Harlan Charles Career with Corvette, GM Ends After 37 Years

By
Keith Cornett
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25
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Harlan Charles Career with Corvette, GM Ends After 37 Years

Photo Credit: Harlan Charles


General Motors has a lost another key member of its Corvette Team after notifying Corvette Product Marketing Manager Harlan Charles that “his time was up.” Harlan confirmed his retirement from GM on his Facebook page late Sunday evening, thanking those he worked with and while also looking back on his accomplishments with America’s Favorite Sports Car.

Harlan joined General Motors 37 years ago and has been on the Corvette team for 24 of those years. He was known for his rapport with Corvette owners as well as taking on the GM establishment to produce the mid-engine C8 Corvette. He was always decent with us (and all my questions), and his presence at Corvette events will be missed. He follows retired Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juecther, who left the company in July 2024 after a 47 year career with the company.

There’s a rumor of another high-level Corvette team member who was also let go from GM as well. We are waiting for that announcement before commenting on it. This is some shocking news for the Corvette Nation, and it will take some time to digest. Below you will find the Harlan’s message from his Facebook page.

Harlan Charles

My Corvette dream is over – my bubble burst

After 24 years on Corvette and 37 at GM, I was informed my time is up and I will no longer be your Corvette Product Manager. I am now retired.

I have had the greatest life I could have ever imagined because of Corvette. We were able to prove that America can compete with the best in the world and win. I was able to work on 4 generations. No one can take away what I think is Corvette’s best era in history. I had the honor of working with Corvette legends like Tadge Juechter and Kirk Bennion. Josh Holder, Devon Blue, and Tony Roma and the rest of the team have my best wishes for the future.

Some of my proudest memories:
  • My Presentation in 2005 on why we should study a mid-engine Corvette for C7
  • 2020 Corvette Stingray @ $59,995. A car no one else in the world could do
  • Inventing the concept of the built in Performance Data Recorder introduced in 2015
  • 2010 Grand Sport model
  • 2013 427 Convertible – convertible models for Z06 and ZR1 – C8 convertible hardtop proposal
  • Naming the Corvette E-Ray. Bringing back Grand Sport and ZR1 names
  • Special Editions – especially Centennial, LeMans commemorative, Ron Fellows, Z06 Carbon
  • Adding personalization options, brake colors, stitching, seat belts, two-tone seats, and more.
  • 2023 Bowling Green factory production record
  • Being able to represent our great team with customers at enthusiast events.
  • Representing the best customers in the world to the team
  • My role in making the sports car of your dreams come true at an attainable price.
Please watch the recent video interview series by Haggerty with Tadge and me if you want to know more (my previous post).

I can’t think about the future yet. I feel fortunate to have so made many friends over the years and customer relationships that have become family because of Corvette. I was your voice and you helped us create what Corvette has become. I hope our friendships will continue even if I can’t help you anymore.

Harlan Charles
FORMER Chevrolet Corvette Product Marketing Manager

Harlan Charles


Source:
Harlan Charles / Facebook

Related:
Tadge and Harlan Talk to Hagerty in a Three Episode ‘Tell All’ Interview
[PODCAST] Corvette Today #236: Harlan Charles Talks About the Corvette ZR1
[VIDEO] 2024 Corvette E-Ray with Harlan Charles Plus Q&A Session from Carlisle

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25 COMMENTS

  2. Once again, GM middle-management demonstrates how they operate in their own bubble of ignorance. This decision has clearly exposed their total lack of product knowledge and their absence of understanding of their customer and what has made Corvette great. If you ever needed proof that the Peter Principle was real, this ought to seal the deal.

  3. A true rock star/legend of the Corvette community on top of being a great person. Sad news.

  4. In today’s corporate world, I’m surprised anyone survives 37 years, much less 47 years whether they are brilliant contributors or chair-warming drones. Consider retirement as a reward even if there are no more gold watches.

  5. The “…time is up…” language is harsh. It feels like there there is a message here that it was forced. I just watched the three part video and this guy is impressive. One day the back story will come out. Good Luck, Harlan.

  6. With GM’s track record of killing off all of the best of everything–I fear that this is more of the same.

    I worry about what this portends for the future of the marquee. And now I’m really worried about if we are going to get a Gemini+Hybrid C8.

  7. Everyone’s “time is up” at some point in their career which was the same message I got at the age of 63. I don’t know Harlan’s age but would guess after 37 years he was around 60. I would say to him not to be bitter, which is what I felt for awhile, but to embrace, and enjoy retirement as your new challenge.

  9. GM as a corporation is driven by many forces. Corvette is but one.
    I’m sorry for this man, and for the corvette. I can only hope for the best.

  10. Wow, just shocking. Plus it was mentioned another key member is going to be gone, better not be Josh Holder, they won’t have anyone left that has platform knowledge. I’m hoping Josh becomes chief engineer. Typical cost cutting, happened to me last year. 40 year IT veteran, high salary, didn’t matter that I created an organization that was top tier, they made my job redundant. But it was my own fault, I created such an effective organization that it ran itself and they didn’t need me anymore. (ok, had to brag a little, but it truly was my own fault because of what I built).

  12. Tadge and Harlan have been prominent in my entire Corvette life. I’ve seen them and talked with them at every Bash and all but one Anniversary since 2015 and I will miss their willingness to answer any question (not involving future product) and their humor. Their program office update was the highlight for me at every event. Hopefully Tony Roma, Josh Holder and whomever replaces Harlan can maintain the level of quality and customer engagement we have come to expect.

  13. Thanks VERY much Harlan for all you have done for the marque!! You leave behind an impressive track record!!!

  14. I told him a year ago to get a haircut, never looked professional, might have had something to do with it. Obviously someone upstairs didn’t like him, that’s life. Zoom Zoom

  19. A big congratulations to Charles for his contributions to the modern Corvette. A distinctive, no compare product all in itself mostly due to REALLY listening to customers and have the brains and skills to push it all through engineering, suppliers and bean counters.

    In 2025 retirement (a paycheck for the rest of your life) with 47 years of service is a privilege so really don’t understand the surprise slant to all this vis a vis Charles Corvette’s product manager role. Pretty sure this is all regular company policy stuff.

  20. Paving the way for the future bubble top soccer mom SUV Corvette that will look like all the others at the Saturday morning games.

  21. I thought the autocracy of the old GM was long gone. And I surely hope it is and this is not an indication of it creeping back in.
    America cannot stand the old GM. CANNOT!

  22. Give me a BREAK! None of these guys would have had their job with GM working on the Corvette, if it wasn’t for the GREAT ZORA ARKUS DUNTOV! GM was going to AXE the Corvette in only a few years after production began, but Zora convinced them otherwise! I had the pleasure of meeting this great man, as well as getting his autograph at the opening of the Corvette Museum in the mid 90’s. My father was the plant manager of Norwood for over 2 decades before he retired in 87 with a total of 42 years with GM and was given (VIN #00001) the 1st 87 GTA to come off the assembly line with the very-rare parts code DD9 power paddle-type side-view mirrors, 1 of only approx. 100-150 cars. I still own it to this day with only triple digit mileage and have considered offering it on BAT for $250,000. It has numerous famous autograph on the map pocket from Andy Granitelli to Carroll Shelby to Zora Arkus DUNTOV. It sits in my climate controlled warehouse next to the 89 TTA with 72 miles that was given to Bobby Unser by GM for driving 1 of 3 actual pace cars in the 89 Indy 500. NO doubt, it is also presently valued at $250,000 as well.

  23. It certainly seems odd that such a long-time employee had to be let go. That reflect poorly on the company as it could have been a simple retirement.

    I also note that it seems very difficult to get a new Vette, maybe because there are too many sitting at dealers. I talk to my dealer and get no information.

  24. To Perry Laspina. I’d give some credit to Jim Perkins. He got the C5 built. Chevy let my dad work to age 70 in the NY Zone. He retired the same year as yours in 87. He was a low tier white collar guy and was credited with 50 total years. It is interesting to see these three guys leave within 6 months of each other. There must be some interesting stuff going to happen in the next 24 – 36 months.

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