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Innovative Automotive Leaders Grasping the Future of Mobility

On January 8, 2025, MotorTrend Group, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, celebrated groundbreaking innovators within the automotive sector at the third annual Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Innovator Awards. This prestigious ceremony took place during CES 2025 in vibrant Las Vegas, in collaboration with QNX, renowned for its software solutions utilized by numerous automakers globally.

The SDV Innovator Awards were created to acknowledge the ongoing seismic shift in the automotive industry as it transitions from hardware-dominant designs to a robust software-driven landscape. MotorTrend's initiative aims to elevate individuals who lead this transformation, which redefines vehicle conception, manufacturing, operation, and user experience.

A panel of jurors comprised of members from MotorTrend’s editorial team rigorously evaluated nominees from an extensive pool—the largest in the award's history—comprising equity from 23 manufacturers and suppliers. Winners emerged across three categories: Pioneer, Leader, and Expert, highlighting their contributions to the evolving SDV sector.

Pioneer Award Winners

Among this year’s esteemed Pioneer Award recipients are individuals demonstrating remarkable advancements within the SDV sphere:

• - Milena Boytchef, a tech strategist at Amazon Web Services, earned accolades for her cutting-edge work in creating autonomous systems utilizing cloud training platforms and generative AI.
• - Andrej Karpathy, CEO of Eureka Labs, was recognized for his foundational contributions at Open AI, particularly his integral role in developing Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving system.
• - Dr. Stefan Poledna, CTO and Co-founder of TTTech Auto, made significant strides in the development of Audi's driver-assistance technology, enhancing safety and expandability in vehicle architecture.
• - Joe Xia, CEO of JIDU Auto, was appreciated for incorporating Baidu's Apollo platform into JIDU’s AI assistant, enhancing functionality and efficiency.
• - He Xiaopeng, Chairman of XPENG Motors, was honored for the innovations he introduced in centralized electronic architecture and AI integration to improve accessibility in driver assistance technologies.

Leader Award Winners

The Leader Award celebrated key figures advancing the automotive industry through impactful software solutions:

• - Anders Bell, Chief Engineering Technology Officer at Volvo Cars, was recognized for pioneering computing tech that underlies Volvo's first software-defined vehicle, the EX90.
• - Michael Goertz, VP of Vehicle Controls at Rivian, was honored for leading the development of their new zonal architecture requisite for Gen 2 R1 products.
• - Matt Jones, Executive Director of Technology Platforms at Ford, was acknowledged for his expansive contributions to Ford's digital software planning and implementation.
• - Jeffrey Shay, President of Valeo North America, made headlines for spearheading SDV technology and launching SDVerse, a software-services marketplace.
• - Qiyan Wang, VP of Digital Systems at NIO, was recognized for guiding SkyOS's next-gen architecture for software-defined vehicles.

Expert Award Winners

Last but not least, the Expert Award highlighted visionary minds in specific SDV disciplines:

• - Tolla Cherwenka from Amazon Web Services transformed BMW's operations prominent with generative AI and data-first strategies.
• - Wes Morrill, Tesla's Cybertruck Lead Engineer, innovated steer-by-wire technology among other advancements.
• - Eddy Reyes, Senior Manager at Rivian, impressed with his work on enhanced rendering for driving visualization while implementing user-friendly over-the-air updates.
• - Roberto Secchi, leading software platforms at Marelli, was acknowledged for his digital twin solution capable of quick application modifications.

MotorTrend's commitment to celebrating innovation in the automotive industry shines brightly, acknowledging that the journey toward software-defined vehicles is progressive and thrilling. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, these awards symbolize a momentous recognition of entrepreneurial spirit and technological advancements that promise to shape the future of mobility.

For more details about the SDV Innovator Awards and QNX’s role in the automotive industry, visit blackberry.qnx.com/sdvawards.

About MotorTrend Group

MotorTrend Group, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, stands as the foremost automotive media entity, dedicated to fueling people's passion for cars.

About Warner Bros. Discovery

An eminent global media and entertainment powerhouse, Warner Bros. Discovery boasts an expansive portfolio, captivating audiences around the world.

About BlackBerry and QNX

BlackBerry, through its division QNX, empowers transformative applications across automotive and other industries, emphasizing safety, security, and reliability.