On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Bob Kruse, a chief architect of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric hybrid, left the company to found his own consulting firm.

The Volt, which will launch late in 2010, will make automotive history while positioning General Motors to once again compete on a global level with its groundbreaking green technology.

Micky Bly will assume the position of executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles, and batteries. Bly is a GM veteran who most recently contributed to the Two Mode hybrid transmission as well as the small-displacement engines and electric controls utilized in powertrains for the company's hybrids.

According to GM spokesman Brian Corbett, the Kruse resignation will not alter the timetable for the launch of the Volt. "It's never a good time to lose talented people," he said, "but we've got a deep bench when it comes to the Volt," adding, "Micky and Bob worked together for the month of September to make sure there was a smooth transition."

In his new capacity as a consultant, Kruse will work with clients to compete for federal grants totaling $1.3 billion. The funds are available to companies developing advanced batteries and electric vehicles.

Bly will become the third executive in charge of the Volt program which began under the direction of Hans-Georg Frischkorn who left the position in January 2008 when Kruse came onboard.