The 2010 Power List- Motor Trend

[Shining Star]

2009 was quite the thrill ride. The auto industry has emerged more or less intact, with the U.S. government owning the former world's biggest automaker and Fiat controlling Chrysler. As for the folks behind the automakers, 10 of the 50 on our 2009 Power List have left or been forced out of their jobs, including the top three from last year. For 2010, we've added a measurement of each Power Lister's prospects for hanging on to his job, labeled Outlook. So pop open a bottle of champagne, say "good riddance" to last year, and read on to see who's going to bring you your next new car.

1. Ferdinand Piech
Volkswagen AG chairman of supervisory board
VW buys Porsche, instead
2009 Rank: 4
Why he's first: Piech is the Machiavellian archmanipulator who managed to turn Porsche SE's bid to buy Volkswagen AG on its ear. Last year, Porsche SE (the holding company) was buying up shares of VW AG. While Porsche was one of the world's most profitable automakers going into the global Great Recession, it ran up the equivalent of $14.2 billion in debt by buying up 51 percent of the much larger, full-line company. When Porsche couldn't meet debt obligations, Piech offered to "help out" by buying up the sports carmaker with VW stock. He won the game, beating his own cousin, Wolfgang Porsche, and demanded Wendelin Wiedeking resign just as the Panamera was being launched. We repeated this story in 2005, but Wolfgang and Wendelin didn't read it: An expert downhill skier in school, Piech bought four pairs of skis each year and sold them at a profit at the end of the season to classmates who wanted to beat him.
All in the family: Personally owns 13 percent of Porsche.
Not so fast: It isn't over, yet. Negotiations are completed for VW to buy 42 percent of Porsche for 3.3 billion euros ($4.9 billion). A major VW shareholder, Norway's oil fund, protested that the deal serves the Piech/Porsche family and not the automaker.
Piech = Sloan: VW AG owns Skoda, Seat, Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Scania (trucks), and now, almost, Porsche.
And that means: A modern VW BlueSport-based Porsche 914? Questionable future for the Audi R8?
Outlook: Excellent.

2. Alan Mulally
Ford Motor Company president/CEO
He didn't take federal loans
2009 Rank: 10
Foresight: Lined up $23 billion in "home equity" credit years before the Lehman Brothers collapse triggered the Recession. Ford is the only U.S. automaker to avoid a Treasury department handout.
At the expense of: Banks charging Ford near-zero interest for the credit line.
Influence on: Fusion, Mustang, Taurus, coming global Fiesta and Focus.
Rough road ahead: He shouldn't count on Fiesta and Focus for big U.S. profits.
Outlook: Very good.

3. Chung Mong Koo
Hyundai Motor Company chairman
Fourth-largest automaker, with a bullet
2009 Rank: 6
Moving up: Hyundai posted a record net profit of $832 million for the three months ending in September. Retail sales were up 88 percent in China, more than twice industry gains. In the U.S., while GM and Toyota sales posted modest October gains, Hyundai was up 49 percent and subsidiary Kia was up 45.3 percent. For at least part of the year, Hyundai/Kia passed Ford for fourth place globally.
He's the boss: All Hyundai's tough-to-meet sales and profit targets start with Chung.
Outlook: Excellent.

4. Martin Winterkorn
Volkswagen AG chairman of the board of management
Giving Toyota notice
2009 Rank: 9
VW's #1: VW Group may have passed Toyota as the world's largest automaker by last fall. Credit German, Brazilian, Chinese markets and Toyota production cuts to match demand.
Roadblocks: VW's plan for growth includes target of one million vehicles in U.S. by 2018.
Green-lights: The 2011 North American-only midsize car, built in Tennessee, new Golf VI, strong Audi lineup.
Outlook: Very good as long as Piëch still likes him.

5. John Krafcik
Hyundai USA president/CEO
Revolutionary auto exec
2009 Rank: 16
Influence on: Hyundai Assurance Plan made company a sales winner. Pushing Seoul for more passionate driver's cars.
The Speech: In "Preparing for a Revolution," at Chicago auto show: "As an industry, we need to take a longer-term view of our environmental strategies. That means stepping up, getting ahead of regulators where it makes sense. We think the time is now."
We say: GM could use an exec like Krafcik.
Outlook: Very good, as long as Chung Mong Koo likes him.

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