Edward T. Welburn

Edward T. Welburn (born December 14, 1950) is an automobile designer and General Motors' Vice President of Global Design from 2003 to 2016.

To date, he holds the highest-ranking position as an African American in the automotive industry.^[1] He has overseen the development of recent GM products, such as the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS, and Buick Enclave.

Recent concepts overseen by Welburn include the Cadillac Converj, Cadillac CTS Coupe, Chevrolet Camaro Coupe, Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, and the Buick Invicta Concept.^[2]

A native of Philadelphia, Welburn was born on December 14, 1950. He received a bachelor's degree in 1972 from the College of Fine Arts at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied sculpture and product design.^[3] He joined GM at the age of 21,^[4] and since 2003 has held the same position at General Motors that Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell once held. He has a cameo role in the film Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Welburn was the lead GM designer on the Chaparral 2X Vision GT, a concept car designed for the videogame Gran Turismo 6.^[5][6] The car features 4-wheel steer and active aerodynamics, claimed to be similar to a wing suit, and was made available in December 2014.

On April 7, 2016, he announced his retirement from General Motors after 44 years, effective July 1, 2016. He will be replaced by Michael Simcoe from GM Australia Design.^[7]

In a July 7, 2016 interview with John McElroy on the program Autoline. Welburn stated that although officially retired, he has began the process of writing an autobiography, in addition to having been asked personally by Mary Barra to oversee a number of future General Motors Products. ^[8]

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