After leading the powertain and electronics team in developing the Chevrolet Volt, one of the most anticipated and crucial vehicles in General Motors’ history, Frank Weber will be leaving GM to take a senior management position at Opel. Weber’s official title at Opel has not yet been released.
Weber will depart from GM one year prior to the release of the Chevy Volt. Neither the launch schedule nor the development of the Volt should be negatively affected by Weber’s departure according to GM spokesman Dave Roman, “Coincidentally, the move timed pretty well for the development team. The Volt is now in execution mode.”
Weber will be replaced by Doug Parks, GM’s chief engineer for global compact cars that has been with Opel since 1997.
Weber’s departure from GM, and consequently the Volt project will make him the second major figure to leave the Volt development team in just a month’s time. Bob Kruse, now former executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids and electric vehicles and batteries also left GM. Kruse left GM to start a consulting firm.
10/30, 7:48 PM
posted by:
Bosley
May as well leave now and get a good job before the Volt tanks and you won’t find work anywhere decent. Most animals abandon sinking ships when they sense danger………
10/30, 7:48 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
This doesn’t sound too good for GM…
10/30, 8:05 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
So what’s next? We also find out there’s really been more than one person who returned their GM product before the 60 days were up?
10/31, 1:08 AM
posted by:
spg900
I hope he desn’t take the practice of over-hyping a vehicle for 4 years over to Opel !
10/31, 2:20 AM
posted by:
chevymanc6
That’s not good. GM needs him to able to work out any problems the volt might have since its still an entirely new piece of technology that will have issues that will be discovered after being out in the world and might not come up during their intense testing. And he will be needed for the 2nd generation volts if they become a hit. I hope the replacement is capable of handling all this pressure.
10/31, 2:37 AM
posted by:
howsmydriving
NEWS FLASH: Phil Johnson, senior security guard at GM headquarters, will be leaving GM to take a senior security guard position at Opel. “I like to wear uniforms,” Johnson told a group of stunned reporters.
10/31, 7:39 AM
posted by:
AutoCritical
What a clever guy, whilst there is positive news about the volt, go somewhere else and command some big bucks! Can’t help think that it is a bit of a side step – going to a former GM brand…
10/31, 11:41 AM
posted by:
Samintosh
Bosley +1
It could not be better said!!!!
10/31, 12:05 PM
posted by:
johngalt
I suppose I’d polish my resume and entertain offers if I was looking at a 90% pay cut. Oh, wait, I already did, looking at a 50% cut.
And the exodus begins.
10/31, 12:58 PM
posted by:
ConceptVBS
GM – A German Revolution
10/31, 2:04 PM
posted by:
leftlane
“The Volt is now in execution mode.” By chair or fatal injection?
10/31, 2:10 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Interesting that there is no mention that Weber is a German citizen and was an Opel employee before he was promoted within GM to the US. He is just returning home. Perhaps he sees the mess the US is in.
10/31, 3:04 PM
posted by:
reedfast
leftlane, i’m pretty sure it’s going to be by electrocution
10/31, 5:39 PM
posted by:
Ashes to Ashes_Dust to Dust
No surprise here. Piss poor GM upper management (aka Lutz) makes it easy to leave.
10/31, 6:22 PM
posted by:
desmints
wow. the Volt seems to be following in the footsteps of the EV1. be on the lookout for ‘Who Killed the Volt?’ coming to a theater near you.
10/31, 7:13 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
Oh boy. I agree with desmints. If this car is so “crucial” and “anticipated” for GM someone is going to be heavily heartbroken. GM is going to lose alot and I mean ALOT with this thing.
11/01, 10:05 PM
posted by:
Borat
I hope he lives long enough to read his children bed time stories. He just left respectable employ of US government and went to work for Russian mob owned company. Good luck, pal.
11/01, 10:22 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Borat… look at the guy. Are you going to tell me a Russian bride wasn’t the inevitable outcome?
11/02, 11:11 AM
posted by:
Borat
johnny, he can’t make children by yanking off electricity out of himself, he needs Russian beauty to raise his spawn. You are right it could be discount from the masters on a chick of choice.
11/02, 12:11 PM
posted by:
freeyellow2000
Something tell me that GM is going to delay the VOLT launch date
11/02, 2:07 PM
posted by:
Stix
I can only imagine just how bad the Volt will now backfire on GM. This is really NOT going to go well AT ALL.
@Borat
I don’t think Russian beauty ages well like fine wine does…. >_>
11/03, 10:20 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
What a bone-headed move. Way to kill your career leaving the biggest, most important product launch in world history for a European slutbag.
He wasn’t even American so he didn;t really belong here anyways.
Good luck to ya.
GM. AN American Revolution