Ed Welburn: Soft-spoken chief restores GM design to prominence

[Rob]

Ed Welburn: Soft-spoken chief restores GM design to prominence

By Mark Phelan, Auto Critic
Detroit Free Press
January 8, 2012

Ed Welburn has led General Motors design from irrelevance to greater influence and respect than it has enjoyed in decades.

Along the way, the 61-year-old designer helped create distinctive new looks for Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac and forged GM's design operations around the world into a cohesive team for the first time in the automaker's history.

"He has truly taken GM design from lackluster back to glory," retired GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said. Lutz made restoring GM design to greatness his priority when he joined the company in 2001. He called the job search that led to Welburn becoming GM design chief in 2003 "the crowning achievement" of his career.

Full Story: Ed Welburn: Soft-spoken chief restores GM design to prominence | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

[6 Shooter]

[catbert]

I like everything that he's had a hand in, except the Cruze. It's a little conservative for my liking.

[6 Shooter]

The Cruze is hitting the ball out of the park!

[catbert]

The Cruze is hitting the ball out of the park!

Yes it is! Along with the Corolla, it's proof that subcompacts and compacts have a buyer's audience that isn't always hung up on "style."