GM Hires Aurora Co-founder as Chief Product Officer

GM Appoints Sterling Anderson to Lead Product Development

General Motors has appointed Sterling Anderson, a highly experienced figure in the autonomous vehicle sector, to a newly established position overseeing the development of both gasoline-powered and electric vehicles. This role will encompass nearly all departments involved in vehicle development at the U.S.-based automaker.

The newly created position of VP of global product and chief product officer will manage the complete lifecycle of GM’s vehicle portfolio. This includes the integration of hardware, software, services, and the overall user experience.

Reporting Structure and Location

Anderson will report directly to GM President Mark Reuss and will commence his duties on June 2nd. His primary work location will be the company’s Mountain View Tech Center situated in California.

This appointment follows Anderson’s recent resignation from Aurora, an autonomous vehicle company he co-founded alongside other prominent figures in the AV industry.

Departure from Aurora

Anderson’s departure from Aurora, which also included relinquishing his position on the company’s board, occurred shortly after the launch of their commercial self-driving truck service in Texas.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Anderson stated that his decision to leave Aurora was unexpected. However, discussions with GM leadership, including Chair and CEO Mary Barra, revealed the significant potential for impactful contributions within the automaker.

Vision for GM’s Future

“The breadth of opportunities at GM is substantial,” Anderson explained. “It presents a chance to positively influence the lives of millions through innovative and safe vehicle experiences, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of our roadways.”

Anderson’s responsibilities will be comprehensive, spanning all aspects of GM’s operations as the company continues its efforts to modernize and electrify its vehicle offerings.

Leadership Responsibilities

He will be responsible for leading teams focused on vehicle and manufacturing engineering, battery technology, and software and services product management. This includes direct oversight of Kurt Kelty, head of battery, propulsion, and sustainability, who also previously worked at Tesla.

Furthermore, the heads of global manufacturing and product engineering, software and services, vehicle product programs, safety, and integration will all report to Anderson.

GM’s Statement on the Appointment

“Customers now demand more from our vehicles than ever before,” stated Reuss. “We are presented with an opportunity to revolutionize our building process, fostering closer integration between software and hardware, accelerating development cycles, and prioritizing a seamless customer experience. Sterling’s extensive experience in automotive engineering and transformative software innovation makes him the ideal leader to guide GM’s continued success.”

Conditions for Leaving Aurora

Anderson clarified that he would not have considered leaving Aurora if the company hadn’t recently achieved its key milestone of launching a driverless self-driving truck service.

Initially, Anderson intends to focus on gaining a thorough understanding of GM’s operations, culture, and existing product line.

Continuity of GM’s Strategy

While acknowledging a “significant list of areas” he wishes to explore, Anderson emphasized that he doesn’t foresee any radical shifts in GM’s current strategic direction.

His interests align with the vision established by Barra, particularly the emphasis on rapid iteration and the development of software-defined vehicle platforms. These platforms will enable ongoing service and update delivery to customers throughout the vehicle’s lifespan.

Anderson’s Background

Prior to co-founding Aurora in 2017, Anderson served as the director of Tesla’s Autopilot program. Aurora was co-founded with Chris Urmson, formerly the head of Google’s self-driving project, and Drew Bagnell, who previously led Uber’s autonomy and perception team.

The founders’ impressive credentials quickly established Aurora as a prominent player in the autonomous vehicle space, attracting investment from firms like Sequoia Capital, Amazon, and T. Rowe Price Associates, as well as numerous strategic partnerships.

Anderson holds both a master’s degree and a PhD in robotics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.