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GM Hires Delphi Exec To Run Powertrain Business

Steve Kiefer, who heads Delphi Corp.'s Powertrain Systems, will join the auto giant on Sept. 1. In addition to leading GM's powertrain business, he also will oversee engine development. Jim Lanzon will remain as vice president of global transmissions.

DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors has hired a veteran executive away from its former parts arm to run GM's global engine and transmission operations.

Steve Kiefer, who heads Delphi Corp.'s Powertrain Systems, will join the auto giant on Sept. 1. In addition to leading GM's powertrain business, he also will oversee engine development. Jim Lanzon will remain as vice president of global transmissions.

The global powertrain job has been vacant since Jamie Hresko left the company in March of 2011. Kiefer also will assume duties of Sam Winegarden, who was head of global engine engineering.

The trade publication Automotive News said in July that Winegarden was dismissed from GM after irregularities were discovered with emissions tests done on engines in India.

GM acknowledged problems with the tests and said it would recall 114,000 Chevrolet Tavera SUVs because of them. The company said it dismissed several employees in India and at its Pontiac, Mich., powertrain operations due to violations of company policy.

Kiefer, 50, is a Delphi senior vice president and has been president of the company's Powertrain Systems group since 2011.

He also previously worked in leadership roles at GM. Delphi was GM's parts arm before it was spun off as a separate company in 1999.

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