Girl Power: women execs in the global car industry

The automotive industry’s roots were borne out of the work of men. This, of course, mirrors any other industry that started out at the beginning of the industrial age, where men were catapulted into positions in engineering, automotive design, and corporate leadership. 

And here's the uncomfortable truth: the auto industry is still male-dominated. But as time marches on, however, the global business of cars, as a whole, has begun to recognize talent where it lies, regardless of gender. This is evident, even decades ago, in the immensely important innovations by women that reshaped the car world for the better. 

Fast forward to the present, and thankfully, the industry has become much more gender-neutral. This is clear to see from the growing number of women in leadership roles in car brands famous the world over. 

So, in celebration of March as the National Women’s Month (and March 8 as the upcoming International Women’s Day), let us take a gander at the women leaders who have been steering the global automotive industry. 

Mary Barra - General Motors

Mary Teresa Barra is the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of General Motors (GM). For the unaware, the said company operates Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. 

On that note, Barra has a significant role, not just in the American auto industry but also in the global market. It is also worth noting that Barra is the first-ever female CEO of GM, a position she assumed in 2014. 

Interestingly, Barra’s journey to become GM’s current CEO came from years of experience and hard work. In fact, the executive started out as a humble intern at the now-defunct Pontiac Motor Division, a job that she needed to pay for her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. 

After several rank-and-file positions and a managerial role at the company’s Detroit plant, she later rose to become the Vice President of GM Global Manufacturing Engineering in 2008, and Executive Vice President of Global Product Development in 2011. 

As GM itself has noted, Barra’s leadership has steered the company toward building safer cars with lower emissions. She is likewise focused on improving customer experience, as well as the promulgation of next-generation technologies such as self-driving cars and electrified powertrains. 

Ilka Horstmeier - BMW

Ilka Hostmeier is a member of the Board of Management of BMW Group. In her role, she oversees human resources and is the group’s Labor Relations Director. 

Like Barra, Horstmeier started from simple roots as a trainee. Later in 1995, her determination led her to management roles at the German brand’s plants in Munich, Dingolfing, and Regensburg. Horstmeier even became the Head of Engine Production in BMW’s Munich plant in 2010. 

In 2013, Horstmeier rose to Senior Vice President for Production and Planning Engines and E-Powertrain at BMW Group. Her latest position elevated her to the BMW Group board of management in 2019. 

Currently, Horstmeier is leading BMW Group’s thrust in investing in the next generation of leaders and employees. This comes via her work to establish close partnerships between BMW and many child-oriented organizations, such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). 

Horstmeier also leads the group in programs related to human-centric production, electrified vehicles, social sustainability, global educational initiatives, and upskilling the German brand’s workforce. 

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Angela Zepeda - Hyundai

Angela Zepeda served as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Hyundai Motor America from 2019 to 2024. Currently, she is the Global Head of Marketing for X (formerly Twitter). 

Before heading to the world of tech, Zepeda’s tenure in Hyundai’s North American arm was marked by major marketing campaigns. These helped models such as the Tucson and Kona gain a foothold not just among traditional car buyers but also among younger buyers. 

Per Hyundai, the aforementioned is mainly thanks to her pop-culture savvy and diversity-focused initiatives. Examples of these included a huge campaign for the then-new fourth-generation Tucson, which was highlighted by a collaboration with Disney and Marvel. Also notable are her significant social media campaigns and an award-winning Super Bowl ad campaign.

Linda Jackson - Peugeot

Linda Jackson was the former CEO of Peugeot from 2021 to 2025. Under her leadership, the French automobile brand saw significant developments, including the mass production of electrified vehicles and the 9X8 Hypercar program, which marked the brand’s return to the World Endurance Championship (WEC). 

During her tenure as Peugeot’s CEO, she also spearheaded the “Lions of Our Time” global campaign, which shifted the company’s direction toward premium vehicles. This initiative brought forth models such as the e-2008 and 308 lineups. 

Under her leadership, the brand also ventured into the hydrogen fuel cell business with the e-Expert Hydrogen utility van. She also led the company to roll out the Allure Care extended warranty program and, according to Peugeot, the attainment of significant market growth in South Africa. 

While all of these achievements are stellar, Jackson also rose from the ranks. She started out as an accounting clerk for Jaguar before holding various administrative roles in various British car brands. It wasn’t until 2014 that she was appointed as the CEO of Citroen, and as mentioned above, as the CEO of Peugeot by 2021. 

Stella Li - BYD

Stella Li is the current CEO of BYD Americas and the Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited. 

As BYD shared, Li played a pivotal role in many of the company’s early business initiatives as a Senior Vice President, the Executive Director, and CEO of BYD Electronics. 

The aforementioned covers BYD’s partnerships with tech giants such as Motorola and Nokia. Beyond that, it was under her leadership that the brand established its headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (1999), an office in Hong Kong (1997), and its first North American headquarters in Chicago (2000). 

As CEO of BYD Americas, Li oversaw the opening of the company’s energy module plants in Lancaster, California (2013). In this position, she also expanded the company’s reach by establishing offices in Canada, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. Li also spearheaded the company’s aggressive expansion in markets such as Turkey and Mexico - a creative way to get around the heavy tariffs imposed by the United States and European governments for Chinese-made cars. 

Lynn Lim - Zeekr

Lynn Lim currently serves as Managing Director of Zeekr Intelligent Technology Korea. 

In her role, she leads the brand’s market growth in South Korea. Lim also helmed the company’s efforts in introducing premium Chinese electric vehicles (EV) in the said market - a challenge considering Hyundai and Kia’s dominance in the East Asian republic. 

Through her guidance, Zeekr’s South Korean arm has formed partnerships with several Korea-based dealerships. She also seeks to establish a domestic battery production facility in the near future. 

Previous notable positions held by Lim include Executive Director of Audi Korea and Head of Group Parts and Accessories Volkswagen Group Korea. 

Final thoughts

There you have it, some of the most notable women executives in the automotive industry in recent memory. Sure, the list appears short, but more and more women have risen to prominence in the global scene and in the local car industry as well. 

Next time around, we will be getting to know a number of key female automotive executives in the Philippines, so stay tuned. 

Also read:

EV Love: BEVs under Audi, BMW, BYD, Chevrolet

EV Love: list of PHEV models recognized by DOE

EV Love: list of HEV models recognized by DOE

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