Autocar names autonomous driving engineer as Great British Women in the Car Industry - Rising Stars winner

Autonomous car engineer Amy Rimmer has been named as the overall winner of the Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry - Rising Stars accolade.

Rimmer, who works for Jaguar Land Rover, stood out from hundreds of nominations because of her focused ambition to become a leading expert on autonomous vehicles. To date, she has played an instrumental role in developing Jaguar Land Rover’s autonomous vehicle technology, and taken the lead in demonstrating autonomous cars to the UK Government for the firm.

To see the full list of 100 Great British Women in the Car Industry - Rising Stars click here

Drawing on a strong academic background, Rimmer studied at Cambridge, gaining a master’s degree in mechanical engineering before going on to complete a PhD in vehicle dynamics. 

Rimmer’s automotive career began with internships with the McLaren F1 team and Volvo trucks, before she eventually headed to Jaguar Land Rover in 2015. Today her job title is Research Engineer – Autonomous Vehicle Control.

Commenting on her achievement, Rimmer said: “Working on autonomous vehicles has been a hugely rewarding dimension to my career as an engineer, so to be formally recognised by the Great British Women initiative is a great honour.

“I hope that my story will motivate young women to pursue a career in automotive, and to reap the rewards that the industry can offer. It’s slightly surreal watching the car of the future unfold today, and being part of the team behind it never fails to inspire on a daily basis.” 

Mark Tisshaw, Autocar editor, commented: “Amy stood out to us as being a driving force behind one of the most significant automotive developments in a generation. 

“Her dedication and talent has made a huge contribution to positioning these iconic brands at the forefront of autonomy, ensuring we’ll see self-driving British cars on our roads in just a few short years.”

SMMT CEO Mike Hawes added: "The development of connected and autonomous vehicles presents a huge opportunity for our industry and for society as a whole - potentially contributing £51 billion to the UK economy and helping society be safer and more mobile. 

“It's terrific to see this award going to such an inspirational figure in this exciting field, and we hope this award will inspire others to follow her."

Rimmer topped a list of 100 rising stars from diverse backgrounds within the car industry, reflecting the wide scope of opportunity for careers within it. Categories included vehicle development, executives, manufacturing, retail, marketing, communications, design and apprenticeships and interns.

The full list of winners is as follows: