General Motors has named long-time employee Doug Parks as vice-president for autonomous technology and vehicle execution as the carmaker moves to expand its lineup of autonomous and electric vehicle.
Parks, a vice-president for global product programs at GM since 2012, starts his new role on Feb. 1, according to Reuters.
His role will be to spearhead the company’s development of new electric and battery technology, as well as the software to run the vehicles.
Parks has been with GM since 1984 and was previously executive director and group vehicle line executive for electric cars.
The Chevrolet Bolt is expected to arrive in showrooms late this year, the latest electric vehicle from GM, which also offers the 2016 Volt, the 2016 Malibu Hybrid and the Spark EV. It’s expected to have a competitive price and has a range of 320 kilometres on a single charge.a