GenAI Automotive Podcast

Product discovery doesn’t disappear in AI — it becomes more important. In my experience, teams that skip disciplined discovery pay for it later in failed pilots and stalled products. Curious how others approach discovery in AI-heavy products.

Most failures in data-heavy products aren’t technical. They’re product management failures — especially around data ownership, value framing, and uncertainty. Curious how others have experienced this.

AI value is rarely destroyed intentionally. In my experience, it’s lost through well-intended executive decisions that make delivery and adoption almost impossible. Interested to hear how others have seen this play out.

Most GenAI initiatives never make it past the pilot stage. In my experience, this has very little to do with the technology — and everything to do with product ownership, value framing, and delivery discipline. Curious how others are seeing this play out.

I spoke with Paige Mullen — co-founder of Camion, with 15 years of experience in EV charging and a career that began at Tesla. We traced the evolution of charging from its early days in California to today’s ongoing challenges around interoperability, reliability, and grid integration. Paige shared Camion’s journey from raising €2.7M pre-seed funding to building a SaaS model that sells insights ra...

I sat down with Yang Zhang — Founder and CEO of AutoCore.ai, Co-founder and Chairman of the Autoware Foundation, and a former senior leader at NVIDIA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We discussed his journey from shaping global hardware standards and building open-source ecosystems to driving GenAI-powered innovation at AutoCore.ai. Yang shared his perspective on GenAI as both an assistant and...

I spoke with Adam J. Mandel — founder, advisor, and holder of seven patents, with more than fifteen years at the forefront of autonomy, EVs, and AI. We discussed his unique path from a non-technical background into leadership roles, where he bridged advanced technology with customer-first thinking to help deep-tech companies scale. Adam reflected on the realities of commercialising frontier techno...

I sat down with Daniel Tesic, whose career spanned Volkswagen Group China, XPENG, and NIO before moving into advisory and consulting. We discussed why China has become such a powerhouse in EV adoption and digital services, and what Western OEMs often overlook about that market. Daniel reflected on the contrasting approaches of incumbents and challengers, sharing lessons from his time leading over-...

I spoke with Barak — mobility consultant, author of  #movingpeople , and founder of Mobility Business — about the shifts shaping transport today and tomorrow. We explored wireless electrification and the hurdles facing its adoption in Europe, the evolving dynamics of ride-hailing and chauffeur services, and the state of autonomous buses and trucks, with a spotlight on China’s momentum. Barak also...

I’m joined by Tom Fawcett, a business builder who has led start-ups within some of the UK’s biggest automotive names, including JLR and the AA. We explore how he’s turned ideas into real businesses with P&L responsibility, balancing the demands of innovation with commercial delivery. Tom shares his experiences bringing AI and data-driven services to life — from predictive maintenance and break...

I sit down with Shashi Vyas – aerospace engineer turned automotive disruptor, founder of SNEV.in (India’s first EV supercar company), and board member at Future Dynamics. We explore India’s position in the global EV race, from the risks of clinging to legacy models to the opportunities of born-electric platforms. Shashi shares candid thoughts on China’s manufacturing edge, Europe’s challenges, and...

Hey and welcome to the GenAI Automotive Podcast. My name is Fabian. I'm a former Deloitte Senior Consultant turned AI Product Manager. And on this channel, I'm sharing conversations with industry peers, thought leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers and beyond. All centred around AI in the wider automotive and mobility context. So if that's something you're interested in, you're in the r...

I spoke with Simon Mall, who leads the EV charging business at McLaren Applied, the high-tech spin-out from the McLaren Group. We discussed his "Four Waves of Electrification" framework, which traced the evolution of EVs from early compliance-focused models to today’s emerging software-defined vehicles. Simon also shared how the EV charging ecosystem has mirrored this progression, moving...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Philip Lunn, a pioneer in generative AI and visual technologies, about how image generation is reshaping the automotive design landscape. We delved into his journey from virtual reality and visual effects to developing tools that streamline and enhance design processes. Philip shed light on the real-world applications of generative image technology in the automo...

I sat down with Carl Lightfoot, Co-Founder of AI Assistant, for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about what it really takes to build value with generative AI—especially in the complex world of automotive. We unpacked the gap between hype and reality, explored Carl’s journey from corporate life to start-up founder, and dug into the hard-won lessons from AI Assistant’s four-year evolution...

I sat down with Helmuth Ritzer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of 800 Volt Technologies, for a deep dive into the forces shaping today’s automotive landscape. We explored the digitisation challenges OEMs are currently grappling with, drawing on Helmuth’s rich background at Daimler and his leadership roles across HERE Technologies, car2go, and moovel. Our conversation spanned the enablement of OE...

I sat down with Fernando Lopez to explore how CampX by Volvo Group is driving the future of transport through startup-corporate collaborations. Fernando shared how CampX serves as Volvo’s innovation engine, enabling advancements in mobility and sustainability by connecting agile startups with the resources of a global industry leader. We delved into what makes these partnerships work—from tech rea...

I sat down with Claire Weiller, Senior Director of Product & Programme Management at Fermata Energy, to explore the fast-evolving world of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology. Claire shared her insight into what V2X actually is—spanning applications like Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), and Vehicle-to-Building (V2B)—and why it's becoming critical in the transition to a more fle...

I was joined by Daniel Tibble, Data Product Director at Renault Mobilize, to reflect on his journey through the pandemic at Wejo and his transition into Mobilize. We explored how Mobilize fits within the broader Renault Group, delving into its organisational structure and strategic priorities. Daniel shared insights into the distinction between data and digital products, and how that impacts devel...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Marius Reuther, CEO of b-plus automotive GmbH, about the transformative role of AI and data in shaping the future of autonomous driving. We explored the intricacies of the data value chain and its importance in enabling smarter, more efficient decision-making in automotive systems. Marius shared valuable insights into the challenges of supervised learning and da...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Florian Baumann, a leading voice in the automotive software space, currently serving as Technical Advisor at STMicroelectronics and formerly Senior Director of Software, Platform Architecture at Aptiv. Our conversation explored how GenAI, Edge AI, and containerisation are reshaping vehicle architectures. Florian shared his journey from Aptiv to his current role,...

I sat down with Raul Kraus, Senior Manager at EY, to explore the evolving role of Generative AI in the automotive industry. We discussed how OEMs are adopting GenAI, the challenges they face, and notable success stories. Raul shared insights into the regulatory differences between Europe and the US, explaining why the latter sees faster application despite fewer restrictions. We also examined the...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Thomas Kropf, former President of Corporate Sector Research and Advance Engineering at Bosch, about the transformative role of AI in the corporate world and beyond. We explored how Bosch has been leveraging Generative AI across various business areas, delving into real-world applications, challenges, and lessons learned. Thomas shared his insights on how AI is r...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Louis Nastro, a seasoned expert in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, business strategy, and high-tech product development. We explored the critical role of localisation and perception in AV systems, diving into the technical challenges and how data-driven approaches enhance decision-making. Louis shared real-world applications of AV technology, from navigating...

I sat down with Scott Shepard, an award-winning urban planner, entrepreneur, and thought leader at the intersection of AI, urbanism, mobility, and decarbonisation. We explored the evolving role of urban planning in mobility, the rise of SUMP (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan) and the impact of micrologistics on city infrastructure. Scott shared insights on venture capital trends shaping mobility in...