Top Designer To GM: "Hell, No, I Won't Go."

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Well into the first decade of the new millennium, Changchun, China, was Volkswagen’s Siberia. When someone was transferred to the frigid city in Northern China, the others inevitably asked: “What did you do?”

It looks like Opel is quickly becoming GM’s Siberia, and people rather desert than going. On June 18, Dave Lyon was promoted vice president of design for GM Europe. Next Wednesday, he was supposed to start his job as head of GM’s design studio in Germany. Instead of going, Lyon left the company.

Lyon, says the Detroit Free Press, was “one of General Motors’ highest-ranking designers.” His work “at GM included the widely praised interior of the new 2013 Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, making Buick’s transition to a modern global design theme consistent with GM’s European Opel brand, and small crossovers to broaden GMC’s lineup. He also played a significant role in designing the interior of the Chevrolet Volt.”

It is not clear why Lyon left, but, says the Freep, his “departure is the latest blow to Opel/Vauxhall, which have endured management and labor turmoil as Europe’s economy totters.”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Dcars Dcars on Jul 28, 2012

    Think about it, the German Labor Unions Government and people have done just about every thing they can do to make GM feel unwanted. Who would want to be around these people anymore.

    • Th009 Th009 on Jul 28, 2012

      I don't know how you could blame the German government (which cannot provide direct aid anyway under EU regulations) or the German people. Even the Opel unions are working under the same contracts as at other German auto manufacturers, which is how the system works in Germany, there is no bias against Opel. No, this decline is GM's own doing (and the same goes for the current situation of Fiat, Ford Europe and PSA).

  • Schmitt trigger Schmitt trigger on Jul 28, 2012

    Perhaps he doesn´t like sauerkraut and wurst?

  • GS650G GS650G on Jul 29, 2012

    Perhaps Dave didn't want to preside over the closing of Opel and find a way to git rid of himself as well as a division. he may not have had the golden parachute Rabid Rick and the boys had so best to move on.

  • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Jul 30, 2012

    So this guy is responsible for the XTS and turning Buick into Opel Jr.? Good riddance.

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