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 rather than just infrastructure, highlighting the importance of real estate, site selection, and forecasting. We discussed the energy infrastructure challenges ahead, from vehicle-to-grid to renewable alignment, and how AI is beginning to transform everything from site utilisation forecasting to revenue modelling and intelligent grid management. The conversation closed with Paige’s long-term vision of how EV charging, AI, and energy converge to accelerate decarbonisation — along with her advice for startups working at the intersection of mobility and energy.

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 a driver, enabling 5–10x efficiency gains while still requiring deep human expertise for the final stretch. We explored the realities behind the hype, the importance of domain-specific integration, and how open collaboration through the Autoware Foundation is shaping the mobility ecosystem. The conversation closed with Yang’s vision of GenAI as a true co-pilot for engineers and a force that could democratise the development of autonomous systems in the years ahead.

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 technologies, from the challenges of deploying autonomous systems on public roads to the trade-offs between lidar and vision. We also explored his work at Rivian on charging and fleet solutions, as well as his venture EnergizedAI, which used AI to improve EV charger reliability and was later acquired by 7Gen. The conversation closed with his belief that the future of mobility is not just electric but intelligent — and his advice for innovators working at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and electrification.

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-the-air software launches and rolling out NIO’s NOMI GPT across Europe. Our conversation touched on go-to-market strategies for new entrants, the growing importance of AI copilots and in-car assistants, and the balance between strategy, product, and marketing in a fast-moving industry. We closed with Daniel’s perspective on whether today’s challengers will become tomorrow’s household names — and how customer relationships with cars may look radically different by 2030.

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 shared insights into how digital twins are transforming fleet management, why in-cabin AI could be more than just a gimmick, and which overlooked fundamentals cities must revisit if mobility is to scale sustainably. Our conversation ranged from the practical to the visionary, closing with his perspective on what mobility might look like by 2030.

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 breakdown prevention to vision AI in customer apps — and the challenges of adoption, trust, and proving value. We also discuss future-proofing mobility through connected cars, subscriptions, and AI-driven services, before reflecting on what it really takes to lead high-performing teams inside corporate environments. Tom offers candid advice for automotive leaders and paints a picture of how AI could transform the way we use and own vehicles over the next decade.

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 the lessons automakers must learn from Tesla, BYD, and NIO. We also dive into his bold vision for an Indian EV supercar, the role of AI in driving performance and sustainability, and what it will take for India to claim a leadership role in the mobility revolution. This is a fascinating look at the crossroads of EVs, AI, and the future of global innovation.

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 right place and I'm very much looking forward to taking you with me on this journey.

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 from fragmented infrastructure to an AI-driven future focused on uptime, standardisation, and energy optimisation.

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 automotive sector, from accelerating design cycles to enabling more immersive and iterative visualisation. We also unpacked the broader industry impact, ethical considerations around IP and authenticity, and the challenges of deploying this tech at scale. A forward-looking conversation on where automotive design is headed in the age of GenAI.