GM forms engineering organization for green vehicles

In another step aimed at bringing the electrification of vehicles into the mainstream development process more quickly, General Motors has formed a new engineering organization especially dedicated to implementing hybrid and extended-range electric vehicles (E-REV) and advanced battery technology. The global team will be led by Robert Kruse, executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicle and batteries. In North America, the team will be based in Warren and Milford, Mich. In Europe, the team will be based in Mainz-Kastel, Germany and in Asia-Pacific they will be located in Shanghai, China.

"The future of automotive transportation will be based on electrification of our vehicles," said Jim Queen, GM group vice president of global engineering. "By having a vehicle engineering team in place and focused on delivering the technical aspects of hybrids and E-REVs, we can accelerate these programs and get them into production quickly and efficiently."

GM's newest vehicle engineering team will develop vehicles using a variety of propulsion systems including gas-electric hybrids and GM's innovative E-Flex architecture. Vehicles that will be engineered by this team include the production E-REVs based on E-Flex architectures; Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado 2 Mode; Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid; Saturn Vue 2 Mode Plug-in; Saturn Vue and Aura Hybrid; GMC Yukon and Sierra 2 Mode; and the Cadillac Escalade 2 Mode.

This team will also support GM's CO2 initiatives in Europe. In China, they will support the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid. Other, yet to be announced global hybrid and electric propulsion vehicles are expected to be developed under this organization.

Kruse, 48, was executive director of vehicle integration, safety, regional chief engineers and Performance Division for GM's North America engineering staff. Kruse began his GM career in 1978 as a co-op student at Buick Motor Division, and has served in a variety of leadership positions at Buick, Cadillac, Vehicle Development Technical Operations, the North American Car Group and GM Powertrain.