Carlisle's task: Drive GM's electric future: 'The fundamentals are in really good shape,' new N.A. boss says

摘要

DETROIT - Steve Carlisle, General Motors' next North American chief, faces an unprecedented set of tasks: protect GM's most profitable region during a pandemic, and continue to churn out lucrative internal-combustion vehicles while investing in an electric vehicle future. The 58-year-old Canadian will leave his post as president of Cadillac to oversee all of GM's North American operations starting Sept. 1. He replaces Barry Engle, who is leaving the automaker. Carlisle led Cadillac as it began a three-year product blitz that includes a new vehicle about every six months and as the luxury brand was chosen to lead GM's push into EVs. He also moved Cadillac's headquarters back to Michigan from Manhattan and announced plans to resume using names for upcoming vehicles instead of alphanumerics. Previously, Carlisle improved dealer relations and boosted sales for GM Canada. The products introduced under Carlisle, including the XT6 crossover and CT5 sedan, were started under his predecessor, Johan de Nysschen, but Carlisle oversaw launches that "were on time and relatively trouble-free with very good quality scores," said Howard Drake, dealer principal of Casa Automotive Group, which has a Cadillac store in Los Angeles. "We hadn't hit that kind of roll in a while." Carlisle, who took over Cadillac in April 2018, has proved to be a steady leader, Drake said. "He's a good tactician, and he's also really good at product."