Professor's Journey to Infiniti

Dr Zafar Momin's association with cars extends beyond owning and driving them

- Christopher Tan

Dr Zafar Momin is a car guy with a difference. Besides having an affinity for cars, he has spent much of his professional life in and around the automotive industry.

The 66-year-old has worked for a major car manufacturer, covered the industry as a consultant and joined a diversified group with motor dealerships before embarking on a post-retirement career in academia.

He is currently an adjunct professor with NUS Business School, where he teaches two master's programmes. He is also an independent board director at Petronas Chemicals Group.

Dr Momin drives an Infiniti Q70, which he paid around $180,000 for in 2016. It was a 2015-registered management unit from authorised agent Wearnes Automotive. He has owned several interesting cars in the past, but more on that later.

Born in India, raised in the United States and now a Singaporean, Dr Momin studied mechanical engineering and worked for General Motors (GM) - America's largest vehicle-maker - after graduation.

"I was hired under a pioneering and unique programme... to bridge the huge gap between research and product development," he says.

He was involved in using advanced computer-aided methods to design and develop GM's luxury car platforms. Cars built on such platforms included the Buick Park Avenue, Oldsmobile 98, Cadillac Deville and Pontiac Bonneville.