Somnath Ghorad
About Somnath Ghorad
Somnath Ghorad is the Director of BEV & FCEV Engineering at Nikola Motor Company, specializing in advanced simulation, development, testing, and validation.
Current Position at Nikola Motor Company
Somnath Ghorad currently serves as the Director of BEV & FCEV Engineering - Advanced Simulation, Development, Testing, and Validation at Nikola Motor Company. Since 2022, he has been based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he oversees advanced simulation, development, testing, and validation efforts for battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
Previous Roles at Nikola Motor Company
Prior to his current role, Somnath Ghorad held several key positions at Nikola Motor Company. From 2020 to 2022, he was the Senior Manager of Advanced Simulation, Development, Testing, and Validation. Earlier in 2020, he worked as a Technical Specialist Lead for CAE Durability for five months. In these roles, he contributed significantly to the company's engineering efforts in electric vehicle development.
Professional Experience at Navistar Inc
Somnath Ghorad spent a significant part of his career at Navistar Inc, working in various roles in the Greater Chicago Area. From 2018 to 2020, he was the Senior Team Lead of ADAS/AV Chassis Brake HIL Simulation. Before that, he led the RLDA and Full Vehicle Durability team from 2015 to 2018. He also served as the Senior Team Lead for CAE from 2013 to 2015. At Navistar, he was responsible for implementing advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and managing vehicle durability projects.
Educational Background
Somnath Ghorad holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business, completed in 2007. He also earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Design Engineering from Shivaji University, completed in 1996. His educational background has equipped him with both technical and business expertise, enhancing his ability to lead complex engineering projects.
Key Projects and Initiatives
Somnath Ghorad has been instrumental in several key engineering projects. He co-led the Design Verification Plan (DVP) for an On-Highway Class 8 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) truck, collaborating with an alliance partner in Europe. He developed a comprehensive three-year plan for the ADAS/AV Hardware in Loop (HIL) Simulation Group, focusing on hardware, software, training, and consulting needs. Additionally, he has extensive experience in duty cycle and mission profile development for commercial vehicles, including various regulatory compliance tests.