Frank Weber, a leader of General Motors Corp.’s Chevrolet Volt EV program, will take a senior post at Adam Opel GmbH effective Dec. 1, AutoTech Daily reported Monday.
GM is in the process of selling a controlling interest in Opel to Magna International Inc. and Russia’s OAO Sberbank.
Doug Parks, GM’s chief engineer of compact-car architecture in Europe, will replace Weber. He previously worked on the global midsize vehicle line that includes the Opel Insignia and Buick Regal.
Weber’s move is the second high-profile departure for the Volt team in two months. Bob Kruse, executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries, left in September to start a consulting firm. GM veteran Micky Bly was tapped to succeed Kruse.
The German-born Weber has been the global vehicle line executive and chief vehicle engineer for GM’s electric vehicle efforts since March 2007. At Opel, the 43-year-old Weber will be charged with spearheading global product development as GM divests its majority stake in the carmaker. His job title hasn’t been finalized.
Opel will get its own version of the Volt, called the Ampera, in late 2011. The extended range cars can travel 40 miles on all-electric power. A small piston engine partially
recharges the battery and extends driving range several hundred miles.
Opel’s sale to Magna has been delayed by the European Commission’s concern that $6.8 billion in guaranteed loans offered by Germany persuaded GM to choose Magna over other bidders. GM’s board meets tomorrow in part to evaluate an updated proposal from Magna and Sberbank.
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