Automobile industry has witnessed several great leaders and personalities, from the era of Henry Ford and Ferdinand Porsche to the contemporary heavyweights, such as Sergio Marchionne, Ratan Tata and Bernie Ecclestone amongst many others. The now considered automobile sector icons were like any average person in the beginning of their respective careers, but the paradigm shifting way they paved, had set the tone for modern industry's flourish.
The brains behind 'Moving assembly line', Henry ford changed demographics of the international automobile industry and gave the world audience its first affordable automobile 'Model T' car in the beginning of 20th century. Henry Ford had set the benchmark in manufacturing low-cost and affordable mobility solution, which made him one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful persons in an extremely short span of time.
While talking about automobile industry greats, how can one omit the name of Ferdinand Porsche. The Austrian - German automotive engineer and recipient of honourable Doctorate in Engineering, Ferdinand Porsche is best known for creating the iconic Volkswagen Beetle people's car, many models of Porsche cars, Mercedes Benz SS/SSK model along with the world's first petrol – electric hybrid automobile. In 1996, Ferdinand Porsche was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, while in 1999 the greatest automobile engineer of all time was posthumously awarded the title of 'Car Engineer of the Century'.
Sergio Marchionne, Head of Italian auto giant Fiat and American multinational auto maker Chrysler, is a name taken with utmost veneration in the global automobile industry. The Italian – Canadian manager single handedly changed the fortunes of Fiat and helped it in avoiding bankruptcy, besides turning it into a big, powerful and profit earning company. In a similar story, Marchionne rescued Chrysler from plunging into a dark oblivion and helped it to get back its old charm and respect. Being the boss of Fiat and Chrysler, Sergio Marchionne is the biggest name in management hierarchy of Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Ram, Dodge and all their subsidiaries.
The always in news and boss of all Formula 1 motor sports proceedings, Bernie Ecclestone carries the power of changing gears of entire global automotive industry. Evidently, Ecclestone's rules and regulations can change the tides for participating teams of Formula 1, which ultimately affect big names of auto sector that support their own respective teams. The F1 supremo is credited with the idea behind selling sports television rights, which had the set benchmark for other big sports played across the globe. At present, Ecclestone's brainchild Formula 1 is the world's most expensive motor sports and participation in the spectacle is considered as a matter of great honour and technological adeptness.
The country's very own automobile tycoon, Ratan Tata shot to global fame, when he introduced the world's cheapest car (less than $ 2,000) – Tata Nano at New Delhi Auto Expo held in 2008. Ratan Tata's other most remarkable achievement also came in 2008, when the country's largest automobile manufacturer bought a controlling stake in British sports and luxury car marque – Jaguar Land Rover. Accordingly, Ratan Tata is the most important name in Indian auto market and is due to retire by December 2012.
