VIA Motors has announced that auto legend, Bob Lutz, former vice chairman of General Motors and a board member of VIA Motors, had been appointed its chairman of the board.
The company is a privately held electric vehicle development and manufacturing company that makes extended range electric trucks, vans and SUVs.
Lutz is known as the "father of the Chevy Volt," said to be America's best-selling electric vehicle.
"VIA is fortunate to have the experience of one of the industry's foremost executives leading our board," said John Weber, VIA Motors, CEO. “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.”
"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 and SUVs.
“That's why I am so confident in VIA and I'm pleased to serve as chairman."
Lutz is replacing retiring chairman Carl Berg, who has served in that position since VIA's launch in 2009. Berg continues to be VIA's largest shareholder and an ardent supporter.
VIA employs a streamlined second stage manufacturing process to integrate its proprietary V-DRIVE powertrain into new OEM vehicles, then sells directly to fleets under the VTRUX brand name.
The company says its VIA VTRUX delivers up to a 40-mile battery range and unlimited extended range, averaging over 100 mpg in typical daily driving.
