AND 
Volt Chief Frank Weber Going to Opel
Those who follow the Volt closely know Frank Weber has been a key figure.
He is the German-born engineer with the job of Volt vehicle line executive, making him as the leader of the Volt program, reporting to the VP level.
I have had the chance to interview and meet Frank many times. His precision, attention to details and strict demands have made the Volt program successful, high quality and able to move on a very rapid time frame.
Weber will be leaving his post on December 2 to take a promotional leadership position in Opel in Germany on December 2nd.
As per GM Volt spokesperson Rob Peterson, this is not a surprise but has “been in the works a while.”
Frank will be replaced by Doug Parks who is currently the vehicle line executive of the global compact architecture, upon which the Volt is built, and has already seen through the launches of the Chevy Cruze and Opel Astra in Europe.
According to Peterson, Weber has “taken the Volt from theory to starting to put all the pieces into place.” He also notes that Parks has the specific skills and experience to take the car from where it is to actual launch.
Weber is highly thought of in the organization which is why he was given the Volt project in the first place, and this like most assignments at GM are for 3-year intervals. By going to Opel and getting a promotion, GM continues to benefit from and applaud Weber’s skills.
Peterson reminds us the key players in the Volt program such as Andrew Farah who carried electric car experience from the EV-1 days and Tony Posawatz who was part of the Volt planning since 2006 are staying in place.
I was able to reach out to Frank for comment. I asked if this had anything to do with the Volt program.
He graciously replied:
“How could it be connected to the Volt program? We delivered ahead of schedule, the cars are performing extremely well and we have an outstanding GM team that has inhaled the mission of the electrification. The Volt has transformed the industry, GM and myself. This program will always be very close to my heart.
There will be more opportunity to say good-bye.”
For fun I have included one of my favorite Frank Weber videos going back to late 2007:
96 Responses to “Volt Chief Frank Weber Going to Opel”
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October 30th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Surprising he would do this before the launch of the Volt.
But People change jobs all the time.
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October 30th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Is something going on that we don’t know?
First, it was Bob Kruse. And now, it is Frank Weber.
Lyle, could hep us (the Chevy Volt family members) to understand what is really going on?
Jim.-
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October 30th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Follow the money. I hope he has an ironclad contract. Preferably cash up front in a Swiss bank.
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Absolutely hilarious video Lyle. He actually handled that situation very well. I think Weber will do a great job at Opel. It’s a shame he isn’t going to be around to work on future Volt iterations, but apparently his skills are needed elsewhere for the time being.
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
The key players are still heading out the back door, one by one.
Meanwhile, fearless leader spends all day yesterday bragging about the increase in 3rd quarter car sales due to his ‘program’.
Just wait till he gets the 4th quarter sales reports. Even my nicest words to describe it would be edited out for vulgarity on this site.
I’ll be thrilled if there are any Chevy Dealers left with their doors open by the time the VOLT makes it to a showroom. We desperately need newer models to sell. The Camaro and Equinox can only carry us so far. We need a very inexpensive car like the Cruze… right now!!
Anybody here have some inside contacts for a SoCal Fisker or Tesla dealership? I may need to send them my resume soon.
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
He is on fast lane tomorrow ( from twitter: Frank Weber & Doug Parks will be available Nov. 2 on @ChevyVoltage & http://fastlane.gmblogs.com to answer #Volt questions )
Any way, best of luck for him and his new assignment.
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Isn’t Frank Weber German? This makes perfect sense.
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
To have someone like Frank Weber moving to the top of GM management speaks volumes about the future of GM. The video is a riot….lol. Frank was very composed. It sounded like she had a few to drink.
Like always when someone like Frank Weber is successful the opportunity to improve his position will be present. He most likely is taking that opportunity to move back to his homeland and family. The move to Opel is a natural. Thanks for creating such a dynamic product. Good luck in your future position, Frank Weber!
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Lyle, did you forget to credit Saturday Night Live for that video?
Scratch that, SNL hasn’t had a skit that funny in years!
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October 30th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Considering Opel’s fate is still in the air and may crush to ground and die at anytime, his departure indicates something ominous regarding the project. Usually an engineer will stay on the project if the project is something of a once-in-a-lifetime.
We sincerely hope his future will be better. Many mant thanks!
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Ah, the good old days……
Polycarbonate Roof – gone
Polycast Carbonate Steering Wheel – gone
High Tech Interior – gone
Cool Door For Plugging In The Recharge Cord – gone
1.0 L Turbocharged Engine – gone
Really Cool Exterior Design – gone
10 Year – 150K Mile Battery Warranty – gone
Priced Well Under $30K – gone
But drunks last forever……….
PS – I still want one!!!!!!!!! – A Volt, not the drunk.
Mr. Weber: Good luck in all your future endeavors. Your great work on this project will be long remembered by all of us here.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Sorry to see Frank Weber go, but I do wish him much luck in his new position with Opel. I admired the way he stayed on message with the lady in the interview. I think she was about 3 sheets to the wind or certainly on something. Good luck, Frank.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Frank’s vision and leadership is being recognized and rewarded – nothing more. The Volt program will produce many more leaders for the auto industry and beyond.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Is it possible that Mr. Weber will have something to do with the ramping up of Ampera in Europe?
I guess we Voltiacs have no choice but to take this optimistically, at surface value; and not as the visible surface of some hidden Volt-rending disturbance.
We really need Tagamet right now …
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Speaking of the “fearless leader”, did anyone hear the report on NPR this AM about the “Car Czar’s” comments concerning the management he found at GM? Pretty damning, IMHO. Among other things, he reported that the top level executives had private elevators from their private parking garage to their secured top floor offices. They could come an go from work without even having to see, let alone interact with, the lower orders.
He also said that Wagoner, et al, had a carefully constructed scenario to explain why all of the company’s problems were the result of outside forces including, but not limited to, the “global financial meltdown” and the UAW. Nothing to do with their competence, or the lack thereof, at all.
Evidently this came from an extensive interview he gave to Fortune magazine. I wonder if any of that would be available to quote here? I mean, don’t take my word for it.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Oh, I dunno. I mean they have all of the Russian money and management expertise behind them, right? Maybe the sky’s the limit. Or not. I sure would hate to make my Russian bosses mad!
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I thought that GM was selling Opel to Magna and the Russian bank. Did I miss something?
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Do you mean to say that he might prefer to go back to the Fatherland instead of hanging around beautiful Detroit for a few more years? How could that be?
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
The 3 year rotation is poor policy, enlightened companies use 5 to 7 years.
Hopefully Frank will breath some life into the Ampera.
And the Video was even more fun the second time around.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Wish the very very best to Frank Weber, it has been too hard on him in the last 30 months.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I used to work in the Seattle headquarters building at Pacific Northwest Bell (back before the breakup of AT&T), and remember that the elevators down on 1B (first basement, which is where the motor pool cars were parked) could go directly to floor 31 (the executive floor). Without the override, the elevator would stop at the 1st floor (main entrance, where everyone was waiting to pack themselves into an elevator), the 2nd floor (where people were getting on and off, as it was the cafeteria floor), and then zoom up to the 18th floor, where it would then stop at each floor all the way up to the top (32nd) floor. I don’t know about you, but I’d want my highest-priced-per-hour talent to be in the express lane as much as possible. That’s just common sense.
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October 30th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
This exodus of GM managers will continue.. dont forget the pay czar is imposing limits on salaries as we speak.
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October 30th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Gee, just because they ran the corporation into bankruptcy and cost the taxpayers $60 BILLION? What a bad sport.
As we used to say when I was in the corporate world, “There’s the door, don’t let it hit you in the a*s on the way out.”
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October 30th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
The new Automobile magazine just arrived with a beautiful photo of the electric Audi “e-tron concept” at the Frankfurt auto show.
The text reads in part:
“HYBRID? ELECTRIC? HYDROGEN? The future of automotive propulsion is uncertain – or at least it was until the Frankfurt auto show, where for all intents and purposes battery power was declared the winner. ‘We all think this is the right way to go,’ said Audi technology chief Michael Dick, echoing popular sentiment.”
Now who was that guy from Audi who caused all of the uproar here a few weeks ago by saying that the Volt was “stupid”, and that diesel was the future? I wonder what he’s doing now?
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October 30th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
To Frank Weber – JOB WELL DONE. Go home and enjoy…
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October 30th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I have no idea what will happen, but from what I remember, Opel is a fairly strong brand in Europe, so they will probably survive one way or the other. In any case, 3 years away from your home country is long enough. He paid his dues, and what better way than with the Volt! I’m sure he will land on his feet no matter what happens…
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October 30th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
If it makes it to the showrooms on time, JOB WELL DONE.
Otherwise, thanks for giving it the old college try.
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October 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
My guess is no. In Europe, a much higher percentage of the population lives in multi-family dwellings. So the suburban garage/driveway is somewhat unique to North America.
This doesn’t mean that EREVs won’t eventually catch on in Europe, but it does mean that America will most likely lead in this area.
Since Frank Weber is a leader, he will probably not work on EREVs in Europe.
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Sincerest Thanks and Kindest Wishes to you Mr. Weber, for all your outstanding work, and, yes, as illustrated in the video,
patience.
It is clear that your presence in Germany will help accelerate the Ampera EREV, if this is what Opel desires. (The currency differences between dollar and euro apparently an influence toward this change, it would seem to me.).
The globe is increasingly becoming educated and involved with the respect for the far-reaching and exquisite work that you have provided GM via the Volt. Your benchmark at GM has been a principle technical reference point which has been of invaluable guidance for not only GM, but for the rest of us at this site as well as the rest of us on the planet.
Again, very sincerest of best wishes Mr. Weber.
Dan Petit.
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
That means the Volt is about ready and whats left to finish up is very manageable by the team…
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Unfortunately GM does not have the resources to not create a successful new vehicle. So the outside is not nearly as exciting as the inside propulsion system.
GM should however build the Original Volt Concept with a 4 banger turbo and a Diesel option. Being a seperate vehicle with no electric drive. Just a very cool jaw dropping bad ass car with great mileage. Wow what a concept huh. Cool, Efficient and passion.
Why they can not see this easy grand slam of a shot is still amazing and shows how the management is a joke at GM.
Almost forgot….these guys are “not in the chemistry business”….huh Fritz. Guess what your propulsion system is ALL about…
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
If GM cannot hire top notch managerial talent due to salary caps, how can they survive?
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
That would have been glorious, all the joys of a convertible but no headaches.
Most likely it would have needed expensive replacement every 7 years or so.. the sun is not kind to transparent polycarbonate. Perhaps someday it will be offered.
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Hate to see him go but onward and upward. I still remembered that video from 07. Was this in the US or Europe? I had problems understanding what the woman was saying… like, what language was she trying to speak? Good luck Frank!
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
They will retain at 35% stake in the company. Opel will play significant role in new products for GM, the same way the Asian and Austrailian design centers currently do as well.
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Well I was responding to your statement about the supposed exodus. In today’s employment climate, there are plenty of talented managers who would be thrilled to go to work for whatever the mythical “capped” salaries are. Plus, in an organization as big as GM, there is inevitably plenty of talent somewhere for whom it would be a promotion. How many “management” people have they laid off over the past couple of years? Tens of thousands? By the law of averages alone, there have to be some of those who are as talented, if not more so, than Fritz and Bob.
These guys are part and parcel of the disaster, IMHO. They are operating on public money. More power to the “pay czar”.
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
So who does he work for now? Opel and the Russians with 65% or GM with 35%? Where I come from, the guys with the majority ownership call the shots. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t GM own the majority interest in the Asian and Australian design centers?
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Not to mention the pay caps are only for base salary, they can still be compensated with stock, to me that is a much better incentive for them to push the company in the right direction as it will directly affect how much they are ultimately compensated.
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October 30th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
They may not be the majority shareholder but if they want GM to continue funneling R&D dollars to them I think they will want to co-operate. And just to pick a nit the Russians will only have a 55% stake as the employees will get a 10% stake. Granted that still leaves the Russians in the majority position.
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October 30th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I am sorry to see Frank Weber leave the Volt program. I had a strong feeling he set high standards and has great attention to detail, which is always needed in a complex and novel undertaking like the Volt development project.
I am certain he will be successful in his new position.
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October 30th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Well done Frank. You’re a great man!
By the way, I think if you look up “whack job” in the dictionary they have that woman’s picture.
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October 30th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Hmmm I wonder what he’ll be doing for Opel?
OpelVolt?
Thanks for all your work Frank. Good luck with Opel.
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October 30th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
You have to hang in there. There are some good products coming….
I wish GM would change some management even faster then the new arrivals coming…
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October 30th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
This video was my introduction to Frank Weber. He did a good job of sticking to the facts and not getting personal with the attacker.
There is a chance Mr. Weber will introduce the Voltec system into the Opel line. Seems the further along the Volt comes the more he is convinced that the technology is long overdue.
Best wishes on your December move to Germany. Your development efforts (and monthly videos) are greatly appreciated.
=D~
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October 30th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
He meant GM was not in the business of developing and manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, but would buy them from a supplier (even if they had to partner, give out specs on what they need, and work closely with the supplier on manufacturing ramp up, etc…)
Tesla, for instance, is not in the car business, but in the electronics and battery/electric propulsion system business; they have the car itself built by Lotus. There is a big difference between having suppliers make something for you, and having to have all the expertise and manufacturing capital in-house. Companies have to go with their strengths, and know what they need from outsiders.
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October 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I am saying they better get into the business. Depend on foreign oil or foreign technology…. Either way not a good business paradigm. It goes against everything the Volt is about…investing in the future and getting unlocked form foreign dramas and economic umbilical (oil) cords far to easy to choke off or simply cut. Why does this even need an explanation….
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October 30th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I agree, GM really fumbled by delaying the Cruze. It looks likely to be a huge seller if priced right and MPG are as advertised. However, I don’t think you should be sticking your head in an oven just yet. Just think in 2011 the lineup should be:
Spark, Cruze, Malibu, rebadged G8, HHR, Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Camaro, Corvette, AND VOLT.
The only thing that will be missing is a 30mile AER Voltec minivan, IMO.
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October 30th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
koz you missed two. The Impala and the EREV Orlando.
=D~
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October 30th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I was in Munich back in Sept, and while I was there the Germany news announced that GM was selling Opel. I would assume Frank is just staying with Opel, as it’s a German company and I’d assume he’d like to get back to Deutschland.
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:15 am
Good chance that the sale will not go thru.. GM may keep Opel after all..
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October 31st, 2009 at 1:14 am
Welcome to Magna International Inc. Frank. It will be one of the worlds powerhouse car companies in a few short years. The company head, Frank Stronach, is a very good business man and shares our vision for electrified vehicles.
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October 31st, 2009 at 3:09 am
Best Wishes Mr Weber, you whipped those in NA GM into shape!
Wish you could had have stayed to the end, but I guess Europe Opel is calling you and their need is just as great now – to keep those fantasic products rolling,
Cheers!
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October 31st, 2009 at 6:14 am
It would be great if Frank is coming back to euroland to squeeze their 1.3cdti into the ampera before launch. i know the savings between petrol and diesel will be low, but for consumer (and fleet) acceptance here it really needs to be diesel. Plus a lot of worries about what the number is in CS mode go away when we switch to diesel.
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October 31st, 2009 at 7:42 am
The only “real” concern is cost. Sure, lots of followers here are kvetching about what it will be but physics and experience dictate otherwise. They might not hit 50mpg but it will be close and parameters dictate it will be above 40. With AER up to 40 and above 40mpg, why does it need a heavy and more costly diesel. Remember the Volt will be competing against the Ampera. Will people pay the additional cost for slighly less AER (higher weight), perhaps slightly better fuel economy, and worse emissions. EREV minimizes or eliminates the advantage of diesels.
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October 31st, 2009 at 7:48 am
I figured the rebadged G8 would replace the Impala and hopefully the Orlando version is the EREV minivan (or as the marketers prefer MPV). I did miss a mistery plug-in two-mode.
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October 31st, 2009 at 7:50 am
Thank You Frank, have a good time going home. may your glass always be at least half full!
Welcome Doug, as far as getting anything done it is always easier the second time around. You have already launched the Cruze, the Volt is not that much “different”. You just have to add batteries!
May your glass always be at least half full….
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:00 am
Not to worry, Tagamet is back!
Frank has done such a fantastic job, he’s getting promoted. It happens all the time and WHO deserves it MORE? I’ll admit to some initial misgivings about the comings and goings, but Frank’s promotion seems nothing less than inevitable.
Thanks again to all you’ve done for the Volt, Dr. Weber, and I know you’ll be hugely successful in your future endeavors.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:09 am
“How could it be connected to the Volt program?. This opening comment says it all. Although the question was wide open as if the change could be due to outstanding performance “IE Volt” since after all it is being aired as a promotion. Frank did not see it that way. He saw it as punishment and that the question inferred it was possibly due to poor performance on the Volt ergo his defensive posture out the gate! Since we always like to phsyco analyze every word to the nth degree here lets continue that tradition….. Some possibilities:
1) GM having a hard time selling Opel & had to promise to give up some good talent to it in order to close the deal. Frank is a football trade and did not ask for it and would have preferred to see Volt through to launch but had little say.
2) Frank & Mgmt did not get along, he was straight forward & chose his battle and fought for what he believed in making the Volt the best it could be, but was shut down by upper Mgmt in some aspect at some time and now is paying the price. The rub that did not go away.
3) Having a German background this gives him an opportunity to move back closer to home and fix Opel based on his insight of what was wrong with the old GM and some of the new. So it is in fact an opportunity to shine and make Opel better than the new GM after it is sold.
4) The 3 year assignment line is BS as we all know GM is trying to sell Opel so once the deal is closed there will not be a simple shift of employees around. Frank would have to want to come back & GM would have no claim on him.
5) There has been some last minute snag with the Volt we don’t know about or New Mgmt has decided not produce in any significant numbers at a loss, due to cost , until some new tech matures to cut cost of car by at least 8K since it would be a hard sell without the governments 7.5K
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:10 am
Never fear Tagamet is here!
Welcome back Tag.
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:21 am
Thanks, Koz.
I really missed this place.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:25 am
NGMCO is boasting that their crossover models are getting highway MPG in the mid to high 20’s combined. How will the Orlando sell on an EREV platform with 4X the efficiency?
yes we can?
=D~
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:32 am
Opel has always been a great company and I assume that Frank will live in Germany for most of the time. Does this possibly mean an Opel version of the VOLTEC approach to EV?
He is not really leaving GM only taking a piece with him to take of the Germany arm of GM unless they have really cut their ties.
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:34 am
ouch. I can’t believe she actually gave her name. lol
Sorry to see you go Frank, but all the best. It does us all good to have Volt supporters in high places,
EDIT: And in honor of Tag’s return.
LJGTVWOTR
Has plug? Have sale.
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:49 am
NZDAVID,
Thanks – and in bold type *too* (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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October 31st, 2009 at 9:05 am
GM need to retain people like him & hire good quality engineers to make better quality cars ..They need to enforce quality on workers in production line …They need to be fanatic about it as their competiors like Honda, Toyota & now Korean compnies… Alas just like the old GM they will spend fortunes on marketing than on quality production of their cars .. Ever see TV ads from Honda, Toyota very rarely WHY? they dont need to cuz their cars speak for themselves ..unfortunately morons in US buy cars watching TV ads ..No wonder all 3 US automakers have trouble selling cars ..
unless US automakers go after quality production cars ..Nothing will change ..Just seems silly to spend $100 million on TV ads that canbe used to on research or better production methods ..US is losing its competive edge ..
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October 31st, 2009 at 9:36 am
If Mr. Weber wanted to go back to Germany, I wonder if Mercedes or BMW would have any interest in him? Would he choose an indefinite future at Opel?
What would you do? Would you be inclined, in his place, to dump the Volt project only a year away from fruition?
Voltiacs, you must wake up and smell the coffee. GM is in big trouble. Hope they will sell Voltec while they can.
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October 31st, 2009 at 9:56 am
Or (more likely) Frank Weber’s work here was done (kinda like the Lone Ranger used to say to Tonto, his Native American sidekick). As has been repeated to death, all we can do is speculate. I choose to smell the coffee and enjoy the aroma.
Be well,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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October 31st, 2009 at 10:04 am
I’m delighted Frank Weber (whom I heard speak in person at VoltNation in NYC last year) is being promoted by Opel! His new job, a “promotional leadership position” sounds like an excellent opportunity both for him and for Opel. Frank’s brilliance & clear-headedness serves him well ….he strikes me as a young Bob Lutz but with an engineering background and without the rough edges, and he should go far in the industry!
PS: Frank, I’m hoping you can persuade Opel, Magna, et al to produce the gorgeous Ampera ….I want to order one, tour Europe in it, then ship it back to the US.
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October 31st, 2009 at 10:05 am
Welcome back, Tag ….you were sorely missed!!!
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October 31st, 2009 at 10:16 am
Hear, hear! Welcome back Tagamet!
I often wonder if I went away for 10-12 days, and came back, would people be happy about it…? Uh-oh. Let’s not try to find out.
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October 31st, 2009 at 10:41 am
I tend to agree with you, Nasaman. Something ominous has happened.
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October 31st, 2009 at 10:45 am
It may be just a disapointment that upper management (in DC) will not approve a full scale deployment, a lack of vision.. and perhaps he does not want to see his baby just become a footnote in history as another low production niche car.
With his Volt experience, his skillset must be in high demand… so now is the time to jump. It is a serious blow to the Volt.
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October 31st, 2009 at 11:47 am
Thank you Mr. Frank Weber.
You did an awesome job.
I wish you luck in your new position.
You will be missed.
– Rashiid
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October 31st, 2009 at 11:55 am
There’s no doubt that the 2011 and 2012 model years will be good times for the car business (for Chevrolet). It’s the ‘holding out’ till then that’s the problem. With the unemployment rate in Southern California well over 10%, there are not a lot of customers buying Tahoes, Silverados, Suburbans, and Corvettes. Advertising by GM has all but stopped for HHRs, Aveos and Cobalts… “Out of sight = Out of Mind” for car shoppers. Malibu sales are down. Equinox and Camaro sales are good but not great. And “Hybrid” anything for this market is just too expensive.
It’s gonna be a long 12 months till the 2011’s show up.
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October 31st, 2009 at 11:56 am
I couldn’t say or even guess (okay, well I could guess, but it wouldn’t mean anything) why several key figures in the volt program are jumping ship. But it sure doesn’t give you any warm fuzzies.
I personally think if there was one guy who you wouldn’t want to see leave the program, it would be Frank Weber.
I suppose another clue will be revealed in a month or two. If Weber is connected to something EREV’ish at opel then that would be good news for the technology. If not, then it draws a darker question mark on the “why do volt leads keep leaving” question.
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Again, GM should not be in the business of developing and manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, any more than Boeing should be in the business of making the computers used in their cockpit. You don’t seem to understand that companies need to focus on the things they are good at, and subcontract out other subsystems.
As to the foreign angle, that is a stronger argument.
It’s not good to rely on Korea or China for all future lithium-ion batteries; that’s why GM, Ford and Chrysler have funded the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) which has in turn helped fund A123 Systems, an MIT spinoff. A123Systems was a finalist in the battery competition that GM setup for the Volt, but they didn’t have the production rampup experience that LG Systems had; GM has enough to worry about with the Volt (if the startup couldn’t seamlessly grow to produce the needed cells, GM would get all the blame).
Ironically, the American company is founded by a Chinese grad student that went to MIT. Welcome to “globalization”.
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Yeah, me too. I threw in as many LJGTVWOTR!!s as I could remember to, but I would be the first to admit that it just wasn’t the same.
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Laying all cuteness aside, I can only agree with Rashiid’s sentiments here. Well said Rashiid. All the best Mr. Weber. +1
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Hang in there pal. Every good wish.
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:43 pm
And in honor of NZDavid’s return, see above.
Not to belabor the point, but it is nice to have you back..I really believe that having international contributors here really adds value and credibility to the blog. I have learned a lot from you, and Jean-Charles Jacquemin, as two prime examples. I know that there are some others as well, but they seem more inclined to maintain their covers, LOL. Flaninacupboard has a distinctly UK flavor to his or her comments, which are quite often very instructive. I wonder what ever became of old Ausmartin? Burnout, I guess. Too bad.
Anyway, I see you as a big asset to GM-Volt.com. Hang in there and keep up the good work
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Magna is pretty involved in the electric car movement already, aren’t they? Do they have some involvement in the Ford Focus BEV? Or was it someone else’s project.
Always assuming that they don’t overreach with this Opel deal and scuttle themselves. Which is why I recommended to Mr. Weber that he get his money up front. LOL.
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October 31st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
koz,
I noticed you mentioned a re-badged G8. It looks like it will show up as a Caprice. Here’s a look at the new Caprice police car, based on the G8:
http://jalopnik.com/5373645/exclusive-the-chevy-caprice-police-car-is-back
Personally I’m really looking forward to the G8 living on in some form (although not very excited about the name “Caprice”. I am impressed with the G8 and hoped to get one eventually. I was very disappointed to hear that it was going away.
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October 31st, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Magna is building most of the “innards” for the focus BEV.
No doubt Weber possesses a lot of knowledge that would be useful in a BEV, but it would be hard (impossible?) to find anybody with his skill set (managerial/engineering) that knows more about a series hybrid. If Weber believes series hybrid is indeed the way of the future, then it would seem extremely unlikey that he’d take a job not directly involved with a Series Hybrid.
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October 31st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
First thing I did when I came on board to run this operation was to tell Frank Weber to get the hell out.
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October 31st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Good one Fritz.
If I was trying to kill the Volt, that’s the first thing I’d do as well.
=D~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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October 31st, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Thanks to *all* for the very kind words of “welcome back”. It’s been a very long two weeks, but it feels equally great to be back!
I have a lot of catchup reading to do, but I’ll assume that (in that short time) nothing HUGE has occurred and that we are all still breathlessly waiting for the “wheels to hit the road”!
Be well,
Tagamet, Resident Optimist
Let’s Just Get The Volts’ Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS
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October 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Regarding the video, God bless poor Frank! That was hilarious.
Frank’s departure, even though it is a promotion, has me a little unsettled. I felt a little more confidence knowing he was at the helm of this project. He will be missed.
Welcome back Tag! Regarding your assumption nothing HUGE occurred…well, I need to tell you that GM just made a suprise launch of Volts in all 48 contiguouse states, Lyle is now Co-CEO of GM with Fritz, and Bob Lutz mailed his pink tie to Statik since you were gone. Other than that, not much else has happened. LOL!
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October 31st, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I want to join and express my gratitude to Frank Weber for an outstanding job on the Volt. I am sure your work will lead the world to a different kind of motoring. Your competence will be missed here.
Good luck in your new assignment and again, thank you.
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October 31st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Let Lutz take it over! Check it out midway through the interview he, says “don’t discount” performance version of Volt. Pure bluster, for sure, but that’s exactly what this car needs to get people excited again.
http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=11135527&referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referrer=staf
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October 31st, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Thanks Noel,
I never really went away, just got about a week behind reading the posts and took awhile to catch up. I also didn’t really like the nested comment structure,so just stopped commenting for awhile.
PS: NASAman is not our nasaman. Sentence structure,syntax etc., is not the same.
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October 31st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Any predictions who is next?
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October 31st, 2009 at 9:17 pm
That’s especially true when the highest priced per hour talent will be reviewing the specs for the elevator as well as my promotion in the next six months!!!!
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November 1st, 2009 at 4:42 am
Mr. Weber,
It’s been clear from watching video interviews of you over the last couple of years, that you’re a man of diligence, patience, intelligence, integrity and humility. It seems that the others on the Volt team possess these values as well, but if the person in charge doesn’t, it could have all been for naught.
Thanks so much for your hard work and contribution, as well as the rest of the Volt team.
May the road rise to meet your feet.
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November 2nd, 2009 at 12:45 am
I agree, SNL doesn’t have skits you can stand to watch anymore, let alone believe. This is funny, and Frank is my new hero. Perhaps he will use the new digs to bring the Ampera to market.
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November 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
On 5:41 pm EST, Tuesday November 3, 2009
GM board opts to keep Opel
Magna had no comment on the GM decision.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/GM-board-opts-to-keep-rb-1221772705.html?x=0
=D~
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November 5th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Frank, good luck over there at Opel.
-Fritz
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091104/bs_afp/germanyusautocompanygmopel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jpb1e32KRY
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