REPORT: Bob Kruse, GM's top electric car exec and Chevy Volt pointman, steps down
Just a few months before the Chevrolet Volt is finally set to debut in production trim, one of the guys who spearheaded the whole project has reportedly left his post at General Motors. Bob Kruse (at right), who also helped plan the whole long-term strategy for GM's electric vehicle program, has resigned according to The Detroit News. Kruse has been the automaker's executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries since 2008, and has long been considered one of the key figures in getting the Volt from concept to production – he was particularly instrumental in developing the batteries that the Volt will use.
The report says Kruse is leaving to start his own consulting company, E V Consulting LLC. Kruse wanted to make it clear that his departure shouldn't be read as a statement about his feelings regarding GM's future success, but he did admit that they weren't happy he was leaving.
"There's no good time to lose good people," GM spokesman Rob Peterson said. "But that said, the Volt team goes way beyond one person."
According to most sources, the rest of the team is more than capable of moving on without him and the future of the Volt is in good hands. Micky Bly – who has experience with hybrid/electric vehicles and has been a part of the Volt program from early on – has been tipped as his replacement.[Source: The Detroit News | Image: General Motors]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 3:54PM (9/30/2009)
Every major car company is announcing EVs right now. He'd be a fool not to cash in on this.
Reply
jpm100 4:39PM (9/30/2009)
I think its government sponsered green initiatives is where the money is at.
jaguar879 10:41PM (9/30/2009)
Sad to see the Kruse Missle go...
Greg Aryous 3:55PM (9/30/2009)
Ford has been quietly pulling the best people away from the competition and this is another expert who can help Ford via consulting... sorry GM... you shoulld have taken better care of your people...
Reply
DayShifter 4:41PM (9/30/2009)
He didn't leave cause of GM... He left because of the big chuck of change they are all getting from the government for future development of the technology. It's a smart move, why be just limited to GM and their capped salaries when he can get consulting bucks from all of them. And if the Volt is the success everyone hopes, it makes it even better for him. Remember the story of the father and son bulls, standing on the hill, looking down at the cows...... LOL!!
l.i.dave 4:08PM (9/30/2009)
He probably would face a salary cap at GM, Atlas Shrug baby.
Reply
Epyx 8:34PM (9/30/2009)
Who is John Galt?
Hernan 12:21PM (10/02/2009)
1000 pages of crap. Her writing aspires to mediocre when she is not on her high horse. Atlas Shrugged is a poorly writen, shallow charactered, self serving knightmare of a read (although I am sure you have not read it).
After I helped turn a company around, I jumped over the an i-bank that paid me 5x to do the same thing for other companies. It is typical, good for Bob.
But getting back to your witty comment, had the government not stepped in his "salary cap" would have been $0.
Go back to your cabin in Montana.