The Motoring Hall of Fame
Four giants of the global automotive industry have just accepted their personal invitations to join one of the world’s smallest but most exclusive car-related ‘clubs’ – The Motoring Hall of Fame (MHoF).
Within the last month, Dr Andy Palmer, Linda Jackson, Steve Nash and Vera Park have been formally inducted as Motoring Hall of Famers for life.
“I’m humbled and honoured to be inducted into The Motoring Hall of Fame this year, and to be recognised at last month’s British Motor Show induction ceremony in this way,” said Palmer, a former Aston Martin CEO and Nissan COO. “Congratulations to my fellow inductees – Linda Jackson, Steve Nash, and Vera Park.”
From her office inside Peugeot’s Paris HQ, Linda Jackson was equally delighted to be one of only four people to qualify as Motoring Hall of Famers in 2023.
“Thank you to the Hall of Fame and show organisers for this wonderful accolade,” the former CEO of Citroen and current CEO of Peugeot commented.
A shocked and surprised Steve Nash, CEO of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) was excited that his induction into The Motoring Hall of Fame placed him alongside some “truly great” names in the global automotive business and beyond.
“The British Motor Show is the biggest event of its kind in the UK, so to be presented with this accolade at the show amongst so many industry colleagues and genuine automotive enthusiasts was a real privilege.”
Vera Park worked in studios at Infiniti, Nissan and Renault before her appointment as Lead Exterior Designer at JLR where she currently plays a major role in shaping Jaguars and Land Rovers of the future.
“Many thanks to the organisers of The Hall of Fame and The British Show. Also, my congratulations to Andy, Linda and Steve,” said a humbled Ms Park.
“It really is a huge honour for me, as a car designer, to join such admirable automotive industry people in The Motoring Hall of Fame.”
Hyundai Motor Group’s billionaire Chairman and CEO – Eui-sun Chung – graciously accepted his late 2022 induction into The Motoring Hall of Fame – but with a senior family member (dad Mong-koo Chung was the previous chair of the company) and car buyers on his mind more than his personal achievements. Chung Jnr has ensured that South Korea now joins Germany and Japan as a designer and manufacturer of some of the finest real-world cars.
“No great product or technology is complete without the trust of our customers,” he insisted at the time and since. “We must all go above and beyond to earn their respect and loyalty,” he concluded.
Henrik Fisker, Chairman, CEO and design god at Fisker Automotive Inc. achieved MHoF inductee status on the eve of his company’s biggest and boldest year yet on the global automotive stage.
“To be recognised by and be inducted into the Motoring Hall of Fame alongside such talented designers and esteemed colleagues from across our industry is an honour and a privilege,” the daring Dane remarked.
Guy Pigounakis, MG UK’s Commercial Director was named a Motoring Hall of Famer when it became clear his reborn MG brand and cleverly-priced Chinese-built cars were taking on and beating several ‘bigger and better’ marques and products in the showrooms last year. And that success has undoubtedly continued in ’23.
“It was a fantastic surprise and a great honour to be recognised and inducted alongside some of the most influential names in the automotive industry. I’m very proud of what we’ve all achieved at MG since I rejoined the business in 2020.”
Starting from humble beginnings, Tom Hartley is now Britain’s ultimate independent dealer in luxury and performance cars. On hearing of his induction into the Motoring Hall of Fame he was, for once, almost lost for words.
“This is a very special moment in my life to be told about my induction into The Motoring Hall of Fame. It means so much to me that I could not hold back the tears. I’m most grateful to the MHoF judges responsible for including me into this elite group”.
MOTORING HALL OF FAMERS 2010-2023
Mary Barra
Albert Biermann
Martin Brundle
Ian Callum CBE
Eui-sun Chung
Michael Cole
Luca De Meo
Lord Edmiston
Henrik Fisker
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Tom Hartley
Paddy Hopkirk MBE
Peter Horbury
Linda Jackson
Hiroyoshi Kato
Woo-choong Kim
Michael Leiters
Bob Lutz
Ikuo Maeda
Nick Mason CBE
Lord Monatgu of Beaulieu
Sir Stirling Moss OBE (Inductee No.1)
Prof. Gordon Murray CBE
Elon Musk
Shiro Nakamura
Steve Nash
Dr Andy Palmer
Vera Jiyeong Park
Guy Pigounakis
Marek Reichman
Peter Schreyer
Osamu Suzuki
Ratan Tata
Carlos Tavares
Le Thi Thu Thuy
Takeshi Uchiyamada
Matthew Weaver
Janet Wilkinson MBE
Kazunori Yamauchi