Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association Announces New Board of Directors Chair

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) announced Tony Reinhart with Ford Motor Company will chair the trade association’s Board of Directors. 

AVIA is the unified voice of the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry and works with lawmakers, regulators, and the public to realize the technology’s safety, mobility, and economic benefits. Ford Motor Company is a founding member of AVIA, with a longstanding interest in and commitment to the advancement of AVs. Reinhart’s appointment as chair will further strengthen AVIA’s ability to advocate for the safe, timely deployment of AVs on roads and highways. 

“I am excited to lead the Board as chair and work with the full spectrum of automotive and technology companies to advance autonomous vehicles,” said Reinhart, Director of State, Local, and Stakeholder Affairs at Ford Motor Company. “Our efforts to safely deploy AVs across the country will bring invaluable benefits to the American people.” 

“I’ve had a front-row seat to AVIA’s growth and new opportunities in recent years, and I know Tony will continue cementing the organization’s role as the leading voice of autonomous vehicles,” said David Quinalty of Waymo, outgoing Chair of the AVIA Board of Directors. Mr. Quinalty will continue to serve on AVIA’s Executive Committee in his capacity as Immediate Past Chair.

“Tony’s leadership and vast experience will be crucial to AVIA as we advance policy that allows the safe and timely deployment of autonomous vehicles,” said Jeff Farrah, Executive Director of AVIA. “Ford Motor Company has a strong history of automotive innovation and AVIA is fortunate to count the company among its members.” 

About the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA)

AVIA works with lawmakers, regulators, and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of autonomous vehicles. The association is comprised of companies with technical expertise and experience in the technology, automobile, rideshare and trucking sectors. Aurora, Cavnue, Cruise, Embark, Ford, Gatik, Kodiak, Lyft, May Mobility, Motional, Navya, Nuro, TuSimple, Uber, Volkswagen Group of America, Volvo Cars, Waabi, Waymo, and Zoox are members. Bringing together their varied backgrounds, the companies formed AVIA to advance AVs’ tremendous safety, mobility and economic benefits to consumers in the safest and swiftest manner possible.