DETROIT, MI (AP)-- General Motors is restructuring its vehicle development process, cutting a layer of management and eliminating about 20 executive jobs.
The company says no one will be fired. The cuts will come through retirements and reassignment to other positions.
Currently products are developed under a vehicle line executive, a line director and a chief engineer. Under the new structure, product lines will be developed under executive chief engineers. They will report to Doug Parks, who has been appointed vice president of product programs. GM says the moves will cut complexity and make one person accountable for developing vehicles.
Company spokesman Klaus-Peter Martin would not comment on whether the changes are part of a broader management streamlining.
GM CEO Dan Akerson has been frustrated with the company's bureaucracy and resistance to change.
