Kristen Tabar

Vice President, Technical Strategy Planning Office Division

Toyota Motor North America, Research and Development

Kristen Tabar is the vice president of the Technical Strategy Planning Office at Toyota Motor North American Research & Development (TMNA R&D) based in York Township, Mich. In this position, Tabar is responsible for Toyota’s R&D work strategies and prioritization, human resource planning and management, financial resource planning and management, and all capital investments/projects. Tabar also serves as Safety Director and Diversity Champion for TMNA R&D.

Previously, Tabar served as vice president of the Technical Administration Planning Office with oversight of Resource Planning & Management and Technical Administration at TMNA R&D.

In 2012, Tabar was made vice president of Electrical Systems Engineering with responsibilities in electrical systems product development.

Tabar joined Toyota in 1992 as an engineer, responsible for vehicle audio component development. In 1999, she was promoted to manager of Broader Multimedia Systems for North American-developed vehicles. In 2005, Tabar was promoted to general manager, responsible for developing Toyota and Lexus North American telematics systems. Tabar earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.