Bob Lutz (businessman)

Robert (Maximum Bob) Anthony Lutz (born February 12, 1932) is a Swiss-American automotive executive.

Lutz received a bachelor's degree in production management in 1961, followed by an MBA with a concentration in marketing with highest honors in 1962, both from the University of California, Berkeley.

Lutz became head of Chrysler Corporation's Global Product Development, including the successful Dodge Viper and LH series cars.

[9] While at General Motors, Lutz championed the import of the Holden Monaro to the United States as the Pontiac GTO.

[10] On February 9, 2009, GM announced that Lutz would step down on April 1, 2009, from his position as vice chairman of Global Product Development, to take an advisory role.

[15] The Providence, RI-based company said that it "has achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of nano-structured sheet steel with exceptional strength and ductility" for the automotive industry.

[16] In late-2017 Lutz wrote an article for Automotive News predicting upheaval within the car manufacturing industry, anticipating large-scale fleet ownership, removal of dealerships and an eventual ban on human driving of vehicles for transport.

His 2011 book, Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business, is about his experiences in the US automobile industry.

It attained third place in the New York Times "Business Hardcover" category and fifth on the Wall Street Journal list.

It is a compendium from Lutz's more than sixty years of observation of inspirational leaders and an analysis of what made the great ones successful at what they did.

Among other aircraft, he owned and piloted an Aero L-39 Albatros (an advanced Czechoslovakian jet fighter trainer) and an MD-500 helicopter.

Lutz was featured in the 2007 coffee table book published by Motorbooks International [(The Quarto Group]), "Motor City Dream Garages."