GM's Lutz To Retire May 1

GM's Lutz To Retire May 1

By Bill Visnic March 3, 2010

General Motors Co. vice chairman Bob Lutz, the company's energetic and often combative product guru - and long the embodiment of the auto industry's quintessential "car guy" executive - will retire May 1.

The company announced Lutz's retirement today.

The 78-year-old Lutz has had a larger-than-life automotive career that begin in 1963 and included stopovers with significant executive roles at each of the Big Three automakers and BMW AG prior to rejoining GM in 2001.

Became "Famous" At Chrysler

Although his current stint at GM has burnished his reputation for incisive product knowledge, Lutz's 12-year tenure (1986-98) at then Chrysler Corp. likely will be remembered as the time of his most noteworthy and high-profile contributions.

While at Chrysler, Lutz oversaw the development of the company's seminal LH large cars and their innovative "cab-forward" styling, and he promoted other design-led products meant to amp up Chrysler's sleepy reputation, such as the Dodge Viper supercar and the Plymouth Prowler retro hot-rod.

It was his experiences during his Chrysler employment that led Lutz to author his oft-quoted book, Guts: The Seven Laws of Business that Made Chrysler the World's Hottest Car Company.

At GM, Lutz most recently championed development of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle and constantly prodded management, as well as engineering and development ranks, to design and develop more expressive cars with responsive driving manners and higher quality.

GM said Lutz said he decided to retire now in part because hot-selling vehicles like the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX, GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet Camaro, along with the growing strength of GM's four brands, prove that a product-focused mindset inside GM is in place for the long term.

"The influence Bob Lutz has had on GM's commitment to design, build and sell the world's best vehicles will last for years to come," GM CEO and Chairman Ed Whitacre said in a release. "I, along with many other men and women in GM and throughout the industry, have greatly benefited from his passion, wisdom and guidance." - Bill Visnic, senior editor

Photos:

1. Lutz signs an autograph at a GM 100th anniversary celebration (courtesy General Motors Co.)

2. Former Chrysler Corp. chairman Robert Eaton (l) and then Chrysler president Lutz at the Detroit auto show unveiling of the production Plymouth Prowler (courtesy Chrysler Group LLC).

 

Bill Visnic:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter