Kenner brings a wealth of experience leading safety at multiple automotive and tech companies as Torc nears market entry and commercialization
BLACKSBURG, Va – April 17, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced the appointment of Steve Kenner as the company’s Chief Safety Officer. Kenner brings nearly four decades of experience in engineering and automotive safety for companies like Aurora, Kodiak, General Motors, Uber and more to Torc as the company drives toward the commercialization of autonomous trucks.
In this role, Kenner will report to Torc’s CEO, Peter Vaughan Schmidt, overseeing the development and implementation of robust safety programs at a global level and representing Torc to federal and state agencies. Kenner will lead a team of internal safety experts, ensuring the continued cross-functional prioritization of safety into every facet of the organization – from development and testing to deployment.
“Steve’s impressive career trajectory and commitment to safety make him the ideal candidate to lead Torc’s safety, regulatory, compliance and government affairs efforts,” said Schmidt. “His deep expertise and leadership in the automotive industry will be instrumental in advancing our mission to commercialize autonomous trucks and ensure the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance.”
“Torc’s innovative approach to autonomous trucking and its commitment to safety align perfectly with my professional values and goals. Joining Torc is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the future of transportation, and I look forward to working with the talented team to bring this technology to the freight industry,” commented Kenner.
Kenner’s distinguished career includes leadership positions at several leading U.S. automakers and technology companies, including Ford, Apple, Locomation and others. Most recently, he served as the Chief Safety Officer at Cruise, where he led a team of system engineers, safety experts, and regulatory compliance professionals.
Kenner holds an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Kettering University.
About Torc
Torc, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has nearly 20 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. In addition to its Blacksburg headquarters and engineering offices in Austin, Texas, and Montreal, Canada, Torc has a fleet operations facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, to support the company’s productization and commercialization efforts, as well as a presence in Ann Arbor, MI, to take advantage of the autonomous and automotive talent base in that region. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.