What Cars Do Automotive CEOs Drive? – CarBuzz

There are few jobs cooler than being an automotive CEO. Using decades of industry experience, you guide your company toward the future, deciding which cars to put into production, what technologies to explore, and which models need to be axed. High stakes, but also high reward, especially because you now have the best access to every new vehicle your company produces, allowing you to fill up your garage with your company’s creations.

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While many people would probably love to have a garage full of Chevys or Toyotas, I think we can all admit this is a bit limiting. The best part of having so much competition in the industry is the sheer number of great vehicles being produced every year, and as most CEOs are also enthusiasts, they love to experience the thrill of a great car just like the rest of us. The personal car collections of automotive CEOs reveal their deeper connection to automotive culture and demonstrate what they value in a vehicle, from classic performance to modern-day electric comfort.

1 Ford CEO: Jim Farley

1966 Ford GT40 Mk1

Ford CEO Jim Farley is not just a businessman but a genuine car enthusiast with a passion for motorsport. As an avid racer himself, he owns and races a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1 race car, which he piloted to a podium finish at the Le Mans Classic as recently as 2022. As one of the most famous Fords, let alone cars, ever produced, it’s a good thing that the CEO of Ford keeps one close to help him understand the company’s long performance pedigree and how that should influence future products like the Mustang GTD.

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Xiaomi SU7

Farley made headlines recently when he admitted on the Everything Electric Show Podcast that he daily drives an EV from a competitor, and not just any competitor, but the Chinese technology giant Xiaomi. He told the world that he was intrigued by the Xiaomi SU7 and had one shipped to the US to drive for research. Well, he apparently fell in love with the model and now doesn’t want to give it up, as he drives it daily. The idea that the CEO of one of America’s most storied companies is driving a Chinese car hasn’t sat well with many Americans, but it’s important to remember that simply ignoring overseas competition isn’t going to make it disappear.

2 Koenigsegg CEO: Christian von Koenigsegg

1992 Mazda Miata

As the creator of hypercars like the Koenigsegg Jesko, Christian von Koenigsegg’s ownership of the same 1992 Mazda Miata he bought at 19 is a testament to his belief in driving purity. Few cars are as honest, as focused, and as unencumbered by bloat as a first-generation NA Miata. No, it isn’t going to win many races, but it offers an analog driving experience you just can’t find these days and reminds you sometimes the greatest vehicles aren’t the most powerful or most attractive, but the ones that can get out of their own way.

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2004 Lotus Esprit V8

Just because the Miata has his heart, doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate a good sports car (he does make megacars after all), and the Lotus Esprit V8 is a fantastic choice. One of the brand’s best-looking designs, the Esprit was on sale for decades, undergoing plenty of design changes and performance updates throughout its life. In 1996, the company finally gave it the power it deserved thanks to the introduction of a twin-turbo V8 variant that must have stirred something in Koenigsegg’s soul if it’s worthy of his garage.

3 Tesla CEO: Elon Musk

1920 Ford Model T

As a pioneer in the automotive industry, it makes sense that Elon Musk would take inspiration from the first mass-produced vehicle ever made: the Ford Model T. The car you could get in any color as long as that color was black (though more colors became available after 1925), the Model T proved that the automobile could be accessible to the masses and that vehicles could be produced efficiently at scale. Musk himself needed to prove that both of these things were again possible with electric cars, something he truly accomplished when he debuted the Model S, which changed the EV landscape forever.

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1967 Jaguar E-Type Roadster

While the Model T definitely speaks to Musk’s entrepreneurial spirit, his ownership of a Jaguar E-Type proves he also appreciates timeless design. Many consider the E-Type to be the most beautiful vehicle ever produced, and even Enzo Ferrari was rumored to be one of them, yet despite its increasing age, it continues to get better. It’s as much a work of art as it is a vehicle, and it’s informed every Jaguar model that’s followed after (here’s hoping the upcoming electric GT takes some inspiration too).

4 Bugatti Rimac CEO: Mate Rimac

E46 BMW M3 CSL

Many have probably recently seen that Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac daily drives an E39 M5, but did you know he owns an E46 BMW M3 CSL too? The crown jewel of the E46 generation, the CSL (Coupe Sport Lightweight) emphasized shedding as much weight as possible, while also stiffening the suspension, adding more power, and improving the aero. The result was one of the best-driving 3 Series models ever made, and the fact that he owns one means he understands what a great driving vehicle is meant to feel like.

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Porsche Carrera GT

To create hypercars like the Rimac Nevera and the upcoming Bugatti Tourbillon, you need to understand how the hypercars of the past drove, and the Porsche Carrera GT is a fantastic place to start. With an incredible naturally aspirated V10 sitting right behind the driver, a gorgeous mid-engined body that departed from the odd looks of the 996 generation 911, and sublime driving dynamics, the Carrera GT is considered by many to be the best car ever made, and by some the most dangerous. We just hope he’s had the tires changed recently.

5 Stellantis CEO: Carlos Tavares

1966 Porsche 912

While many may not be familiar with the CEO of Stellantis, we’re here to tell you he’s a genuine enthusiast like the rest of us, and his ownership of a classic Porsche 912 proves this. The 912 was created as a cheaper, lighter version of the 911 at the time to make the model more accessible. It definitely wasn’t fast, but it forced the driver to better understand how to drive the car to get the most out of it, and it still shared that timeless 911 design. We’d love to see this car’s DNA make its way into modern-day Stellantis products.

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1976 Alpine A110

The classic Renault Alpine A110 coupe is one of those timeless vehicles that we never received in the US despite us drooling over it for decades. It’s a shame because it’s a rally legend that benefited from extremely lightweight construction and exceptional handling, something we could have used more of here in the US. Fortunately, with Alpine planning to enter our market in the future, perhaps we’ll finally receive something similar.

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