JOSEF BRUSA

President, Brusa Elektronik AG

Chosen because: Chances are American industry watchers are unfamiliar with Brusa, 54, but his small Swiss technology and component company has been a high-tech tool kit for the electric-vehicle world. The company, founded in 1985, makes motors, AC drives, power converters and other vehicle systems. Two years ago, Brusa developed his own small electric Spyder. In May, he revealed the third edition of an electric sports car project called the Lampo (Italian for "lightning"), developed with fellow Swiss firm Protoscar SA. Two years ago, Brusa's r&d prowess prompted North American supplier giant Magna International Inc. to create a hybrid and electric-vehicle joint venture with him. That deal lasted only one year. But now Magna is going solo into electric cars -- with help from Brusa parts.

Quote: "For more than 20 years, Brusa has been developing key technologies and components for electric vehicles, which now bear a very high degree of maturity," Brusa stated at the time of his joint venture with Magna. "Now the time has come to turn these innovative technologies, together with a strong partner, into competitive volume products in order to support the market breakthrough of electric vehicles."