The California Mobility Center, which aspires to be the leading innovation center for global mobility, continues to see more involvement from industry leaders, the latest being the addition of a new board member and global manufacturer.
The CMC is a nonprofit, public-private entity offering programs and resources to help the mobility industry accelerate the commercialization of new innovations.
On Wednesday, the center announced Guelph, Ontario-based Linamar Corp. and its CEO Linda Hasenfratz are joining the effort, as an international member and board member, respectively. Member companies can benefit from access to early-stage innovations, cross-industry thought leadership, and pathways to commercialization from influencing policy, according to the CMC.
"We are thrilled that Linda and Linamar have joined the CMC's growing ecosystem, a global company that sits at the intersection of leading-edge manufacturing technology," said CMC Board Chair Arlen Orchard, in a news release. "They are creating advanced manufacturing solutions that are changing the way we move goods and people."
Linamar makes equipment for the aerial work platform industry and for agricultural harvesting, and develops products for new energy powertrains and for body and chassis, driveline, engine and transmission systems for both electrified and traditionally powered vehicles.
The company has over 25,000 employees in 60 manufacturing locations, 12 research and development centers and 25 sales offices in 17 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Linamar generated $7.4 billion in sales in 2019 and is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Orchard said Hasenfratz is widely recognized as a Canadian and global leader who brings business influence, international reach and expertise that will propel the center's goals. She has been Linamar's CEO since 2002 and has served on leadership boards of organizations such as the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Business Council of Canada and the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board. In 2017, she was named the Canadian chair of the Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, and was named to Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women International list the year prior.
"As a company long involved in the automotive sector, our primary focus for mobility at Linamar has clearly shifted to the enormous opportunities for growth in the area of electrification of the vehicle," Hasenfratz said, in a news release. "I am excited about the opportunity to be engaged with the CMC and the ecosystem it is creating around electrification and driving towards a sustainable future, both as an advisor and as a participant in this industry transformation."
Since opening in March, the CMC has added more than 25 companies as members and clients. Over the last several months, major utility providers Southern California Edison and Alectra Utilities joined the effort, as well as Bollinger Motors Inc. and Pearce Renewables.
