BMW Invests More in its ‘i’ Project, Snatches Chevy Volt’s Lead Engineer from GM

BMW recently acquired Frank Weber, formerly head of Opel/Vauxhall’s product planning division and lead engineer on Chevrolet’s Volt. Automotive News Europe reports that he will become head of BMW’s vehicle architecture and integration division.

Weber will be in control of EfficientDynamics (the green stuff), driver safety/assistance tech, and “full vehicle concepts and architecture”, as well as bringing a whole bunch of electrical wizardry and know-how to BMW’s nascent electric future.

The Bavarian automaker has already confirmed two cars for its newly launched ‘i’ sub-brand, the fully electric i3 hatchback and the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car based on the Vision ED concept study.

With serious experience in the world of concept engineering and electric cars, look for Weber to be a healthy injection of interesting under the skin of BMW’s i division. As for GM / Opel, no successor has been named yet.

By Phil Alex

PHOTO GALLERY