Ann Arbor, Mich., USA - February 19, 2014, Ann Arbor, Mich., USA - VIA Motors announced that Bob Lutz, former vice chairman of General Motors and a board member of VIA Motors, was appointed as chairman.
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Mr. Lutz began his automotive career in September 1963 at GM, where he held a variety of senior sales and marketing positions in Europe until December 1971. For the next 3 years, he served as Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at BMW in Munich and a member of that company's board of management.
Later, Mr. Lutz spent 12 years at Ford Motor Company, where his last position was Executive Vice President of Truck Operations. He also served as Chairman of Ford of Europe and as Executive Vice President of Ford's International Operations. From 1982 to 1986, Lutz was a member of Ford's board.
Mr. Lutz began his service with Chrysler in 1986 as Executive Vice President and was shortly thereafter elected to the Chrysler Corporation board. He led all of Chrysler's automotive activities, including Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Manufacturing, and Procurement and Supply. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Chrysler's car and truck operations worldwide.
Mr. Lutz rejoined GM on September 1, 2001, as Vice Chairman of Product Development. On November 13, 2001, he was named Chairman of GM North America and served in that capacity until April 4, 2005, when he assumed responsibility for Global Product Development. He also served as President of GM Europe on an interim basis from March to June 2004.
Mr. Lutz joined Exide after a distinguished career with the former Chrysler Corporation from 1986 to 1998, where he reached the position of Vice Chairman. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Exide Technologies. He served as Chairman until his resignation on May 17, 2002 and as a member of Exide's Board of Directors until May 5, 2004.
Mr. Lutz On April 1, 2009, Lutz was named Vice Chairman/ Senior Advisor providing strategic input into GM's Global Design and key Product initiatives, a position he held until retirement at the end of 2009.
Mr. Lutz agreed to join the new GM at his current position. On July 23, 2009, he was appointed Vice Chairman, Marketing and Communications, and on December 4, 2009, he was named Vice Chairman, Special Advisor Design and Global Product Development.
On May 1, 2010, Mr. Lutz, General Motors vice chairman, retired after a 47-year career in the global automotive industry. He currently serves as Chairman of The New Common School Foundation and is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Marine Corps University Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas. He joined the Transonic Combustion, Inc. Board of Directors on May 24 2010.
Mr. Lutz serves on the Board of Directors of Via Motors, EnerG2, and NanoSteel and is on the advisory boards of Alexander Proudfoot, and Current Motor. Bob is a partner with VL Productions, LLC with Gilbert Villarreal. ■