Suppliers are the somewhat forgotten backbone of the automotive industry - you can’t make a car without parts.
Over the past few years the importance of those at the top has become even more pronounced as the sector battles pressures created by the Covid pandemic and geopolitical crises.
It is those who we celebrate within the Power List 100, sponsored by Keyloop.
From the traditional German giants such as Bosch and Continental to the new global battery manufacturing leaders from China such as CATL, they wield an enormous influence on the car industry.
Power List 100 - Supplier chiefs
Seetarama (Swamy) Kotagiri, CEO, Magna International
Swamy Kotagiri heads up one of the industry’s largest manufacturers, Magna, which builds vehicle bodies, powertrains, seating systems and more. Beyond components, it is also responsible for making high-ticket cars such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra. Kotagiri has over 30 years of experience in the industry.
Yoonho Choi, CEO, Samsung SDI
Since becoming CEO of Samsung SDI in 2021, Yoonho Choi has established the firm as one of the most important battery makers. This year alone, it has announced crucial gigafactory joint ventures with General Motors and Stellantis. It’s also rumoured to be readying production of cylindrical cells in Hungary for BMW’s next-gen EVs.
Holger Klein, CEO, ZF Friedrichshafen
Holger Klein took the reins of the world’s third-largest automotive supplier last year, hailing changes introduced by newcomers such as Lucid, Nio and Tesla and the rate at which they have developed. ZF is now diversifying away from solely producing hardware, having inked a deal to supply Lotus with chassis-tuning software this year.
Sung Hwan Cho, CEO, Hyundai Mobis
Hyundai’s supply division aims to be a leader in autonomous driving tech, electrification and connected cars. It has unveiled several novel technologies in recent years, including ‘e-corner’ steering that allows an EV to drive sideways. Under its CEO, Mobis took $29bn in sales in 2022, making it the world’s sixth-largest automotive supplier.
Patrick Koller, CEO, Forvia
Patrick Koller ued his expertise in sustainable mobility, cockpit experiences and development in Asia to his advantage and successfully led the recovery and growth of Forvia when he joined in 2006. Now, the firm is fast accelerating plans to develop safe and sustainable mobility solutions for the future.
Stefan Hartung, CEO, Bosch
Seventeen years’ experience at Bosch helped lead Stefan Hartung to the top job at the start of 2022. Since then, he has combined a raft of experience with a passion for technology to move the brand from strength to strength. His challenge is to ensure Bosch can meet the challenges of its complex and dynamically changing world, particularly towards its goal of cutting 15% of its carbon emissions by 2030.
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