Currently reading: Power List 100 2023 – Future-tech leaders
The tech world is having an even greater influence on the automotive world, and it is those at the top that are leading the charge

Technology companies are having an ever-greater influence on the automotive industry, as car makers all push towards full-electric line-ups and autonomous driving.

And it is those leading that tech charge that we celebrate in the Power List 100, sponsored by Keyloop.

These firms range from advanced industries such as smartphones, to gaming and robotics.

And car companies are increasingly shouting about their relationship with these high-tech companies, showing their importance as the industry moves from the analogue era to the digital age.

Power List 100 - Future-tech leaders

Amnon Shashua, CEO, Mobileye

Israeli billionaire Amnon Shashua is the driving force behind Mobileye – a tech firm dedicated to autonomous driving and driver assistance systems. Shashua founded Mobileye in 1999 and – following partnerships with BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen – is the industry’s most important player for ADAS technology.

Yu Kai, CEO, Horizon Robotics

Yu Kai is founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, a leading ADAS developer in its native China. After partnerships with GAC Motor, BYD and Chery, Kai has forged a relationship with VW and Audi, co-developing automated driving solutions for the whole Volkswagen Group. Under Kai’s leadership, Horizon Robotics is now worth around $5bn.

Andy Jassy, president, CEO, Amazon

Andy Jassy joined Amazon in 1997 as a marketing manager. In 2021, he was designated as the replacement for founder Jeff Bezos. Now, under Jassy, Amazon is making moves into the automotive industry with its own bespoke autonomous driving tech. From 2024, the firm will integrate its software into Stellantis models.

Peter Bosch, CEO, Cariad

After stints at the Volkswagen brand and Bentley, Peter Bosch became chief of the Volkswagen Group’s Cariad software division in May 2023. Bosch will play a huge role in the development of Volkswagen vehicles, leading software development for the firm’s next generation of EVs, moving up to level-four autonomous driving by the end of the decade.

‘Pony’ Ma Huateng, CEO, Tencent

Tencent founder ‘Pony’ Ma agreed a deal with Chinese car giant Geely last year to “digitalise the automotive product life cycle” and test autonomous drive systems and develop intelligent cockpits. The company’s technology has already featured in more than 120 cars from 40 different brands, including the likes of Nio, SAIC and BMW.

Cristiano Amon, CEO, Qualcomm

Cristiano Amon, who joined Qualcomm in 1995 as an engineer, became its CEO in 2021, following a stint as president. The chips giant weathered the pandemic storm and previewed its own electric car concept in January 2023 to showcase the potential of its next-generation tech, which included cloud data, face recognition, device configuration software and AI.

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Mark Liu, CEO, TSMC

Mark Liu has been in charge of chip giant TSMC for the past five years. In 2022, the Taiwanese company produced 15 million 12in wafer chips, earning revenues of $73.67bn. TSMC is still the world’s largest semiconductor company and it is cementing its position in the motoring industry by producing chips for intelligent ADAS, 5G connectivity and high-sensitivity lidar systems.

Young Liu, chairman, Hon Hai Technology Group

Young Liu is one of the most important people in not just motoring but the world at large as boss of its largest electronics manufacturer. Under Young Liu, the company has adopted a ‘3+3’ strategy focused on the three major sectors and technologies set to reshape society and electric vehicles are among them.

Tim Cook, CEO, Apple

Tim Cook has led the world’s most valuable company since 2011. Apple’s influence on the car industry is more important than you might think, with millions of drivers relying on its CarPlay interface every day. There’s more to come, too. If the rumours are true that the $2.7 trillion firm is developing its own electric car, Cook will be the man to lead it into its latest evolutionary period.

Jensen Huang, CEO, Nvidia

As CEO and founder of graphics giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang’s influence on the tech industry is clear. Now, he’s accelerating the firm’s influence in the automotive industry with self-driving car software. Nvidia is also investing in virtual showroom visualisation and has partnered BMW to build an “AI-enabled, simulated digital twin” of a BMW factory to improve logistics.

How are the 100 names in Autocar's Power List chosen?

The Power List ranks the world's 100 most influential automotive heads, based on the following criteria: global reach and influence, spending power, share of voice, technological influence, future growth potential and market capitalisation. 

The top 10 are ranked and the remaining 90 names on the list are grouped into categories, including executives from more traditional car makers to the rising powerhouses from China and the latest technology and mobility companies. 

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These names were chosen by the editors of Autocar Business, the B2B product from the publisher of Autocar, designed to bring industry readers even closer to the inner workings and key players of the global automotive industry.

The full list is now available to download here.

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