Kristen Tabar

Kristen Tabar is group vice president of Vehicle Development and Engineering at Toyota Motor North American Research & Development (TMNA R&D) in York Township, Michigan, responsible for vehicle development design engineering teams for Toyota’s North American operations. In this role, Tabar directs the vehicle development strategy, introducing new technology and systems, working with North American manufacturing centers and local suppliers to deliver vehicles matching customer expectations and Toyota’s high level of quality.

Previously, Tabar was vice president of Corporate Quality at TMNA headquarters in Plano, Texas. In this position, she was responsible for development, deployment, and management of the quality systems and policies of Toyota’s North American operations.

Prior to that role, Tabar served as vice president of the Technical Strategy Planning Office at Toyota Motor North American Research & Development in York Township, Michigan. She was responsible for Toyota’s R&D strategies, human resource planning and management, financial resource planning and management, and all capital investments. Tabar also served as as vice president of Electrical Systems Engineering with development responsibilities in electrical systems, products and services, and electronics planning and design oversight of the Avalon, Sienna, Venza, Tundra, and Tacoma.

Tabar joined Toyota in 1992 as an engineer, responsible for vehicle audio component development.

Passionate about women’s leadership, Tabar supports a range of outreach and continuing development initiatives related to STEM education for women. Currently, she serves on Toyota’s Diversity Advisory Board, Audit Committee, and Investment Council.

Tabar earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan She is a member of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and supports working groups for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Vehicle Data Privacy, and Leadership. She has also served as a member of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce and as Toyota’s representative to American Center for Mobility.

Tabar is married to husband, Dan for 25 years and has three future engineering daughters: Andrea (20), Danielle (17), and Natalie (14).