Q&A

At no other time in the auto industry's history has the role of vehicle integration and synthesis been so important. The growth of electronic content, the melding of mechanical and electrical engineering and the increased focus on electrified propulsion have made integration/synthesis teams vital to ensuring that design spec and requirements are maintained through prototypes, testing and validation in order to meet market standards and exceed customer expectations.

Eunjoo Hopkins is vehicle synthesis manager on the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (called “4-by-e” by Stellantis engineers; see p.11). She joined the former FiatChrysler in 2009 as a powertrain engineer and only recently moved over to vehicle integration. “I've worked in propulsion systems for most of my career here thus far, including the [Chrysler] Pacifica Hybrid,” she told SAE Media during the Grand Cherokee 4xe media launch in Texas. “I moved into integration/synthesis because I wanted to experience the other aspects of vehicle development.”