Dr.-Ing. E.h. Richard van Basshuysen was Head of Development for the comfort class vehicles and for engine and transmission development at Audi. He was also the editor of ATZ and MTZ. In 2000, he was awarded the prestigious Ernst Blickle Prize, and in 2001, he received the Benz-Daimler-Maybach Medal of Honor from the VDI (Association of German Engineers) for the introduction of the passenger car diesel engine with direct injection into series production. In 2004, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Magdeburg in recognition of his life's work.

Dr.-Ing. E.h. Richard van Basshuysen passed away in the summer of 2020. Prof. Dr.-Ing.

Rudolf Flierl taught at the Chair of Internal Combustion Engines at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern after many years of industrial experience as an engine developer at BMW.