Thread: GM to hire 1,000 to boost electric vehicle efforts

GM to hire 1,000 to boost electric vehicle efforts

By Chrissie Thompson, Detroit Free Press

General Motors said Tuesday it plans to hire 1,000 electric-vehicle engineers and researchers over the next two years as it prepares to deliver the first Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric cars next month.
Volt production started early this month, as reported by the Free Press.

GM plans to keep the first Volt off the line to display in its Heritage Center in Sterling Heights. The company will auction off the second Volt, with proceeds to benefit math and science education at Detroit Public Schools, GM said in a news release ahead of a planned announcement by North American President Mark Reuss at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck plant.

GM first announced development of the Volt in 2007, following the urging of former Vice Chairman Bob Lutz to create a car that would help GM's image as the Prius had done for Toyota. The Volt gets 25 to 50 miles of range from its battery pack before switching to power from a gasoline generator.

GM plans to build 10,000 Volts by the end of 2011 and at least 45,000 in 2012. Initially, the Volt will sell in California, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas. Next spring, those markets will expand to include Michigan, New Jersey, Connecticut and the rest of New York and Texas. Within a year and a half, GM plans to sell the Volt nationwide.

People can bid in the Volt auction until 6 p.m. on Dec. 14 at www.bidonthevolt.com. The opening bid is $50,000. Chevrolet will announce the winner on Dec. 16 and deliver the Volt that month, complete with a 240-Volt charging station.

The upcoming engineer hires continue a trend started after GM's 2009 bankruptcy. In mid-January, GM started hiring college graduates and experienced engineers, focusing on green technologies, hybrids and electric vehicles. By September, the automaker had added 200 electrification engineers and at that time had 50 more openings, said Micky Bly, who heads GM's electric vehicle, hybrid and battery development.

Electric-vehicle engineers often bring youth to GM's engineering staff, which aged as the automaker cut back on hiring during its financial difficulties. The median age of a GM electrification engineer is 27, Bly said in September. The median age of all vehicle engineers is 47, he said.

Contact Chrissie Thompson: 313-222-8784 or cthompson@freepress.com

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/201 ... volt_N.htm

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