Opel’s New Design Chief Quits

Dave Lyon, who was scheduled to become the Opel unit's head of design on Wednesday, instead left the company late last week, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The newspaper, which doesn't cite its sources, says it is not clear why Lyon quit.

He had been serving as vice president for North American interiors and global cross brand design and brand champion of the Buick and GMC marques. The company named Lyon in mid-June to become vice president of design for GM Europe with oversight of Opel and Vauxhall design operations.

Lyon is credited with designing the interior of the Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Volt and with integrating infotainment systems into Cadillac, Chevrolet and Buick vehicles. He holds a fine arts degree in transportation design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.