Controversial GM Executive To Retire

General Motors Corp. says Vice Chairman for Global Product Development Bob Lutz will retire at the end of this year.

The 76-year-old Lutz is credited with revamping GM's product line and shepherding its efforts to roll out the Chevrolet Volt electric car. Lutz, however, made headlines in January 2008 with comments about global warming.

"Man-made global warming is a crock of (expletive)," Lutz said.

In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes last year, Lutz told the program that GM wants the Volt to be more of an everyman car.

"I started out very optimistically and said 'I think we can sell this thing for $20,000.' And that turned out to have been, like, one of those 'I wish I hadn't said that.' And then we started hoping for well below 30. And now we're trying to keep it south of 40," Lutz said.

GM said Monday that Lutz will be replaced by Thomas Stephens, who now is executive vice president of global powertrain and quality.

The company says Stephens will take over the product development post and become a vice chairman April 1. Lutz will stay as a vice chairman and senior adviser until the end of the year.

GM says Stephens will still have responsibility for global powertrain engineering, but powertrain manufacturing will report to Manufacturing Vice President Gary Cowger.

GM says the changes are part of its efforts to become more efficient.