Mobileye founder Shashua to step down as CEO after 27-year tenure

Mobileye Global Inc. founder Amnon Shashua plans to step down as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending a 27-year run that transformed computer vision research into one of the world's most widely deployed autonomous driving platforms. The Jerusalem-based company's shares rose 8% in premarket trading on the news.

"The company continues to grow and mature, I believe this is the right moment to establish the leadership structure that will be best suited for Mobileye's next chapter," Shashua, 63, said in a statement. He will remain a director and has been offered the role of chairman, focusing on long-term technology trends and the company's humanoid robotics business.

Mobileye reported second-quarter revenue of $508 million, topping the $481.24 million average analyst estimate compiled by LSEG. The company cited strong momentum in its core advanced driver-assistance systems business as it prepares for several product launches scheduled for late 2026 and throughout 2027. Intel Corp., which owns about 77% of Mobileye, said it remains "bullish on Mobileye and its trajectory."

The transition marks a generational shift at a company that has deployed its EyeQ technology in more than 250 million vehicles across 1,400 models worldwide. Shashua, who holds the Sachs Chair in Computer Science at Hebrew University, was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering this year and made the TIME100 AI list in 2025. The board has hired an executive search firm to find his replacement, with Chairman Safroadu Yeboah-Amankwah saying the company is "focused on selecting the right leader who will help us deliver our next phase of growth."

A Founder's Legacy and a Robotics Bet

Shashua founded Mobileye in 1999, applying computer vision to automotive safety years before the term "autonomous driving" entered the mainstream. The company went public in 2014 in what was then the largest Israeli initial public offering, was acquired by Intel for about $15.3 billion in 2017, and was relisted in 2022. Earlier this year, Mobileye acquired Mentee Robotics to enter the humanoid robotics space, which Shashua described as "the future of Physical AI."

The CEO search comes as Mobileye navigates a transition from its core driver-assistance business — which generates the bulk of its revenue — toward higher-level autonomous systems and robotics. The company's Imaging Radar and Compound AI platforms are central to that push, with production timelines tied to the 2026-2027 product cycle. Mobileye competes directly with Nvidia Corp.'s Drive platform and Qualcomm Inc.'s Snapdragon Ride portfolio in the race to supply automakers with production-ready autonomous driving systems, a market that consulting firm McKinsey estimates could be worth $400 billion by 2035.

What's at Stake for Investors

Mobileye trades as a standalone entity under Intel's majority ownership, giving investors a pure-play bet on autonomous driving technology without direct exposure to Intel's foundry challenges. The stock's 8% premarket gain suggests the market views the leadership transition as an orderly evolution rather than a disruption. Still, founder-led companies face heightened scrutiny during CEO successions, and the board's choice of successor will signal whether Mobileye prioritizes continuity in its automotive business or accelerates its robotics ambitions.

Intel CFO David Zinsner said the chipmaker "continues to be bullish on Mobileye and its trajectory," providing a backstop of support from its largest shareholder. The company's next major product launches — including its next-generation EyeQ chip family and Imaging Radar systems — are expected in late 2026 and 2027, making the CEO appointment a critical decision for the timing of Mobileye's next growth phase.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.