Comedian and automotive enthusiast Jay Leno will be among four new members of the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn when it conducts its 2020 Induction and Awards Ceremony at the MGM Grand Hotel on July 23.
Leno, who is being honored for his automotive heritage leadership through his “Jay Leno’s Garage” television series on CNBC, will be joined by Mong-Koo Chung, chairman and CEO of Hyundai Motor Co.; Thomas Gallagher, former CEO of Genuine Parts Co.; and Helene Rother, one of the first women in automotive interior design for General Motors, Nash Motors, and other manufacturers.
“Since 1939, the Automotive Hall of Fame has honored individuals who have significantly benefited the automotive industry and the world of mobility,” says Ramzi Hermiz, chairman of the Automotive Hall of Fame, and president and CEO of Shiloh Industries. “We are excited to announce our 2020 inductee class. We believe that these four individuals are incredibly worthy of this honor thanks to their outstanding achievements and innovations.”
Leno has dedicated a lifetime to sharing the stories of all things automotive from classic cars to supercars and everything in-between. He has showcased technology, innovation, and the colorful history of the automobile inspiring viewers to enjoy automobiles, from the most prosaic to the most exotic.
Chung is the leader credited with the success of Hyundai Motor Group. Through Chung’s leadership, Hyundai Motor became Korea’s largest automaker and Hyundai Motor Group now is the world’s fifth largest automotive company.
Gallagher is the visionary leader who led Genuine Parts Co. as president or CEO for more than 25 years, guiding the organization through a period of robust growth and long-term value creation for the company’s customers, independent stores and repair shops, suppliers, and stakeholders.
Rother became one of the first female automotive designers when she joined the interior styling staff of GM in 1942. In 1947, she established her own design studio and was soon selected by Nash-Kelvinator as its interior automotive designer. She is credited with helping to shift the standard of automotive design, post WWII, from basic and simple to elegant and unique.
The 2020 Automotive Hall of Fame induction event also will include the organization’s inaugural Mobility Innovator Award, which will go to Harold Goddijn, CEO of TomTom, which created one of the world’s first easy-to-use navigation devices.
The 2020 Automotive Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, at the MGM Grand Detroit. Tickets and sponsorships for the black-tie gala are available by visiting here or by contacting Margarite Fourcroy at (313) 240-4000 or MFourcroy@thedrivingspirit.org.
