Chrysler Group announced this week that Hussein Dourra has been named the winner of the Edward N. Cole Award for Automotive Engineering Innovation for 2012 according to a company press release.
The yearly prize is awarded to recognize a Society of Automotive Engineers member whose lifetime accomplishments have been determined as "original, significant, and innovative."
Dourra, 55, joined Chrysler in 1982 and currently heads the advanced powertrain controls team. He currently holds an impressive 22 U.S. patents, and five international patents, and helped revolutionize the industry's first electronic transmission controls according to the press release.
"Hussein exemplifies the drive and passion we seek to instill in our engineers," says Bob Lee , Chrysler Group LLC Vice President and Head of Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion Systems Engineering in the company release. "We are extremely proud of his accomplishments and deeply grateful for the contributions he has made to the company and our industry."
Dourra won the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award in 2008 for his work on an algorithm that allows precise control of multiple shift elements.
His work sparked an evolution of a six-speed automatic transmission that produced cost-savings of an estimated $360 million. In doing so, Chrysler became the first North American auto maker to introduce a six-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel-drive applications according to the company press release.
Chrysler Group is the first and only North American automotive company to produce vehicles with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Dourra is a big reason the company is consistently the leader in advanced automatic transmission development.
Dourra graduated from Wayne State University, where he earned a Ph. D in engineering and Master's degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Business Administration. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University.
The Edward N. Cole Award is handed out to honor the memory of the former General Motors Corp. president and CEO. Dourra will receive his award during the SAE 2013 World Congress taking place on April 16 through 18.
Chrysler CEO and Chairman Sergio Marchionne will deliver the keynote address according to the company press release.
"Our committee was especially impressed by the number of Hussein Dourra 's ideas that made it through to vehicle production," Grady says. "This is why we made our call."
Related Articles:
Ford's Driving Skills For Life Program Plans To Double Number Of Teen Drivers It Reaches, Enters 10th Year Of Teaching New Drivers (VIDEO)
Ford to Begin Selling Vehicles in Myanmar Through Well-Connected Business Group
Geneva Auto Show: 2015 Volkswagen To Debut New GTI, Will Hit Markets in Spring 2014 (PHOTOS)
Dog Shoots Owner In The Leg While Riding In A Truck, Avoids Criminal Charges
2013 Cadillac Models Equipped With Driver Assist Technologies To Ease Traffic, Daily Commute Issues (PHOTOS/ VIDEO)
Nissan to Compete At 24 Hours of LeMans With Electric Race Car In 2014 (VIDEO)
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
