Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, WAJ (Western Automotive Journalists) is a group of writers, authors, broadcasters, photographers, artists, and designers who share a common thread: We’re passionate about the auto industry and the vehicles it produces. Learn more about WAJ…
WAJ News
Media Days has been a signature event for WAJ for the last 30 years. With journalists and a variety of vehicles on site to sample back to back, plenty of content was made. Discover what we experienced!
Register now for WAJ Media Days 2022! Taking place from May 9th to the 11th
Last year’s Media Days event in Half Moon Bay was a success for both the journalists and automakers who were able to attend. This year, our committee has worked on improving the experience, starting with a return to late spring, with the event taking place from May 9th through the 11th. In addition, we are including lodging options with media registrations, making 2022 Media Days even more enticing to attend.
Learn more and register on our 2022 WAJ Media Day page here.
Want to see what Media Day is all about? Check out previous WAJ Media Days here.
2022 WAJ Membership Renewal is now open!
It’s that time of year to renew your WAJ membership for 2022! Any changes to your membership contact information, including new address, email, media outlet or headshot, can be made at the links below. We look forward to seeing you all again in-person!
Full Members can renew and update their information here.
Associate and Manufacturer Members can renew and update information here.
Silicon Valley Reinvents the Wheel is now the World Safety Summit
A Free Virtual Event brought to you by:
Western Automotive Journalists & Velodyne LiDAR
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 – 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. PDT
For the past five years, WAJ has produced Silicon Valley Reinvents the Wheel (SVRtW), an event at the epicenter of innovation that brings together thought leaders from the auto and tech worlds to examine not only the future of cars, but also how technology is transforming transportation.
Unfortunately, the pandemic prevents us from gathering in person, so this year WAJ has joined forces with Velodyne LiDAR to produce a virtual event: the 2020 World Safety Summit (WSS).
WSS will feature engaging presentations and discussions from a diverse group of experts from industry, government, journalism and academia to advance understanding about how autonomous technologies can enable safer mobility.
The 2020 World Safety Summit takes place on Thursday, October 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PDT. It is being held as a FREE virtual event.
Click here for more information and to register for the
2020 World Safety Summit
WAJ Board of Directors 2020
The ballots are in and here is our new WAJ Board of Directors beginning September 15,2020. The new Boards term will be until June 30, 2022.
President: Brian Douglas
Executive Vice President: Mike Hagerty
Secretary: Michael Coates
Treasurer: Satish Kondapavulur
Vice President-Committees: Alex Stack
President Emeritus: Charlie Vogelheim
WAJ has also commissioned our legal counsel to update our Bylaws to comply with current tax and non-profit regulations as well as reduce our board officers from the current seven to a more manageable five members. The new bylaws on our website for your review HERE. A separate Survey will follow to solicit your approval of the new bylaws. Please direct any bylaw questions and comments to your WAJ President, Brian Douglas.
2019 Silicon Valley Reinvents the Wheel Recap
Monday October 14, 2019
The 2019 Silicon Valley Reinvents the Wheel was a huge success. Click here for the Full Report.
WAJ Media Day 2019 Recap
A Hit for Journalists and Automakers Alike
Media Day(s) has been a signature event for WAJ since the organization’s founding 27-years ago. For Media Day 
2019, WAJ brought 33 journalists, 21vehicles, and 16 automaker representatives, along with teams of logistics support from PageOne, DriveShop and Land Rover Experience for a one day intense on and off road extravaganza! Learn More
Recap of the WAJ July Meeting Hosted by Mecum Auctions
Mecum Auctions hosted our July Western Automotive Journalists’ Meeting with a tour at the Academy of Art Museum in San Francisco and dinner. This year at Mecum’s 
Monterey auction, the Academy of Art University will offer thirty-seven cars at auction. WAJ members had the opportunity to see the Art Academy’s higher-end vehicles that remain in the collection close-up with Rob Fisher, the CEO of the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum providing the backgrounds of the vehicles. Learn More
Recap of the WAJ June member meeting with DriveShop
Our last meeting on June 27th at the Basque Center was full of information from Lindsay Giles, the Influencer Marketing Manager from Drive Shop. Giles gave us an insiders view of how to make the most of Social Media with tips and tricks from the masters themselves. Learn More
10th Anniversary of Legends of Auto Gala in Monterey
Plan on attending the 10th Annual Legends of Auto Gala on Thursday August 15th at the Embassy Suites in Seaside. Learn More
April WAJ member meeting and hosted dinner at the Valeo Mobility Tech Center in San Mateo.
Valeo welcomed WAJ to its Mobility Tech Center for our April Members meeting. Valeo, not a household name, is a leading global automotive tech company. Valeo created nearly 100 years ago has quite a presence worldwide. It is located in 33 countries with sales of $23 billion and 113k employees…40 of whom are based here in Silicon Valley. Learn More:
Recap of our March member meeting At Unity
Our March meeting found us in the Unity offices in downtown San Francisco. Unity 
produces a real-time 3D development platforms and is mostly known in the video game world. However, the tech is also used by manufacturers like Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW and even niche producers and designers like Pininfarina. Learn More:
2018 SVRtW Event Recap
On Monday, October 1, the Western Automotive Journalists and the Autotech Council met at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California for their annual high-tech automotive event. The all-day program featured more than a dozen interesting speakers, the Autotech Council Science Fair, and some outdoor displays during a tasty lunch. Learn More:
2018 WAJ Media Days Recap
The 2018 WAJ Media Days is history, and was a smashing success. A big thanks to all of our Manufacturer partners and our members for all of their efforts. Articles and Photos are starting to arrive. Checkout the event HERE: