John Heinlein, Ph.D.
An experienced technology and marketing leader, John brings his background from startups and established companies to Sonatus. He worked for 14 years at Arm, most recently leading Automotive Partnerships for North America where he engaged OEMs, Tier-1s, and others to deploy Arm-based solutions into automotive applications, including autonomous vehicles. His team was integral to launching the SOAFEE industry initiative for software-defined vehicles of which Sonatus is a member. Earlier he served as VP and Chief of Staff to the CEO and led a group responsible for competitive strategy. For three years, he was VP of Corporate Marketing where he led centralized outbound marketing, spanning marketing campaigns, press, events, web, digital marketing, ecosystem programs, and working closely with investor relations. Prior to Arm, John had an 11-year tenure at microprocessor startup Transmeta where he held several senior roles spanning business development, marketing, and customer success, among others. John earned his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University and an M.S. and Ph.D., both in Electrical Engineering, from Stanford University.
Appears in 57 Episodes
How can software benefit chassis innovation? | with Ramiro Gutierrez of ZF
Recorded live at Auto Tech 2026, this episode of The Garage features ZF North America President Ramiro Gutierrez explaining how software is transforming traditional ch...
Can we future-proof cars with software? | with Chip Goetzinger of AutoMobility Advisors
Recorded live at Auto Tech 2026, this episode features AutoMobility Advisors' Chip Goetzinger discussing the rise of software-defined vehicles, embedded connectivity, ...
How will vehicle experiences evolve with AI? | with Mel Roberts of Stellantis
Recorded live at AutoTech 2026, host John Heinlein speaks with Stellantis's Mel Roberts on how AI and small language models (SLMs) are transforming the automotive user...
How does Subaru choose connected services? | with Amy Sgrignoli of Subaru of America
Recorded live at AutoTech 2026, this episode of The Garage features Subaru's Amy Sgrignoli discussing how the brand prioritizes safety and customer experience in conne...
How does 500 petabytes make ADAS smarter? | with Nimrod Brickman of Mobileye
Recorded live at AutoTech 2026, this episode of The Garage features Sonatus host John Heinlein and Mobileye VP Nimrod Brickman discussing the evolution of ADAS and aut...
Autonomous Trucking, Innovation and Fleet Data | with Matt McLelland of Covenant Logistics
Recorded live at ACT Expo 2026, this podcast episode features Matt McLelland of Covenant Logistics discussing how the company evaluates diverse fleet technologies, fro...
How can commercial fleets benefit from AI? | with Lawrence Bader (Retired UPS)
Recorded live at ACT Expo 2026, host John Heinlein interviews former UPS fleet manager Lawrence Bader on the evolution of fleet technology, including keyless systems, ...
Can vehicle personalization drive loyalty? | with Roger Lanctot of Strategia Now
In this podcast episode recorded live at the COVESA meeting, host John Heinlein interviews Roger Lanctot about how the automotive industry can leverage vehicle data to...
What's the progress of AI and SDV in 2026? | with Maitê Bezerra of Omdia
In a live recording from COVESA all-member meeting in Porto, Portugal, John and Omdia analyst Maitê Bezerra discuss the 2026 SDV survey, which reveals the industry exp...
How are AI and SDVs Reshaping the Supply Chain? | with Derek De Bono of Valeo
In this episode of The Garage podcast recorded live at CES 2026, host John Heinlein interviews Derek De Bono, Vice President of Software Defined Vehicles at Valeo, a m...
How Big Is the Vehicle AI Market—Really? | with Ajit Chander Swaminathan of Frost and Sullivan
In this podcast episode, filmed at CES2026, Ajit Chander, Associate Partner and Mobility Practice Leader at Frost and Sullivan, discusses a comprehensive research repo...
Can AI Actually Lower Your Car Insurance? | with Michael O'Shea of MOTER
This episode from CES 2026 features Michael O'Shea, CTO and COO of MOTER Technologies, discussing the company's approach to usage-based insurance through in-vehicle AI...
How is Machine Learning Reinventing Tire Performance? | with Jeremy Vayssettes of Michelin
In this podcast episode recorded at CES 2026, Jeremy Vayssettes, Chief Technology Officer for Tire Digital Twin at Michelin, discusses how the company is expanding bey...
How to Maintain Strong OEM-Supplier Alliances | with Augustin Friedel of MHP – A Porsche Company
In this episode of The Garage podcast, recorded live at CES 2026, host John Heinlein interviews Augustin Friedel, Associated Partner for Software Defined Vehicles at M...
How AI Speeds Development at Nissan | with Takayuki Nakamoto of Nissan Technical Center Europe
Recorded live at CES 2026 at the Sonatus booth, host John Heinlein interviews Takayuki 'Terry' Nakamoto, Director of Electrical, Electronics, and ADAS Engineering Depa...
Vehicle AI: Hype, Reality, and What Comes Next | with Neel Mitra of AWS
Neel Mitra, the Worldwide Solutions Architecture Leader for Data and AI at AWS, discusses the evolution and applications of AI in the automotive industry. He highlight...
Can You Engineer a ‘Genius’ RV? | with Marc Fecker of Robo
Our guest today is Marc Fecker, CEO of Robo. Robo is an engineering firm focused on the future of connected transportation. In our conversation, we discussed how Robo ...
What Can Western OEMs Learn from Chinese Carmakers? | with Suat Kusefoglu of Capgemini
In a live recording from AutoTech 2025 in Novi, Michigan, Suat Kasafalou Global Solutions Director from Capgemini shares insights on the evolution of software-defined ...
Automotive Has a Talent Problem. How Can We Fix It? | with Stephanie May of Women Automotive Network
In a live episode from AutoTech Detroit, Stephanie May, director of the Women Automotive Network, discusses the organization's mission to attract and retain female tal...
What the HECK is a Virtual Sensor (and Why do YOU Want Them)? | with Christoph Loytved of COMPREDICT
Christoph Loytved, product manager from COMPREDICT, describes their innovative virtual sensor technology. Virtual sensors can offer cost reduction and system optimizat...