Interviews
“Autonomy removes the driver as the primary architectural constraint; Passenger-Defined Vehicle architecture establishes the passenger as the primary architectural reference”.
Shalin James Anto is the Founder and CEO of PLIYT, Inc. and the originator of the Passenger-Defined Vehicle (PDV) architectural framework. With over sixteen years of automotive R&D experience across vehicle systems and automated driving, he formalizes the transition from driver-defined mobility to the post-driver era. At PLIYT, Shalin leads ground-up implementations of PDV principles for individualized autonomous shared mobility, engineering platforms centered on spatial privacy, natural access, and passenger sovereignty.
“Perception tells the vehicle what is around it. Absolute positioning tells it exactly where it is.”
Former Rokubun co-founder and CEO, Xavier is a Navigation Engineer and Product Manager with 20+ years’ experience in downstream satellite navigation for mass-market applications. Educated in Telecommunications Engineering and ICT research, with a Master in Project Management, his career spans academia, ESA-ESTEC, and leading European space companies. He now serves as Strategic Marketing Manager at Trimble Inc.
“From horsepower to intelligence: off-highway mobility is becoming software-defined.”
Ty Kim leads corporate strategy and global business development at KyungWoo Systech, advancing next-generation E/E architecture, digitalization, and Edge AI for off-highway vehicles. Previously, he led digital and software initiatives at Ricardo and connected vehicle programs at Wind River, specializing in embedded systems, digital transformation, and functional safety and cybersecurity.
"When proven automotive engineering meets human physiology, we can rethink what's possible in healthcare."
Dr. Nicola Gerrett is Senior Director of Research & Medical at Gentherm, where she leads research focused on thermophysiology, human perception, and patient-centered thermal management technologies. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Ergonomics from Loughborough University and has more than a decade of experience translating scientific research into innovative healthcare and wellness solutions.
"In automotive repair, trust is no longer earned by fixing vehicles—it's earned by building customer confidence."
Chris Freter is an automotive operation executive with extensive experience leading multi-location service organizations. He is passionate about technician development, operational excellence, customer communication, and leadership. His work focuses on building trust through transparency while helping modern automotive repair businesses improve performance, culture, and the overall customer experience.
“I think innovation will be more about all the ways the car can communicate back without language to us through haptics, light, audio, etc., things we’re learning from Human Factors researchers.”
Sara Sargent is a Principal Analyst specializing in automotive interior sensing and perception technology. With eight years studying the external sensing market and five years in in-cabin technology, she brings a rare combination of engineering depth and market intelligence. As a leader of InCabin and analyst at Sense Media Group, Sara has unparalleled access to Tier 1 demos, startup pipelines, and unfiltered OEM feedback — translating what engineers actually think into strategic insight.
“Cloud-connected predictive diagnostics will transform corrective maintenance into preventative maintenance, reducing downtime and improving fleet reliability.”
With extensive experience in On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems, John F. Van Gilder currently provides engineering support through Van Gilder Engineering for the development, implementation, and verification of OBD systems, including regulatory compliance assessments. His expertise includes conducting OBD performance reviews for diagnosed hardware, evaluating diagnostic algorithm effectiveness, and providing technical critiques of materials prepared for California Air Resources Board (CARB) OBD regulatory staff reviews. In addition, he contributes to industry education by supporting multiple OBD-focused courses through SAE International Continuing Education programs.
“INA PAACE Automechanika Mexico is where Latin America’s automotive aftermarket connects with global innovation, builds strategic partnerships, and shapes the future of mobility.”
With over 10 years at Messe Frankfurt, Bridget Ferris leads three major North American trade shows, overseeing strategy, operations, brand growth, and revenue development. Managing a 14-member team, she specializes in event planning, stakeholder engagement, and business development across global B2B industries. Bridget has successfully driven international sales growth, launched high-revenue industry pavilions, and played a key role in a major show merger in Mexico. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, she works closely with industry associations, exhibitors, sponsors, and partners to deliver impactful trade show experiences.
