TROY, Mich. — EcoMotors International has named veteran industry executive Donald Runkle as its CEO. Runkle brings automotive OEM, supplier and private-equity experience to his new position at EcoMotors — a Michigan-based developer of clean, efficient, lightweight propulsion systems. 
The start-up was founded in 2008 by world-renowned engine innovator, Prof. Peter Hofbauer, father of the contemporary high-speed diesel engine during his tenure as Volkswagen’s head of powertrain development. EcoMotors is backed by Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, a prominent investor in disruptive clean technology.
"Don brings us broad experience in running businesses and business functions in many key areas," said Khosla. "As we prepare to take disruptive ‘maintech’ power technology from the laboratory to the world’s markets — which are hungry for power that is ecological, efficient, compact, lightweight and, most important, economical — Don’s leadership and business acumen will be invaluable to our efforts."
"The opportunity to build up such an important company with a powertrain pioneer like Peter Hofbauer, and backed by a visionary like Vinod Khosla, was just too good to pass up," said Runkle. "To bring propulsion solutions to market that will economically transport people and goods, while making a serious and practical impact on global warming, is an exciting and challenging opportunity that I look forward to helping advance."
Until mid-2005, Runkle was vice chairman and chief technical officer of Delphi Corp., where he was the senior executive responsible for deploying lean principles and integrating engineering, manufacturing and purchasing, and for leading major international customer accounts. As Delphi’s executive vice president from 2000 to 2003, Runkle was responsible for the $14 billion Dynamics and Propulsion Systems Sector, where he acquired significant new business and led more than $4 billion of worldwide M&A venture transactions.
Prior to his days at Delphi, Runkle enjoyed a 31-year career at General Motors, which included posts as vice president of Advanced Engineering, vice president of Engineering Operations for North America, chief engineer of Chevrolet, and vice president and general manager of Energy and Engine Management Division — an operation that yielded $7 billion in annual revenue. His many accomplishments at GM include production programs that won prestigious "Top 10 Engine" and "Car of the Year" awards, and also countless advanced concepts demonstrating high efficiency and high performance such as GM’s EV1 electric car, the 100-mpg Ultralite, and the CERV III concept Corvette.
Runkle serves as non-executive chairman of EaglePicher Corp. and of Autocam Corp., both privately held, and as an operating executive for Tennenbaum Capital Partners. He also serves as a director on the boards of various other organizations, including MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and James P. Womack’s Lean Enterprise Institute.
