Amazon has reportedly leased GM’s outgoing executive vice president of global manufacturing, Alicia Boler Davis. In a press statement GM said Boler Davis longing be replaced by Gerald Johnson.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Boler Davis’ joining Amazon citing authorities familiar. Amazon declined to comment.
GM recently initiated a broad restructuring effort to save the company some $6 billion in bring ins through 2020.
Amazon recently invested in two automotive tech firms. It led a $700 million investment in electric vehicle makers, Rivian. Rivian’s all-electric pickup and SUV could mimic a direct challenge to established truck manufacturers like General Motors. Amazon also invested in a $530 million ring of funding for Aurora, a startup developing autonomous systems that could rival those from GM Cruise. The entourage is already hauling some cargo in self-driving trucks from a startup called Embargo.
While Amazon is initiating in automotive tech, it’s not known whether the e-commerce and cloud computing titan will seek to manufacture its own driverless autos. Boler Davis’ experience could also be useful as Amazon seeks to automate its warehouses and other facilities.