New York, NY - February 12, 2026: The WORLD CAR FINALS has announced the three contenders for the prestigious 2026 World Car Person of the Year. The contenders are: David Craig, Staff Product Manager, General Motors; Tisha Johnson, Head of Design, Slate; and Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW. The winner will be announced on February 26 and invited to receive their award in person at the World Car of the Year Award ceremony at the New York International Automobile Show on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. 

At General Motors, David Craig is widely regarded as a “maps guru”, leading one of the most strategically important technology teams inside the company. As Chief of Maps and Staff Product Manager, Craig and his team underpin GM’s Super Cruise system, enabling the hands-free driver-assistance technology to operate across approximately 750,000 miles of mapped roads in the United States and Canada. Craig joined GM in 2016, initially focusing on high-definition mapping for autonomous driving. He played a central role in setting the strategy, technology sourcing, and technical requirements for the maps used across GM’s advanced driver assistance systems. Today, Craig supports a 90-person team responsible for collecting map data, working with suppliers, defining specifications for Super Cruise expansions, and delivering seamless over-the-air map updates across GM’s vehicle range. The impact is tangible: drivers in North America have now logged more than 700 million hands-free miles using Super Cruise, highlighting Craig’s influence on one of the industry’s most widely deployed advanced driving technologies.

As Head of Design at Slate, Tisha Johnson is shaping the visual and emotional identity of one of the most exciting and closely watched new players in the electric vehicle space. With a career rooted in human-centred, emotionally intelligent design, Johnson brings a distinctive blend of artistic sensitivity and real-world usability to Slate’s products. Her work is defined by a belief that vehicles should feel intuitive, inclusive, and personal, rather than intimidating or overly technical. Before joining Slate, Johnson worked for Volvo and globally renowned furniture firm Herman Miller, building a reputation for thoughtful, forward-looking design that prioritised the relationship between people and products. At Slate, Johnson has been instrumental in establishing a design language that is both modern and approachable, helping the brand stand apart in an increasingly crowded EV market. Johnson’s leadership extends beyond aesthetics, influencing materials, interfaces, and user experience to ensure design supports sustainability, accessibility, and everyday life. In a period of rapid industry change, her work demonstrates how strong design can help new brands connect meaningfully with customers.

Oliver Zipse has led BMW AG as Chairman of the Board of Management since August 2019, guiding one of the world’s most respected premium automotive groups through a period of profound technological and strategic transformation. Zipse joined BMW in 1991 and has spent his entire professional career within the company, gaining deep operational experience across development, production, and corporate strategy. His tenure at the top will shortly be drawing to a close, but he will leave having overseen the launch of the BMW Neue Klasse range of vehicles, marking the biggest technical transformation in the brand's history. With an academic background spanning computer science, mathematics, and mechanical engineering, Zipse is known for combining engineering rigour with long-term strategic thinking. Before becoming Chairman, he held senior leadership roles, including Head of Production and Managing Director of BMW’s Oxford plant in the UK. Under his leadership, BMW has pursued a technology-open approach to electrification, digitalisation, and sustainability, while maintaining a strong focus on brand identity and profitability. Zipse’s steady, engineering-led leadership has helped shape BMW’s direction in a rapidly evolving global automotive landscape.

For additional information, please visit worldcarawards.com or contact them at: info@worldcarawards.com

The World Car Person of the Year award is just one of seven honors presented as part of The Road to the World Car Awards. This annual journey follows the international jurors as they test-drive and vote on eligible vehicles throughout the awards season. In addition to World Car Person of the Year, the awards recognize excellence across six key categories: World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year, World Luxury Car of the Year, World Performance Car of the Year, World Urban Car of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year.

The World Car Awards program would not be possible without the support of our official Partners: AITASTIC Research & Consult, BREMBO, the NEW YORK International Auto Show, KPMG, and Newspress.

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