Point B

Point B welcomes, Najib El Ajjani, ISO 26262 functional safety expert and Head of Safety and Cybersecurity at Cubonic GmbH, to discuss road safety and the role autonomous vehicles will play in improving it. Take a drive with us as Najib outlines challenges automakers have faced, particularly in the EV and AV sectors, why EVs are better designed to support autonomous vehicle operations, and how to cover all levels of safety through testing and certification, OEM responsibility, and thinking ahead of industry standards. Don’t miss out on all this and more in this exciting episode of Point B! Najib is the head of Safety and Cybersecurity at Cubonic GmbH, a startup based in Cologne, Germany with a mission to create the first integrated eLCV (electric Light Commercial Vehicle) enabling autonomous driving and connected ecosystems. For the last 12 years, Najib has shaped his career working for automotive international OEMs and Tier1 suppliers. He started his mission within functional safety prior to the publication of the first safety standard release ISO 26262 in 2011. Eventually, he participated in the automotive industry’s preparation for the adoption of the new upcoming safety standard. Throughout his career, he worked on challenging projects and advanced technologies creating safety concepts for cutting edge HW technologies and advanced SW platforms. Najib has been actively contributing to the mobility transformation from its first applications of emission reduction solutions, e.g., stop and start, engine management systems, and post-treatment active regeneration for diesel and gasoline engines. Ultimately, accompanying the vehicle electrification from hybridization to full electrification. During his career, Najib has always been passionate about actively contributing to shaping safe, secure, sustainable, and accessible mobility. During this path, he actively implemented multiple organizational changes to reach state-of-the-art safety compliance and organization awareness. This all, while working closely with board members and engineering teams. He also took part in the ISO technical committee working group for Automotive Cybersecurity which is responsible for the ISO/SAE 21434 Cybersecurity Engineering standard definition. Najib holds a B.A. in Electrical Engineering and an M.A. in Quality and Dependability Engineering from Polytech Engineering School in France.

In this groundbreaking episode of Point B, Shawn Turner, Senior Research Engineer at Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), sheds light on the innovative use of connected vehicle data, machine learning, and AI in the realm of road safety. Delving into the intricacies of data collection and analysis, Shawn outlines the challenges in handling massive datasets, various use cases of connected vehicle data, and how data is leveraged to enhance road safety. He also talks about the role of V2X and V2I technologies and the importance of ensuring data privacy and protection in this rapidly evolving field. All this and more in this episode of Point B! Shawn Turner is a Senior Research Engineer at Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), where he has conducted and managed applied research for 32 years. Shawn is a nationally recognized expert with practical experience in multimodal travel data collection and analysis, performance measures and monitoring, and mobility analysis. In short, he is a data nerd. Shawn works with the public and private sectors to advance the use of the best available and high-quality data in transportation.

In this episode, Alexander Rosen, Co-founder of DeepDrive, sits down with us to explore innovations in the Tier 1 automotive sector. From extending EV battery range to revolutionizing powertrain technology and intelligent modules that amalgamate numerous functions into a singular unit, we discuss how these innovations are not only disrupting the Tier 1 sector but enabling automakers by significantly reducing total cost of ownership, enhancing safety, and setting new standards in serviceability. As a co-founder of DeepDrive with vast research experience in wheel hub motors, fault-tolerant electric machines, and manufacturing technologies, Alexander played a pivotal role at Fraunhofer Institute before contributing to Bosch as a Senior Expert in Electrical Machines.

Special guest Kim Mathers, VP of Product Marketing & Strategy at REE Automotive, joins Point B for an in-depth discussion on unlocking new possibilities for the EV commercial market. What innovative technologies are fundamentally changing the function of fleet vehicles? How can OEMs and fleet managers get increased flexibility in vehicle design and enhanced performance? Most importantly, how is REE’s future-proof tech decreasing the Total Cost of Ownership and increasing the Total Benefit of Ownership? All this and more in this episode of Point B! Kim Mathers is the highly accomplished VP of Product Marketing and Strategy at REE Automotive with over 20 years of global experience in developing and innovating products, road mapping, and lifecycle management. With a proven track record of driving product transformation through strategic business planning and leveraging market and consumer insights, Kim has consistently enabled profitable growth. Throughout her various executive roles in organizations such as Mopar, Maserati North America, and Chrysler Group LLC, she has established herself as a change agent known for her collaborative approach. Kim holds an MBA from the University of Windsor and a BASc in Materials Engineering from Queen’s University.

In this episode of Point B, we are joined by special guest Ali Vezvaei, Chairman of Next.e.GO Mobile, to discuss the changes taking place in urban mobility. How can lean manufacturing be improved and leveraged to create more sustainable products? What is Next.e.GO Mobile doing to create a unique experience? And what disruptive approaches and technologies are being leveraged to tackle the challenges associated with urban mobility? Ali Vezvaei has more than 20 years of experience in executive, board, and operational management functions, including in the areas of technology and energy tech as well as global investments and M&A. He is currently the CEO of ND Group B.V., an international private equity and portfolio holding company based in the Netherlands with a presence or footprint around the globe, as well as the chairman of the administrative board of German independent electric car producer Next.e.GO Mobile SE, chairman of the supervisory board of a Swiss-based lithium asset, Arcore Ltd. and President and member of the management board of Euromax Resources, a listed company on TSX. Previously, Mr. Vezvaei had held the position of Executive President & CEO of Bilfinger SE in the Middle East, where he was in charge of group companies and their operations across the region. Prior to that, he assumed the responsibility as the President of Linde’s Engineering division across the MENA region while serving as a member of the board of its affiliated companies in the region. Prior to joining the Linde Group, Mr. Vezvaei worked for more than a decade at Siemens, where he served as the Global Senior Vice President of Siemens Oil & Gas after he had served as the Division Cluster CEO of the firm’s Oil and gas division in the Middle East. He served previously as Siemens Oil & Gas Division’s Global Vice President for Strategy and Mergers and acquisitions and has assumed several other senior management positions during his tenure with Siemens. Mr. Vezvaei accomplished his Executive Education at both Harvard Business School as well as the University of Oxford - Saïd Business School. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Point B welcomes special guest John Correia, Managing Director at Connected Strategy Advisors, on a deep dive into automotive connectivity. How have OEMs leveraged connectivity and data in the past? How can they utilize connectivity to change and improve the customer experience? And what’s next in the realm of predictive analytics and the software-defined vehicle? All is revealed in this episode of Point B. John Correia has over 30 years of experience leading technical development across a number of cutting-edge automotive technologies – most notably infotainment, telematics, and other forms of connectivity. John is currently working with Connected Strategy Advisors as Managing Technical Director. He is focused on helping a variety of companies more fully exploit the rich data and analytics that connected devices and machines of all varieties can provide. Previously, John held a number of leadership positions within the connectivity and infotainment areas GM/OnStar and Ford exposing him to a diverse variety of connected technologies, business models, and lessons learned. At Ford, John was an advisor for several years and then joined Ford as Chief Engineer of the Advanced Product Engineering team within Ford’s Enterprise Connectivity group, transitioning to Director of Product Management for many of their Digital Connected Platforms. During this time, John was involved in V2X, ADAS, OTA, Autonomous, and SW Defined Vehicle initiatives. During John’s 15 years at GM/OnStar, he was Director of their advanced development, innovation lab, OTA activities, and all of their mobile and embedded infotainment applications. Before that, he led the technical development for several generations of OnStar systems and managed the team of experts focused on strategic technologies such as Wireless/RF, Positioning, Voice Recognition, Security, Consumer Device Connectivity (BT, WiFi, NFC), Satellite Radio, and Vehicle Interface. During this time, he was instrumental in leading GM’s early efforts to exploit vehicle data to provide more engaging customer relationships, improve product quality, and enhance overall customer satisfaction. His achievements include over 17 patents, 2 Boss Kettering Innovation awards, and several chairman and CEO-level recognition awards. Prior to GM, John worked for Ford and Visteon, designing and packaging audio and cellular systems. In addition to managing some of the Ford/Lincoln RESCU activities, he helped establish many of the early cellular and satellite systems. John is an Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate from the University of Michigan and has an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Special guest Matt Harden, AVP Business Development at AT&T, takes us on a drive down 5G lane. How is 5G enabling new vehicle functionalities and supporting mission-critical connected vehicle functions? What challenges are networks facing to support the shift to the software defined vehicle? And what does the future have in store for 5G and automotive? Matt Harden, AVP Business Development, is responsible for AT&T Connected Solution’s Connected Car team. His team is responsible for managing each of AT&T’s OEM relationships from RFx, to contracting, to deploying, and supporting after launch. Matt joined AT&T as part of the Leadership Development Program in 2008. Since then, Matt has held positions in Network Operations, New Product Deployment, Business Solutions, and IoT Product Development. Matt serves on the board of two different 501c3 organizations, Hackin’ for Harden and the Navy Football Brotherhood, and also supports the US Naval Academy’s admission office as a Blue and Gold Officer representative in Georgia. Matt holds an MBA from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science degree from The United States Naval Academy. Following graduation from the Naval Academy, he served 9 years on active duty and continues to serve in the reserves with multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, and Enduring Freedom – Philippines. Matt and Andreea have been married for 18 years and have 4 daughters.

Brian Carlson, Director of Global Product and Solutions Marketing at NXP, is back on Point B to continue his discussion on the evolution of SDVs, this time with a focus on software. How are new E/E architectures (discussed in last month’s episode) changing the way automakers do software? How are OEMs navigating this new world of OTA updates and full-vehicle data logging? What challenges must be overcome to ensure success? Brian Carlson is responsible for global marketing of automotive processors and solutions at NXP Semiconductors. He focuses on enabling new innovations that can create new automotive industry business opportunities. He has over 30 years’ experience driving leading-edge, computing and communications products, with roles in product development, technology marketing, product management, and business development. He served as vice-chairman on the MIPI Alliance board of directors where he led the mobile charge into adjacent markets including automotive and IoT. Brian holds a Master’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Point B welcomes the Director of Global Product and Solutions Marketing at NXP, Brian Carlson, to discuss how new vehicle architectures are changing the world. What changes is the automotive industry seeing? Is there one vehicle architecture to rule them all (domain vs. zonal)? What are the implications of these shifts, and what are silicon providers doing to support and address them? Brian Carlson is responsible for global marketing of automotive processors and solutions at NXP Semiconductors. He focuses on enabling new innovations that can create new automotive industry business opportunities. He has over 30 years’ experience driving leading-edge, computing and communications products, with roles in product development, technology marketing, product management, and business development. He served as vice-chairman on the MIPI Alliance board of directors where he led the mobile charge into adjacent markets including automotive and IoT. Brian holds a Master’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Point B welcomes Scotty Reiss, Founder of A Girls Guide to Cars, to talk about tech adoption challenges faced by automakers when introducing new features into their vehicles. What will it take to increase consumer comfort and confidence when using new automotive technologies? How can OEMs increase their ROI on advanced automotive tech? What are some of the things the industry can do to accelerate new feature adoption? Scotty Reiss is the founder of A Girls Guide to Cars, the leading automotive site for women. Missioned with sharing cars on women's terms, Scotty also regularly contributes car content to Forbes, Parents, Pure Wow, and others. She has written for The New York Times, Town & Country, The New York Daily News, and Adweek. Scotty also serves on the board of Women in Automotive and as a juror and steering committee member of the World Car Awards. A graduate of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and daughters.

Mark Thomas, EVP of Marketing & Alliances at Ridecell, returns to Point B to conclude his discussion on the digital transformation of fleet vehicles, with special focus on the digital key. What must OEMs and fleet managers consider when implementing a digital key solution? How will digital keys streamline vehicle checkout processes and user experience? How will this technology make vehicles safer and more secure? Mark Thomas is the EVP of Marketing & Alliances at Ridecell, the leading automation and mobility platform provider for digital transformation. Prior to joining Ridecell, Thomas headed the connected car marketing team at Cisco Jasper, where he developed the product and go-to-market strategies for automotive OEMs. Prior to Cisco, Mark led product marketing at HERE, a leading automotive maps company. In addition, Mark served in marketing, strategy, and business development roles at Apple and Nokia. Mark holds a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

In this episode of Point B, Mark Thomas, EVP of Marketing & Alliances at Ridecell, provides insights on how automation and data are driving the transformation of fleet vehicles and enabling exciting new opportunities in the realm of shared mobility. How are data insights assisting automated workflows? What are the benefits of a digitally transformed fleet? What technologies are driving this transformation? Mark Thomas is the EVP of Marketing & Alliances at Ridecell, the leading automation and mobility platform provider for digital transformation. Prior to joining Ridecell, Thomas headed the connected car marketing team at Cisco Jasper, where he developed the product and go-to-market strategies for automotive OEMs. Prior to Cisco, Mark led product marketing at HERE, a leading automotive maps company. In addition, Mark served in marketing, strategy, and business development roles at Apple and Nokia. Mark holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

Florian Rohde, Managing Partner at iProcess, is back on Point B to conclude his discussion on the internal transformation of the automotive industry. What roadblocks are stopping startups and legacy automakers from ensuring continued success in the automotive industry? Is there really a lack of engineering talent in the industry? What do OEMs need to consider in the realm of connectivity and software-defined vehicles? Florian worked for several years in the "classic" automotive world at Siemens and Continental managing the validation of the first-generation electric power steering systems. During this time, he was responsible for the system validation of the first-generation electric power steering systems, some of the first ASIL-D projects worldwide. From 2012 to 2018, he implemented a continuous validation concept at Tesla in his role as Senior Manager of Vehicle Firmware Validation. The solutions put in place were powerful enough to allow Tesla to launch vehicle software packages within 24 hours from code change to over-the-air customer deployment. The test coverage included all static vehicle functionality, UI/UX, chassis, and powertrain as well as autopilot, and ran in an end-to-end automation environment. After Tesla, Florian served as Director of System Integration and Validation at NIO where he worked in close collaboration with the team in Shanghai and built up technology similar to that at Tesla, to perform fully automated and continuous integration and validation during the development of new products and features. Florian joined iProcess as a Consultant in 2019, his main focus lies on integrating more complex and safety-relevant mechatronic systems, and evolving software over time into cutting edge products.

Florian Rohde, the Managing Partner at iProcess, joins Point B in a two-part discussion on the internal transformation of the automotive industry. How do startup and legacy automakers need to change their processes, mindset, and approach to successfully support the development and advancement of the software defined vehicle? Florian worked for several years in the "classic" automotive world at Siemens and Continental managing the validation of the first-generation electric power steering systems. During this time, he was responsible for the system validation of the first-generation electric power steering systems, some of the first ASIL-D projects worldwide. From 2012 to 2018, he implemented a continuous validation concept at Tesla in his role as Senior Manager of Vehicle Firmware Validation. The solutions put in place were powerful enough to allow Tesla to launch vehicle software packages within 24 hours from code change to over-the-air customer deployment. The test coverage included all static vehicle functionality, UI/UX, chassis, and powertrain as well as autopilot, and ran in an end-to-end automation environment. After Tesla, Florian served as Director of System Integration and Validation at NIO where he worked in close collaboration with the team in Shanghai and built up technology similar to that at Tesla, to perform fully automated and continuous integration and validation during the development of new products and features. Florian joined iProcess as a Consultant in 2019, his main focus lies on integrating more complex and safety-relevant mechatronic systems, and evolving software over time into cutting edge products.

Bill Thompson, Sr. Director of Mobility at Rightpoint, returns to Point B to finish his discussion on the digital user experience. How can connected vehicle data help unlock new features, customize services, and increase brand value as technology continues to evolve in the automotive industry and beyond? Bill Thompson is Sr. Director of Mobility at Rightpoint, a digital experience company in a relentless pursuit of a world that works better for people. In his current role, Bill is focused on growing the mobility centered business responsible for creating connected experiences that move humanity across Land, Sea, Air, and Virtual environments. Before Rightpoint, Bill spent 17 years at General Motors primarily focused on digital experiences from web, mobile and In-Vehicle. As leader of the In-Vehicle User Experience team, his responsibilities included team building, discipline growth, guiding strategic design, brand development, cross-channel collaboration, and implementation of digital interfaces across the global product portfolio. Over multiple generations of products, he has helped to bring industry-leading technologies such as Autonomous Cruise, Advanced Park Assist, Augmented Reality, Google Built-In, Apple CarPlay, Realtime 3D, as well as enhanced drive modes like Watts-to-Freedom and CrabWalk to market. It was in the In-Vehicle realm where Bill honed his belief that unified digital experiences are as critical for users as they are for brands; especially while moving to a future of electrification, automation, and endless mobility options connected through the digital frontier.

Point B co-host Michael Kara is joined by the 1st Vice Chair of the City of Gothenburg Transport Board, Hans Arby to discuss the importance of getting connected cars on speaking terms with cities and the role of data in the impending technological transportation transformation. Hans Arby is a senior researcher at RISE (Research Institute of Sweden) and adviser for public and private mobility actors, focusing on business model and ecosystem innovation and governance. He is 1st Vice Chair of the City of Gothenburg Transport Board. He founded UbiGo which launched one of the first commercial, subscription-based MaaS (Mobility as a Service) operations in Stockholm. He has close to 20 years of experience within sustainable transport, ITS and has been providing strategic support to cities in developing transport strategies and long-term planning and marketing of public transport. He has an MSc in electrical engineering from Chalmers university and has been working with business development, marketing and sales in different high-tech industries before entering the mobility industry.

Join Point B host Steve Schwinke and his guest Mani Iyer, CEO of Solectrac, for a discussion on the role of electric tractors in the future of agriculture. Learn converting to EVs will not only save the industry money, but produce more affordable, sustainable, and healthier food for everyone. Mani Iyer, CEO of Solectrac, is a 28-year veteran of the agricultural and construction industries. He has extensive knowledge in the tractor space and has served in a wide variety of leadership positions in North America, South America, and Asia. He is the former President of LuiGong North America and spent over 9 years as President and CEO of Mahindra Americas. Iyer's expertise includes business strategy and development, international equipment sales and marketing, channel development, supply chain management, product support and service, manufacturing, and quality assurance.

In this episode of Point B, host Steve Schwinke dives into a discussion with Sr. Director of Mobility at Rightpoint, Bill Thompson about key considerations in creating an effective digital experience for the vehicle user. Bill Thompson is Sr. Director of Mobility at Rightpoint, a digital experience company in a relentless pursuit of a world that works better for people. In his current role, Bill is focused on growing the mobility centered business responsible for creating connected experiences that move humanity across Land, Sea, Air, and Virtual environments. Previous to Rightpoint, Bill spent 17 years at General Motors primarily focused on digital experiences from web, mobile and In-Vehicle. As leader of the In-Vehicle User Experience team, his responsibilities included team building, discipline growth, guiding strategic design, brand development, cross-channel collaboration, and implementation of digital interfaces across the global product portfolio. Over multiple generations of products, he has helped to bring industry-leading technologies such as Autonomous Cruise, Advanced Park Assist, Augmented Reality, Google Built-In, Apple CarPlay, Realtime 3D, as well as enhanced drive modes like Watts-to-Freedom and CrabWalk to market. It was in the In-Vehicle realm where Bill honed his belief that unified digital experiences are as critical for users as they are for brands; especially while moving to a future of electrification, automation, and endless mobility options connected through the digital frontier.

In this episode of Point B, our host Steve Schwinke is joined by electric vehicle expert Peter Savagian to talk about EVs: where they started, where they stand now, and what to expect in the next five years. Peter Savagian is the Principal and Founder of Electrified Future Inc. and a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to Electrified Future, Peter served as CTO at Canoo, SVP of Engineering for Ampaire, and SVP of Engineering at Faraday Future where he oversaw the technical development of its FF91 Beta and Gamma-level vehicles. Peter also spent 18 years at General Motors where he serves as General Director and Chief Engineer, responsible for Electrification Systems and Electric Drives product development. His work at GM brought electrification to GM automobiles and involved several innovations in architecture, hardware, software systems, new development systems, and new integration methods. Notably, Peter's work resulted in the first modern Electric Vehicle - the GM EV1. Peter finds his purpose in sustainable mobility and transportation, and actively works towards creating a cleaner future through innovations and initiatives, particularly in the EV sector.

Point B is a Sibros original podcast that looks under the hood at the latest innovations in automotive technology and how they are impacting the trajectory of the industry. In other words, how are we getting from where we are now, Point A, to the future, Point B? In these quick, bite-sized episodes, we interview industry experts on key topics like micromobility, connectivity, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, transportation 2.0, and more. In our premiere episode of Point B our guest moderator Jo Borras of Clean introduces the regular hosts of Point B: Michael Kara and Steve Schwinke. From being a kid obsessed with cars to a dad who found his hobby-calling as a DJ, these guys dive into what first brought them to the automotive industry, the issues they’ve encountered, and where the connected vehicle industry is headed. Michael Kara is the Technical Solutions Manager at Sibros, managing the presales relationship for Sibros with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide. Prior to joining Sibros, Michael worked at HARMAN as a Partnership manager for Harman IGNITE as well as supporting HARMAN Redbend’s OTA solution in a pre-sales capacity. Earlier in his career, Michael spent over 20 years in technical workflow and business process consulting. Steve Schwinke is Vice President of Customer Engagement at Sibros, working closely with OEMs and Tier One suppliers to accelerate their connected vehicle solutions. He is a pioneer in the industry having spent 22 years at General Motors as an original Executive member of the OnStar team designing their first 3-button system, developing and launching numerous industry-first connected vehicle products and services. He is a recognized expert in connected vehicle technology having served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Telecommunications Industry Association and has been awarded 34 patents involving telecommunications, telematics, and navigation. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master's of Science in Wireless Communication Systems from Santa Clara University. Jo Borras is the regular host of CleanTechnica’s Clean Tech Talk & The Electrified News Podcast. He has over 20 years of industry experience including writing for major industry publications such as CleanTechnica, The Truth About Cars, Popular Mechanics, and more.