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GlobalData research has found the top influencers in Automotive based on their performance and engagement online.

Biggest influencers in Automotive: The top ten in Q4 2020

1. Edward Niedermeyer (@Tweetermeyer)

Edward Niedermeyer is communications director at Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE), a non-profit supported by the automotive and technology sectors. He is a co-host of a podcast on mobility technology named The Autonocast, which hosts events ranging from large auto industry conferences to webinars.

Niedermeyer has also been blogging at Thetruthaboutcars.com since 2008 and writes Op-Eds for prominent international publications such as The New York Times and Reuters.

Twitter followers: 11,999

GlobalData influencer score: 100

2. Wilko S. Wolters (@WSWMUC)

Wilko S. Wolters is the associate partner at IBM iX, a hybrid digital agency and consultancy. He is an innovative strategist with expertise in digital transformation and business models.

Wolters is also a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Landshut in Germany. He completed his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Applied Sciences at Emden in Germany.

Twitter followers: 9,717

GlobalData influencer score: 93

3. John Voelcker (@johnvoelcker)

John Voelcker is an analyst, entrepreneur and writer with expertise in the auto industry. He is presently working as a contributing writer for just-auto.com, an automotive industry news and analysis website.

Voelcker previously worked as the chief editor at Green Car Reports, where he edited more than 10,000 stories on fuel-efficient and zero emission vehicles. He completed his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University in California in 1981.

Twitter followers: 14,485

GlobalData influencer score: 92

4. Mike Levine (@mrlevine)

Mike Levine is manager of product communications at Ford Motor Company, an American auto manufacturer. He is an entrepreneur with experience in journalism, project management and information technology.

Levine is also the founder of PickupTruck.com, an information source for truck sales and vehicle testing. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science specialising in finance and management information systems (MIS) from University of Arizona, Eller College of Management in 1995.

Twitter followers: 10,022

GlobalData influencer score: 74

5. Henrik Fisker (@henrikfisker)

Henrik Fisker is the founder, chairman and CEO of Fisker, a US-based automaker specialising in electric vehicles (EVs) and battery solutions. He is an automotive designer specialising in the development of innovative solutions.

Fisker has previously worked with Ford Motor Company as creative director and was the board member and design director at Aston Martin. He graduated from the Arts Centre College of Design in automotive design in 1989.

Twitter followers: 61,819

GlobalData influencer score: 62

6. Richard Aucock (@richardaucock)

Richard Aucock is the director of Motoring Research, a website focused on news and opinions on the automotive industry. He has more than 20 years of experience in journalism and publishing and chairs the Guild of Motoring Writers, an association of editorial professionals in the automotive sector.

Aucock is also a juror at World Car Awards and contributes articles to local newspapers with special focus on racing section. He graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Birmingham in UK in 2000.

Twitter followers: 12,937

GlobalData influencer score: 59

7. David Bailey (@dgbailey)

David Bailey is professor of industrial strategy at Aston Business School in Birmingham, UK. He is also a senior fellow at Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) UK in a Changing Europe programme, where he conducts research on Brexit’s impact on UK’s automotive and manufacturing sectors.

Bailey is also a media pundit and regularly contributes columns to prominent international newspapers. He has completed his education from the University of Birmingham and Aston University.

Twitter followers: 6,962

GlobalData influencer score: 58

8. Adil Darukhanawala (@adiljal)

Adil Darukhanawala is the founder of adiljal.com, a website offering updates on the automotive industry. He also manages the YouTube channel ADIL’s AUTO ZONE and has 40 years of experience in the automotive industry.

Darukhanawala previously worked as the chief editor of ZigWheels.com, which eventually became the top automotive portal in India. He was also the editor-in-chief of auto segment at Zee Media Corporation.

Twitter followers: 12,564

GlobalData influencer score: 58

9. Peter Campbell (@Petercampbell1)

Peter Campbell is the global motor industry correspondent at Financial Times, based out of London, UK. He previously worked with The Daily Mail as a financial reporter, where he covered the energy and utilities sectors.

Campbell is a speaker presenting on various topics such as motor industry trends, self-driving cars, electric cars and technology and innovation. He also received Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2014. He graduated with Bachelor of Arts specialising in politics from the University of York in 2010.

Twitter followers: 8,589

GlobalData influencer score: 56

10. Greg Kable (@GregKable)

Greg Kable is an automotive journalist, correspondent and consultant based out of Stuttgart in Germany. He has more than two-and-a-half decades of experience in the automotive industry and has provided consultancy services for global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Kable specialises in reporting, writing and editing for leading newspapers and automotive websites across the globe. He has also assessed and ranked thousands of cars across the spectrum including the latest electric and hydrogen fuelled vehicles.

Twitter followers: 4,891

GlobalData influencer score: 54

Methodology

GlobalData’s influencer identification framework identifies influencers based on relevance; size of network, connections and followers; engagement levels with their content and analysis and input from sector experts. Influencers are then evaluated on a series of specific topic-related keywords used over the period and weighted by engagement metrics.