Tadge Juechter, longtime chief engineer of the Chevrolet Corvette, will retire this summer after a 47-year career with General Motors. He has been with the Corvette team since 1993 and became chief engineer in 2006, leading the development of the mid-engine C7 and C8.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to work at this company, leading the men and women who brought to life one of the most iconic and recognizable vehicles in recent American history.” , Juechter said in a statement. “Their tenacity and ability to push what is possible with each variant and generation of Corvette was inspiring. I know the future of the nameplate is in good hands.”
His successor will be confirmed this summer upon his retirement.
The last Corvette developed under Juechter’s leadership will be the C8 ZR1, which is expected to sit above the Z06. His tenure allowed the Corvette to push enormous boundaries. The C8 was the first to feature a mid-engine after decades of false starts. The platform also introduced the first flat-plane V8 to the Corvette nameplate, and perhaps even more importantly, the first hybrid model, the all-wheel-drive E-Ray.
Juechter also went to great lengths to engage the Corvette’s huge fan base. He was a regular presence at Corvette events across the country, always taking the time to explain the details of the latest models.
He will surely be considered one of the most influential figures in Corvette history, alongside Ed Cole, Bill Mitchell and Zora Arkus-Duntov.