AVIA Announces Motional’s Sam Wempe to Serve as New Board Chair
WASHINGTON – AVIA, the leading trade association representing autonomous vehicle companies in the U.S., announced this week that Sam Wempe, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Motional, will serve as the association’s next Board Chair. Wempe succeeds Melissa Wade of Aurora.
Wempe has served on the AVIA Board of Directors since 2022, most recently as Vice Chair, and has helped the organization grow. In his role at Motional, Wempe works with regulators and other stakeholders to guide policy decision-making processes and is an expert on the use of AI, privacy policies, and market prioritization.
Motional is a leading driverless technology company that is commercializing fully autonomous vehicles for ride-hail and delivery applications. Motional launched the world’s first public robotaxi service and pioneered AV integrations with ride-hail networks. The company plans to launch a driverless service using its all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxis, developed in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group.
“AVIA is excited to have Sam Wempe as our next Board Chair,” said Jeff Farrah, AVIA CEO. “Sam has been a dedicated member of our Board and a passionate advocate for the autonomous vehicle industry. Sam’s tenure as Board Chair will coincide with important industry initiatives at the federal and state levels. It is imperative the AV industry seize the moment and put in place policies that ensure the United States remains a global leader in AV technology. I am confident we can achieve our goals under Sam’s leadership ”
“This is an exciting time for autonomous vehicles, and I’m thrilled to serve as Chair of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, said Sam Wempe. Earlier this month, AVIA released ‘Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles,’ outlining how we can keep the U.S. at the cutting edge while protecting public safety and driving economic growth. I look forward to collaborating with the new administration to turn these recommendations into tangible, forward-thinking policies. With the right leadership and bold action, we’ll harness the full potential of AV technology and secure a stronger, safer, and more innovative future for the United States.”
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. As the unified voice of the AV industry, the association is comprised of companies with diverse technical expertise and experience in the technology, automobile, ridehail, trucking, and logistics sectors. 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.