Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Volt chief Frank Weber is leaving the automaker Dec. 1 to take a senior leadership post with Opel, where he previously developed sedans for the German brand GM is trying to sell.

Weber, 43, has been the global vehicle line executive and chief vehicle engineer for GM’s electric vehicle development program since March 2007. Before that, he had worked on the team that developed the global midsize vehicle line that includes the Opel Insignia and Buick Regal. Doug Parks, GM’s chief engineer of compact-car architecture in Europe, will succeed Weber.

GM remains committed to the Volt program, Weber said in an interview. His departure is the first change in the leadership of the Volt team, even as the automaker has cut staff and moved managers since emerging from bankruptcy July 10.

“There is a huge difference in the Volt program from when I came here,” Weber said. “The entire organization has inhaled what we do here.”

Weber said he couldn’t share his exact title at Opel, because the brand’s future isn’t settled. His role will involve keeping global product development intact even as GM’s stake in the brand shifts to a minority interest.

“I have been working 15 years now on the globalization of General Motors,” Weber said.

Opel to Board

GM delayed the signing of a final agreement to sell its Opel unit to a group led by Aurora, Ontaio-based Magna International Inc. until next month at the earliest so its board can respond to a European Union review of the deal.

GM’s board will use its Nov. 3 regular meeting to consider changes to a proposal from Magna and partner OAO Sberbank, John Smith, GM’s lead negotiator on the sale, wrote Oct. 23 in a blog. The transaction is being held back after the European Commission expressed concerns that Germany improperly favored Magna’s bid by tying 4.5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) in aid solely to a purchase by the Canadian car-parts manufacturer.

GM said in August that it expects the Volt extended-range electric vehicle to achieve a fuel-economy rating equivalent to 230 miles per gallon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. GM says the Volt will be able to go 40 miles (64 kilometers) on power from a lithium-ion battery before tapping an onboard gasoline engine. The Volt will use about 40 cents’ worth of electricity to get its overnight charge, GM says.

GM plans to begin selling the Volt in November 2010. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has said the car may have a sticker price of about $40,000.

To contact the reporter on this story: Katie Merx in Southfield, Michigan, at kmerx@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 30, 2009 11:00 EDT