Volkswagen Group of America has announced the appointment of Lyndon Lie as its new Chief Engineering Officer. Having previously worked for General Motors and Nikola, Lie brings extensive experience in vehicle engineering and product development to his new role at Volkswagen.
At Nikola, Lie served as the global head of product development for the company’s battery electric (BEV) and fuel cell electric (FCEV) trucks in the United States. In his new position at Volkswagen, he will be responsible for overseeing the group’s development of future vehicles for the North American market, as well as setting research and development priorities across the region. This includes spearheading the design, development, and launch of several BEVs and advanced driver assistance systems.
Although Volkswagen Group of America’s headquarters is located in Herndon, Virginia, Lie will establish his office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the site of VW’s US plant. The move is seen as a strategic decision to facilitate coordination and collaboration with the manufacturing operations.
Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, expressed confidence in Lie’s abilities, stating, “Lyndon brings incredible experience to the Volkswagen brand, which will help us achieve our goal of growing our market share across North America in this decade. Designing and engineering our vehicles to meet the unique needs of our markets is more critical than ever before.”
Lyndon Lie himself shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to Volkswagen’s engineering and R&D legacy. “Developing innovative mobility products that deliver value to an ever-changing market is a true passion of mine and naturally aligns with where Volkswagen is heading,” Lie said. “The opportunity to apply my professional background to Volkswagen’s engineering and R&D endeavors empowers us to develop technology-forward solutions that excite consumers.”
Despite joining Volkswagen, Lie’s LinkedIn profile still lists him as the ‘Global Head of Product Development at Nikola Motor Company.’ His time at Nikola included leading the development of BEV and FCEV trucks for the manufacturer. Prior to his role at Nikola, Lie had a distinguished career at General Motors, spanning almost 30 years, with his last position being Chief Engineer for the Cadillac CT6. Notably, he played a significant role in the initial launch of GM’s ‘Super Cruise’ system, a Level 2 and Level 3 semi-autonomous driving assistant.
Volkswagen aims to leverage Lie’s expertise to strengthen its capabilities and experience in the North American market and continue delivering technology-driven solutions to meet the evolving demands of consumers.
