This is part three of a three-part series for International Women’s Day 2026.
See Part 1 – See Part 2 – See Part 3
Today, the BiW stamping and assembly sector not only integrates new processes but also uses diversity as a strategic tool to expand its potential and reach new market segments. This shift in perspective is evident in the experiences of women working in the sector today. Four women from General Motors and AutoForm Brazil explore the inclusion of women both on the ground and at higher hierarchical levels, and how cultural barriers have changed, revealing an evolution that transcends the technology of production lines.
General Motors: Mell Dell’Monica
Mell’s trajectory shows a striking transition between different generations. Before joining General Motors, she worked in administration as a young apprentice, dealing with documents and office routines. Despite completing a technical course in Administration, she soon realised that this was not the path that sparked her interest and decided to pursue her passion for the exact sciences. After attending a lecture held by ITA during her secondary education, she was motivated to study Aerospace Engineering at UFABC.
At General Motors, she found not only learning opportunities but also a welcoming and respectful environment. Working with more experienced professionals increased her confidence in choosing engineering. Mell sees the current industry as more receptive; in her day-to-day life, she collaborates with several women, a result of changing social attitudes. She admires one of her co-workers: “She is a reference for me, a person who has a lot of knowledge.”
AutoForm Brazil: Elen Camilli, Ana Luiza Novais & Mariana Saito
Recently hired full-time at AutoForm do Brasil and in her final semester of Advertising and Marketing, Ana Luiza offers a valuable perspective on the representation of women in the sector. Working in marketing, she sees the market’s transformations but feels that there is still much progress to be made. She recalls a significant milestone in her career: “I presented one of our largest technical events. I remember looking at the audience of over 70 people and seeing only three women; after the presentation, I got off the stage and spoke to my female co-workers.”
For Ana Luiza, the female presence in the industry is not just a number but a reflection, and she celebrates the advances she witnesses “in-house”: “When I joined, the engineering team was exclusively male. Today, seeing new professionals arriving, young women who, like me, are starting their careers, is transformative. I admire them greatly; they are my biggest inspiration,” she states. Ana believes that this renewal is key to the future. “Knowing that they are there, acting with mastery in the technical team, gives me the certainty that we are paving the way for those who come next. It is an occupation of space that shows that the possibilities are real and that the market is no longer the same.”
Reinforcing the perspective of a new generation developing in a more technological, collaborative and diverse environment, Elen’s story highlights this transformation. Her technical career was consolidated at ETEC, where she studied Mechatronics in a class of approximately 40 boys and only four girls, facing from the beginning the challenges of occupying these spaces. During her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Elen expanded this experience by participating in the Baja SAE team. At 23, she continues to build her professional career at AutoForm, where she became the first woman to join the Application Engineering team in Brazil. Since then, she has witnessed the arrival of young female engineers, further strengthening the female presence in the team and in other departments of the company.
Even when working with more experienced professionals or being the only woman in certain situations, Elen emphasises the fundamental role of the company in this process: “When an organisation promotes the inclusion of young female engineers into the market, it not only contributes to individual development but also sends a clear message to the sector. The new generation is not just occupying spaces; it is establishing its presence in the market in a consistent manner.”
Mariana, a Production Engineering student and intern at AutoForm do Brasil, highlights a common feeling in the area: “Working and studying in a predominantly male environment taught me to be resilient in situations where I felt the need to validate my knowledge, whether because I am a woman or because I am young and have less experience. We often need to face barriers to break the paradigms rooted in the industry.” A safe work environment, where it is possible to share ideas, drives the exchange between professionals and expands learning.
The future engineer sees the diversification of space as a catalyst for development: “Currently at AutoForm do Brasil, we experience a culture in which women promote events and coordinate engineering projects and in other areas. In addition, our team is made up of professionals from different generations, which stimulates creativity and innovation in our daily activities”. These experiences have led her to view the market with enthusiasm: “Today, at 20 years old, I see a promising future, with various possibilities for female growth in the automotive sector, which encourages me to continue tracing my career. Being inspired by women who show every day that, despite the difficulties, it is possible to achieve what we aim for, whether it is a leadership position or opening doors and inspiring new generations.”
Elen Camilli – Application Engineer, Ana Luiza – Marketing Assistant and Mariana Saito – Application Engineering Intern
The testimonies gathered here prove that the true automotive revolution does not happen only under the bonnet but in the definitive breaking of cultural paradigms. The transition to electric mobility finds its parallel in the rise of this new generation of women, who bring with them the plural perspective necessary for the challenges of tomorrow. More than replacing fuels, we are renewing the essence of the industry, making it a space where innovation is driven by diversity, collaboration and technical competence.
