FRANK STRONACH
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Investor, Magna E-Car Systems
Chosen because: Stronach, 78, founded Canadian supplier Magna International Inc., but he apparently thinks the future is electric. Last August, Stronach left Magna to invest $80 million for a 27 percent interest in a joint venture with Magna to produce batteries, electric vehicles and hybrids. As part of the separation agreement, Stronach gave up voting control of Magna International. But he retained control of Magna's E-Car Systems. The joint venture has a contract to be the tech integrator for a Ford EV project starting this year. Magna's E-Car unit already had worked with Ford on systems integration of the Ford Focus Electric. Magna E-Car opened a development and battery and materials testing center in suburban Detroit in September.
Quote: "To me it's always been amazing when we add all the gasoline in the world ... it's like the Hudson River flowing down every day, and you don't have to be a great scientist to know that that will end sooner than later," Stronach said at Magna's annual meeting in 2008.
