Micky Bly is executive director of Vehicle Engineering’s Global Electrical Systems, Hybrids, Electric Vehicles and Batteries for General Motors. Named to this position in October 2009, Bly oversees the company’s development of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, which includes the Chevrolet Volt’s vehicle integration and battery development.
Previously, he was executive director of Engine Hardware Analysis, Design, Development and Validation.
From 2006 through 2008, Bly was director of Global Hybrid Integration and Controls. He oversaw the teams responsible for the production development of GM’s multiple hybrid vehicles, and contributed to the integration work on the Volt. Bly’s team of engineers made sure all of the components – from the engine, transmission, brakes and batteries, to the computers and the software that run electronic controls – came together seamlessly. He is particularly proud of the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which was named Green Car Journal’s “Green Car of the Year.”
Bly joined GM as a student intern in 1986 and was hired to GM’s engineering staff after graduating from Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1990. In 2003, he received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
In his 19 years at GM, Bly has worked on various powertrain programs in the United States, England and Germany. His first position was in Warren, Mich., as a Powertrain Development and Validation engineer. He held positions of increasing responsibility in the Small Block V8 engine group, including lead development engineer for the iconic Corvette C5 V8 engine group. In 1997, he was transferred to Lotus Cars in Norwich, England, and promoted to Engine Management Systems engineer for GM’s highly successful Ecotec L4 – GM’s first global four-cylinder engine program. He also was vehicle system engineer for powertrain for the Opel Corsa and Vectra programs at Opel engineering in Russelheim, Germany.
Upon returning to the U.S. in 2000, Bly was appointed engineering group manager for North America Emission Controls Hardware. Two years later, he assumed the role of V6 Calibration System manager at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. In 2003, he was appointed to oversee all technical briefings and staff facilitation on behalf of the GM Powertrain group vice president and continued this work until his appointment overseeing hybrid vehicle integration in 2006.
Bly is GM’s key executive for the Georgia Tech university recruiting team and serves as a member of the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board. He became a board member for Hughes Research Laboratories in October 2009. Bly also is the co-executive GM leads for EcoCAR, one of North America’s premier college automotive engineering competitions that is sponsored by GM and the U.S. Department of Energy.