Robert Lutz is to joint the board of Transonic Combustion, the company has said. Having worked for Ford, Chrysler and BMW, Lutz recently retired after nine years as vice chairman (and unoffical ‘car czar’) of General Motors.

“For the foreseeable future, the internal combustion engine will remain the dominant propulsion system for automobiles,” Lutz said, “and there is still a lot of room to improve its efficiency. Customers and manufacturers want better fuel economy, lower emissions and a great vehicle experience all at an attractive price. Transonic’s new supercritical fuel injection technology can greatly improve engine efficiency and potentially become the new industry standard.”

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

“Bob brings to Transonic’s board of directors a lifetime of automotive experience and a passion for personal transportation,” said Brian Ahlborn, president and CEO, Transonic Combustion. “He joins our board at just the right time, as our technology development and customer traction are progressing rapidly. As our mission is to bring significantly improved efficiency to internal combustion engines, Bob will clearly insist that this is done with the same excellence that has characterised his career.”

Lutz was CEO of Exide from 1998 to 2001, before returning to GM. Previously with Chrysler Corp for 12 years, he was vice chairman, president, chief operations officer and executive vice president. Previously, he served for 12 years with Ford, three years with BMW and eight years with GM.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact