Expert Witness & Product Litigation Consultant
Product failures don't just burn capital. They generate litigation.
When a product effort ends in litigation, the outcome often turns on a single question: what decision was made — or deliberately avoided — and what did the responsible parties know at the time. Through the Product Forensics Group practice, I find that answer, document it to evidentiary standards, and put it on the record with the authority of someone who has run programs exactly like the one at issue.
"I spent 30 years making the decisions that define product safety outcomes — on programs worth billions of dollars. When those decisions become the subject of litigation, I can explain to a jury exactly what the standard of care required, what was done, and what was not."
Who I Am
The engineer who ran the program
Most technical expert witnesses are academics or independent consultants who have studied a product category from the outside. I led the programs. As Chief Engineer at General Motors, I held product decision responsibility from concept through development, product launch and lifecycle management. I led ADAS integration on one of the first global vehicles with active safety and autonomous capabilities that led to a 5-star EU/ANCAP certification.
I have also led engineering recovery inside distressed programs. At various EV startup companies, I stepped into vehicle programs that had stopped converging and diagnosed precisely where the technical decisions diverged from disclosed commitments. That direct, bilateral experience — of building programs correctly and of diagnosing where they failed — is the rarest credential an automotive expert witness can offer.
I mostly accept defense engagements and maintain a practice limited to 2–4 concurrent matters. That ceiling is deliberate — it ensures the depth of analysis and availability of access that complex technical litigation requires.
Systems-level engineering authority
I do not evaluate components in isolation. I understand how engineering decisions cascade across a full vehicle program — from requirements definition through manufacturing, validation, regulatory compliance, and launch. That systems view is what distinguishes credible automotive testimony from component-level opinion.
Regulatory and standards fluency
FMVSS, NCAP, ISO 26262, SAE J3016 autonomy levels, ADAS validation protocols — I applied and documented compliance with these standards in active production programs, not in theoretical review. When opposing counsel challenges my standards interpretation, I can cite the production record.
Communicates to juries and tribunals
I have authored several peer-reviewed technical publications. I taught Machine Design, Kinematics, and Thermodynamics at Baker College. I have spent a career explaining complex engineering tradeoffs to non-engineers — executives, boards, and regulators. Engineering authority means nothing if the finder of fact cannot follow the argument.
EV, ADAS, and autonomy expertise
Battery systems, powertrain integration, driver-assist system validation, hardware-software interaction at the safety layer — I have validated these systems at scale across three separate vehicle programs and hold a DFSS Black Belt in quality-systems methodology.
Areas of Testimony
Cases I am qualified to address
My testimony is grounded in firsthand program leadership — not retrospective analysis alone. Every Product Forensics Group engagement is built to withstand adversarial challenge.
Automotive Product Defect
Design defects, manufacturing defects, and failure-to-warn claims involving passenger vehicles, SUVs, and crossovers. My GM tenure spans Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Saturn platforms across four major programs.
EV & Battery System Failures
Electric powertrain failures, battery thermal events, charging system defects, and range representation claims. Direct experience from engineering leadership across multiple programs at OEM and EV startups.
ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Liability
Driver-assist system failures, Level 1–3 autonomy incidents, and manufacturer duty-of-care claims. I led active safety and ADAS systems integration on global product programs that earned 5-star NCAP ratings.
Hardware-Software Integration Failures
Complex product failures at the boundary of hardware and embedded software — IoT devices, mobility systems, connected vehicle platforms. I led UI/UX and vehicle software validation at EV startups under constrained financial conditions, optimizing test plans for maximum validation.
Program Execution & Management Failures
Investment disputes, startup product misrepresentation, and delivery failures tied to knowable engineering risk. The Product Forensics Group practice is built around diagnosing precisely where execution decisions diverged from disclosed commitments.
Manufacturing Process Defects
Assembly quality failures, supplier quality disputes, and production-to-specification claims. My automotive career includes leading cross-functional warranty reduction from over 1100 IPTV to under 350 IPTV (Incidents Per Thousand Vehicles) steady-state and managing launch quality.
"The critical product decision was never made explicitly — and everything built on top of that gap is now compounding in the wrong direction."
— Waqar Hashim, Product Forensics Group
How Principals Describe Working With Him
Verified professional endorsements
These assessments come from executives, CEOs, board members, and program leaders who worked directly with Waqar across complex engineering environments. They are drawn from verified professional profiles.
Waqar's engineering knowledge and extensive automotive experience were key to building and empowering strong teams. His ability to listen, think methodically, and guide teams through design decisions earned trust quickly and consistently.
Waqar combines deep engineering first principles with the ability to see both detail and big-picture objectives. He is exceptionally effective at leading both new product development and existing product issue resolution.
Waqar is a remarkably well-rounded engineering leader with the knowledge and temperament to guide seasoned technical teams. He brought fresh perspective during a difficult period while never losing sight of the business case.
Waqar took over a struggling high-volume program and within months had quality, throughput, and cost targets back on track. He consistently delivers results while maintaining a professional, collaborative leadership style.
Waqar has a rare ability to turn concepts into market-ready products with disciplined product and project planning. His depth across product innovation, manufacturing, and commercialization makes him a standout partner for teams building real, complex systems. His meticulous approach and practical guidance enabled founders to overcome technical challenges and stay on track toward key commercialization milestones. Beyond technical excellence, Waqar is an exceptional mentor — approachable, collaborative, and committed to helping people make confident decisions when the path isn't obvious.
Engagement Models
How I work with counsel
I mostly accept defense engagements. I work with 2–4 clients at a time.
Consulting Expert
Retained as a non-disclosed technical advisor operating under work product protection. I assist your team in understanding the engineering landscape, identifying methodological vulnerabilities in the opposing expert's opinions, and developing technically grounded deposition and cross-examination strategy. Communications are protected and not subject to disclosure to opposing counsel.
Technical Due Diligence for Disputes
Pre-litigation or investment-dispute technical assessment applicable to M&A disputes, investor fraud claims, and matters requiring independent evaluation of whether a product was technically viable as represented at the time of the relevant transaction. Structured as an objective, documented Product Forensics Group assessment — not advocacy — and prepared to withstand adversarial challenge.
We can also create customized technical reports and assessments tailored to the unique situation of your case, including joint consulting arrangements with your existing technical advisors.
Professional History
The record behind the opinion
StartX · Plug & Play · Centrepolis
Mentoring startup accelerator teams including Stanford founders in early-stage hardware startups on execution risk, product-market fit, and path to MVP. Simultaneously leading Product Forensics Group engagements to identify product risks and steps to recovery.
Product Recovery Group
Structured diagnostic practice for funded founders, investors, and corporate leaders when a product effort has stopped converging. Product Clarity Diagnostic, 90-Day Recovery Sprint, and Technical Due Diligence engagements under the Product Forensics Group practice.
Lordstown Motors
Led engineering through production completion of the Endurance EV pickup at the contract manufacturer's assembly plant. Developed Value Analysis Value Engineering (VAVE)-based mass production roadmap and profitability assessment for JV partners.
Faraday Future
Led engineering and program management to build and validate prototype vehicles. Oversaw complex UI/UX and vehicle software-based functions. Earned positive reviews at CES 2020.
General Motors
Led engineering, development, and launch of the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer — 5-star NCAP rating and JD Power IQS award. Also led the 2019 Holden Acadia RHD — GM's first global vehicle with ADAS Level 1.5 autonomy and 5-star EU/ANCAP compliance.
General Motors
23-year GM career spanning multiple major product programs. Reduced product warranty by establishing robust engineering practices. Reduced complexity and relaunched money-losing products with profitability. Led product teams in multiple locations around the world.
NASA — Glenn Research Center
Developed numerical analysis models for fluid flow within a Stirling Cycle engine for lunar-based power generation. Published in peer-reviewed literature on oscillating flow dynamics.
Schedule a Consultation
If the product doesn't perform as expected
A confidential 30-minute consultation to assess whether the technical scope of your matter aligns with the Product Forensics Group's expertise. I mostly accept defense matters and maintain a practice limited to 2–4 concurrent engagements to ensure the depth and responsiveness that complex technical litigation demands.
All initial communications are treated as strictly confidential. Select a time directly — no obligation, no disclosure required before the call.
Or reach Waqar directly: waqar@productforensicsgroup.com · (408) 618-4216