoda
Toyota President, CEO
2015 Rank: 4
Toyota is not only likely to become the No. 1 automaker in 2015, but it is also likely to show a $22 billion operating profit for its fiscal year. In the U.S., Toyota has pressed Ford for the No. 2 automaker slot, and its raft of new vehicles, such as the refreshed Tacoma and Prius, will help. There remain some problems, though. What do they do with Scion in America and Lexus around the globe? Both brands have endured growing pains as they attempt to reinvent themselves for consumers. Although critics have taken Lexus to task, consumers have responded well to the brand’s more aggressive looks; U.S. sales climbed 12 percent this year.
12. Carlos Ghosn
Renault/Nissan Chairman, CEO
2015 Rank: 6
When you see headlines with Ghosn’s name it, they generally include words such as “not worried” or “unfazed.” Amid rollercoaster gas prices, increased competition, and a globe full of problems, Ghosn remains a rock. While others have waivered, Ghosn doubled down on Nissan’s electric car program, with the next-generation Leaf offering 107 miles of range. In the future, Ghosn wants to see that range increase to more than 250 miles. And as a rule of thumb, if Ghosn wants something, he gets it.
11. Mary Barra
GM CEO
2015 Rank: 2
Nearly two years into the job, Barra has finally reached a settlement for GM’s ignition switch case. The company has paid a $900 million fine and set aside another $600 million to compensate those who were hurt. Barra, unlike so many automotive leaders in the past, provided unprecedented cooperation with investigators, admitted fault, and apologized numerous times. She has publically stated that she does not want GM employees to forget this incident. Instead, she wants to remind employees of it and the corporate culture that helped create the problem in order to avoid ever doing it again. Barra’s voice has been sincere, contrite, and refreshing. Since she took the helm of GM, the carmaker has also produced some very strong new products.
10. The Future: Sergey Brin
Google Co-Founder
First it was Elon Musk and Tesla. Now it’s Brin and the Google Car. Silicon Valley is emerging as the new hothouse for advanced automotive development, and billionaire entrepreneurs such as Musk and Brin are at the forefront. Musk produced the first electric car with sex appeal, and Brin wants to produce the first practical autonomous car. He’s been personally involved with the project and sees autonomous cars as a potential boon to society in terms of safety and efficient use of resources. He’s realistic, too. He says the Google Car project is not about building perfect self-driving cars but simply cars that operate more safely than those with human drivers.
9. The Product Developer: Thomas Weber
Daimler AG Board Member, Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development
2015 Rank: 14
At the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes showed its all-electric Tesla fighter, and it will likely offer an electric crossover, too. Furthermore, Mercedes is about to revolutionize safety for the next generation of vehicles in much the same way Mercedes changed the world when it began installing airbags in the S-Class in 1981. The new E-Class will feature a raft of new safety features that will help keep drivers on the road and, should they veer off, will do nearly everything possible to keep them safe, including saving their hearing during a crash. Weber’s innovation and insight into the auto industry make him one of the most valuable people at Mercedes.
8. The Outsider: Mary Nichols
California Air Resources Board Chairwoman
2015 Rank: Not ranked
No board has as much power to regulate tailpipe emissions as CARB, the California Air Resources Board. Thirteen additional states have adopted CARB’s regulations. And what’s good for CARB is good for the world, many believe, as its unique regulating powers (beyond just cars) have become an example for the world on fighting climate change. Nichols is likely to become more powerful in the coming years.
7. The CEO: Dieter Zetsche
Daimler AG Chairman of the Board of Directors
2015 Rank: 7
Daimler rolls out great vehicle after great vehicle in the fast-growing and highly profitable luxury segment. Zetsche has led the charge for Mercedes-Benz, which has seen 15 percent growth globally and could grow more when the new E-Class arrives next year. And he has overseen the creation of the Mercedes-AMG and the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brands.
Furthermore, Zetsche has proven unafraid to use his position as a bully pulpit to highlight social wrongs, as he demonstrated at the Frankfurt Motor Show, interrupting his prepared speech to ask that Germany continue to accept Syrian immigrants fleeing their war-torn home.
6. The Brand Specialist: Håkan Samuelsson
CEO, Volvo Car Group
2015 Rank: 48
As Volvo continues to strive for 800,000 annual global sales, Samuelsson continues to deliver top-quality vehicles. The all-new XC90 crossover has outperformed Volvo’s sales expectations, receiving 65,000 preorders when Volvo projected it would sell 50,000 units total. Now that Volvo has broken ground on its South Carolina plant, the company should soon have the capacity to grow even more. Of course, if the S90 sedan is as good as the XC90, demand will certainly outweigh capacity, a position every CEO wants to be in.
5. The Performance Division: Tobias Moers
Mercedes-AMG Chief Executive
2015 Rank: 16
The Mercedes-AMG GT S speaks for itself. Its incredible 503-hp engine, superb-handling chassis, and rocket ship interior propelled it to claim Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car title in 2015. It’s just one of the many masterpieces Moers has overseen at Mercedes-AMG. And his influence continues to grow as carmakers search for ways to make smaller, more powerful, and more efficient engines by applying racing technology to mainstream vehicles.
4. The Engineer: Al Oppenheiser
Camaro Chief Engineer
2015 Rank: Not ranked
Oppenheiser never stops. His continual work in lightweighting and performance helped create the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. Oppenheiser’s attention to detail and need for speed means that every vehicle he works on is always his next greatest achievement.
3. The Designer: Peter Schreyer
Chief Design Officer, President of Kia
2015 Rank: 9
Having transformed Kia and now with overall responsibility for Hyundai, as well, Schreyer remains the most influential designer in the automotive world. Even beyond Hyundai and Kia vehicles, his strong lines and elegant exteriors are especially noted on many Asian carmakers’ wares, and he’s signaled the future direction for Hyundai with the unveiling of the Vision G Concept Coupe. Schreyer has built a strong design team for H