Originally published on Clean Technica
Via Motors has now named Bob Lutz, former Vice Chairman of GM, its chairman of the board. Lutz, who has served as a board member for a while, will be taking the place of retiring Carl Berg, according to the company website. Berg remains VIA’s biggest shareholder.
Lutz’ automotive career has spanned decades, first starting at GM in the 1960′s, then moving to BMW, Ford, Chrysler, and Exide.
In 2001, Lutz returned to GM, helping to play a vital role in the Chevy Volt’s birth, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle which ranks now as one of the top-selling EVs on the market. He retired from GM in 2010, only to join the VIA Motors board in 2011.
“Mr. Lutz brings with him a passion for the evolution of the automobile, and decades of experience from his tenure in top executive positions at each of the world’s leading auto companies,” said VIA Motors CEO John Weber.
“I believe VIA is electrifying the right end of the business and is implementing a very sound business strategy,” said Lutz.
“If we are going to see main stream adoption of electric vehicles, the technology must deliver a good return on investment to the largest segment of the auto business, namely trucks, vans & SUVs. That’s why I am so confident in VIA and I’m pleased to serve as Chairman,” he said.
An “enigma” in the world of cleantech because of his progressive views on electric cars combined with claims that global warming is a crock, Lutz a few months ago said electric trucks, not cars should have hit the market first.
With the “ultimate car man” leading the helm of a “game changer” like VIA Motors, expect to hear a lot about this company in the very near future.