Chevy Camaro Chief Engineer Moves to GM Electric Vehicles

Manufacturers are now moving their best talent, like Al Oppenheiser, and most of their R&D money to electric cars.

Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer and spiritual leader of the Chevrolet Camaro program for more than a decade, is moving to General Motors' newly formed AV/EV organization to focus on zero-emission-vehicle development. Mark Dickens, current executive director of Performance Variants, Parts, Accessories, and Motorsports Engineering—not to mention card-carrying member of the Bonneville Salt Flats 200-MPH Club—will assume Oppenheiser's role as chief engineer of the Camaro program.

Credited with shepherding the fifth- and sixth-generation Camaro and performance variants such as the Z/28 and the ZL1 into existence, Oppenheiser developed a loyal team of colleagues within Chevrolet—not to mention the respect of the Camaro community and of Chevrolet performance fans as a whole. There is a contingent of late-model Camaro enthusiasts for whom Oppenheiser represents the human element behind the sheetmetal, tiny daylight openings and all. How they will react to his departure remains to be seen.

General Motors spokesman Michael Albano told C/D that, because electrification is playing a huge role at GM, the automaker is moving "some of our best talent" to work on current and upcoming projects. He acknowledged that this is a lateral move and not an elevation of position for Oppenheiser, who will remain a chief engineer. "We have launched the final variant of this generation of Camaro, so the time is right" for him to move, Albano added. More at Car & Driver