Top tech: Thomas Mueller is considered a proven expert in the fields of connected car and electronic systems.

AUDI AG has named physicist Thomas Mueller as its incoming head of electronics at the German prestige automotive brand, succeeding Ricky Hudi who is leaving the company after almost two decades’ service.

Dr Mueller, 45, comes to Audi after four years at Volvo Car Group, where he has played a key role in developing connected car systems and plug-in hybrid powertrains currently being introduced with new-generation vehicles – as well as the Swedish brand’s first full-electric vehicle due later this decade.

Most recently, Dr Mueller served as vice-president of electrics/electronics and chassis, having previously been responsible for electrical and electronic systems engineering and Volvo’s E-Propulsion (electric drive) unit.

He is considered a top expert in the field, making his name at the BMW Group where for more than a decade he was instrumental in developing electric and electronic systems for the company, and later headed up its Connected Car division.

In announcing the appointment, which takes effect in December, Audi’s board member in charge of technical development Stefan Knirsch said Dr Mueller was “a proven expert in the areas of automotive electrics and electronics and will continue to advance the digitisation and networking of our products”.

Ricky Hudi

Meanwhile, Mr Hudi is preparing to set up his own technology firm and will act as a consultant for HERE – a mapping company in which Audi, BMW and Daimler are all investors.

Audi AG chairman of the board of management Rupert Stadler said the company had become one of the leaders in automotive electronic innovations – including in the area of autonomous vehicles – under Mr Hudi, another former BMW executive who subsequently joined Audi in 1997.

One of his first major achievements at the company was, as head of infotainment development, taking the Audi MMI system from pre-development to production in the early 2000s.

“Under Hudi’s leadership, the networking of the car was advanced decisively and a technology lead built up in the area of autonomous driving,” Mr Stadler said.

Audi says Mr Hudi also set new trends in battery and lighting technology and that in the field of semiconductor technology he established important co-operation – with Nvidia, for example – in the area of graphics processing units.

By Terry Martin