A Different Bailout-Rats leaving the ship (Volt). They see it up close so they are leaving the Titanic.
Chevrolet Volt chief executive to leave post for new job at Opel
The Chevrolet Volt chief executive is leaving almost one year before the extended-range vehicle's launch to take a new job with General Motors Co.'s struggling German carmaker Adam Opel GmbH.
Frank Weber, global vehicle line executive and global vehicle chief engineer for GM's electric vehicle development team since March 2007, announced today he is taking an unidentified job with Opel in his native Germany. His last day with GM is Dec. 2.
"He is being recognized for all his great capabilities and is moving into a leadership position with Opel," GM spokesman Rob Peterson said. "He is still a member of the GM family."
Weber will serve on Opel's executive leadership team.
The move comes one month after GM lost another key executive with ties to advanced vehicle development. Bob Kruse, who recently led a critical Chevrolet Volt team and devised the automaker's long-term electric vehicle strategy, resigned effective Sept. 30.
Kruse, executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries since early 2008, left to start his own consulting company, E V Consulting LLC.
The Volt, scheduled for production in November 2010, will let commuters travel up to 40 miles on electric power. The engine kicks in after its battery is drained by about 70 percent to sustain the battery's remaining charge to keep the car running for several hundred miles.