Top entrepreneurs in the car industry who started as engineers

When it comes to thriving global business sectors, the automotive industry continues to dominate. Recent predictions forecast a CAGR growth rate of 4.8% for 2020 through 2025. This equates to huge global revenue and a worldwide car industry that continues to meet any challenges successfully. Of course, a large part of any continued success is the clever engineering in cars, which gives us better driving experiences.

This innovative engineering can be seen in standard modern cars and also in the growing number of tech-heavy electric cars on our roads. When you add in self-driving vehicles, then it is clear just how vital engineering is to the industry. Engineers need to hold high-level qualifications to progress in their careers. The online Masters in Lean Manufacturing from Kettering University is a great illustration of the type of course that can help people break into auto engineering. As well as superb pastoral support for students, the online nature of courses from Kettering makes it simple to work while you study.

What you may not know is that some of the world’s top automotive entrepreneurs started out as engineers. But who might they be?

Elon Musk

Probably the most famous global tycoon is Tesla Motors CEO and founder, Elon Musk. Although we know him for taking the electric car and making it a lot more practical and attractive, not many know he was first an engineer. His love for engineering can be seen in how he conceived the Mars Oasis project (to build tiny greenhouses on Mars) in 2002, or how he has since gone on to set up The Boring Company (to make tunnels). There are also the new energy initiatives Musk is working on to anticipate.

John DeLorean

Although he sadly died in 2005, John DeLorean was a real giant of the car industry and a very capable tycoon. Although most famous for running his own DeLorean auto company, he was an engineer before that. His engineering prowess at General Motors saw him become the youngest Division Head in GM history and he worked on developing many fabulous car models, such as the Pontiac Firebird.

Ferruccio Lamborghini

Lamborghini is still one of the top supercar manufacturers around. The company was created and steered to success by Ferruccio Lamborghini, but did you know he started by being interested in general engineering? It is reported that Lamborghini started by fixing his father’s tractors before moving on to build his own from scratch! That gave him the grounding he needed to not only make his cars but also set up a business to sell them.

Many famous entrepreneurs were engineers first

The projected growth of the car industry shows just how crucial this sector is to the global economy. Of course, its continued success is largely down to the innovative entrepreneurs who create the cars we love to drive. Many of these top tycoons were once engineers and this shows just what a key role engineering plays in our lives today.

Not only do engineers play a pivotal role in the success of the car industry, but they also contribute to the personal enjoyment of car enthusiasts. For instance, I recently decided to sell my Porsche and was impressed by the intricate engineering behind its design. This further demonstrates the importance of engineering in the creation of vehicles that we love to drive.