AutoNation, Inc. announced the appointment of Ravi Simhambhatla as Chief Technology and AI Officer, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Simhambhatla will lead the company’s technology, data science, and AI agenda.
“Over decades, we have built a portfolio of brands, physical infrastructure, and scale that have delivered consistently strong returns for our shareholders, and that would be nearly impossible to replicate today,” said Mike Manley, chief executive officer of AutoNation. “Technology, data science, and the intelligent use of AI give us the opportunity to get significantly more from that foundation: to raise the returns on our capital and extend our reach well beyond traditional geographic boundaries. That’s why I’m delighted to welcome Ravi. From building an airline’s systems from scratch to leading global technology at Avis Budget Group, he has turned technology into a competitive advantage at both start-up speed and global scale. His appointment is one of several steps we’re taking to accelerate the growth of our business.”
Simhambhatla brings more than 30 years of experience leading enterprise technology and digital transformation, with deep expertise in data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, product innovation, and customer experience. Most recently, he was executive vice president and chief digital and innovation officer at Avis Budget Group. He previously served as a managing director at Google Cloud, advising major enterprises on cloud, data, and AI transformation, and held senior technology leadership roles at United Airlines, overseeing commercial systems, digital commerce, loyalty, and revenue management.
Earlier in his career, Simhambhatla served as vice president of information technology at Tesla.
“I am honored to join AutoNation at an important point in the evolution of automotive retail,” said Simhambhatla. “With its tremendous scale, iconic brand, and talented Associates, AutoNation has a powerful platform for innovation. I look forward to working with the team to apply technology and AI in practical ways—making the customer journey easier, equipping Associates with better tools and insights, and supporting the company’s next phase of growth.”
