Linda Zhang is an automotive engineer. She is currently the chief engineer for the

Ford F-150 Lightning The Ford F-150 Lightning is a battery electric full-size light duty truck unveiled by Ford in May 2021 as part of the fourteenth generation Ford F-Series. Four models have been announced, and all models initially will be dual-motor, four- ...

all-electric pickup truck.

Early life and education

Zhang's family immigrated to the United States when she was eight years old. She cites her father's work as a researcher for Ford as inspiration for her later career. Zhang majored in

electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

, graduating in 1996. In 1998 she earned an MBA from the University of Michigan, followed by a master's degree in 2011 in

computer engineering Computer engineering (CoE or CpE) is a branch of electrical engineering and computer science that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineers ...

also from the University of Michigan.

Career

Zhang began her career at Ford in 1996 at the age of 19. As an electrical engineer, Zhang worked on the Ford Explorer and the Ford Escape, as well as powertrains for multiple Ford models. Zhang was part of Ford's research and strategy into an

all-electric vehicle An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. It can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or it can be powered autonomously by a battery (sometimes cha ...

. In September 2018, she became the chief engineer for Ford's all-electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. Zhang focused on both the engineering challenges and the strategic challenges in building an electric truck that can compete with a gasoline powered engine, saying: "There was a lot of skepticism around whether EV trucks can really be tough." President Biden took a test drive of the Lightning in May 2021, stating that he was impressed with the truck and Zhang's work. The truck was launched in May 2021.

Honors and recognition

* 2021, named a Rising Star by ''

Automotive News ''Automotive News'' is a weekly newspaper written for the automotive industry, predominantly individuals corresponding with automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers. Based in Detroit and owned by Crain Communications Inc, ''Automotive ...

'' * 2021, featured on the November cover of ''

Time Magazine ''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Mar ...

'' for her work on the F-150 Lightning * 2022, named one of ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...

s Women of the Year, which recognizes women who have made a significant impact

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhang, Linda Living people American automotive engineers American women engineers Ford people University of Michigan alumni Women automotive engineers Women electrical engineers Year of birth missing (living people)