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Saleen Forums News
09-13-2008, 02:57 AM
http://soec.org/forum_photos/Marques-McCammon_SOEC.jpg
Marques McCammon


By SOEC Staff/Saleen Forums News


IRVINE, CA -- September 12, 2008 -- SOEC/Saleen Forums News Exclusive -- Saleen's Marques McCammon said goodbye to Motor City today, and is heading for an exciting opportunity in San Diego County with Aptera building "green" cars. After becoming Saleen's General Manager as a result of the ASC Global/Saleen merger in mid-2007, McCammon is the second of several former ASC team members who have already left -- or will soon be leaving -- during the company's current reorganization.

During his brief tenure of just over a year, McCammon headed the team that brought several special edition Saleen models including the Red Flag, American Flag, Sterling, and the Gurney Edition. McCammon also headed the launch of the Racecraft brand as he also shifted the Saleen brand even more upscale, one of the strategies behind launching Racecraft. Thirty-two-year-old McCammon had previously headed ASC Global's West Design and Technical Center in Huntington Beach, Calif., opening its doors in 2006. Before joining ASC, he worked with Dodge's Performance Vehicle Operations team which brings the brand's SRT models to life, and where he also led the team that created the Neon SRT-4.

Saleen's Product Planning Director, Julie Zona, is shifting gears to help cover some of McCammon's responsibilities in managing the Saleen and Racecraft brands. Zona has worked closely with McCammon on product launches since joining the company in Fall of 2007, after long tenure working in product strategy at Chrysler.

In a seemingly unrelated move, Paul Wilbur, who became Saleen's CEO after the ASC/Saleen merger left in early July for a position with Aptera (http://www.aptera.com/) in Carlsbad, Calif., another "green" car company. This move left former ASC alumn Chris Theodore at the helm, moving up from his position as Chief Technology Officer.

Word around the Troy water cooler is other upper-management changes are in the works as Saleen strives to become a little more lean and nimble as the American automaker industry continues ahead, on a winding road faced with a variety of challenges.

TPSMak
09-13-2008, 11:33 AM
Good luck Marques! Since you'll be in Norcal now swing by the shop sometime :)

tonylop33
09-13-2008, 05:50 PM
Wow it almost seems like an exodus. I hope it is just a series of good opportunities for these folks.

05 Saleen
09-16-2008, 01:56 AM
I kind of laughed when I saw this picture.... Sorry Marques!

good luck.

Saleen_Cloner
09-16-2008, 02:46 PM
OK....what is really going on????? Everybody who was anybody has left Saleen? I haved called everyone that I know at Saleen and nobody is answering the phones? I did get in touch with the saleen operator and she told me that the Speedlab is closed. I am in a panic now. What good is it to own a Saleen if the Speedlab is closed. I can't get anymore parts or technical support for my car??? Is the speedlab closed temporarily or is it closed for good??????

Jim D.
09-16-2008, 03:26 PM
OK....what is really going on????? Everybody who was anybody has left Saleen? I haved called everyone that I know at Saleen and nobody is answering the phones? I did get in touch with the saleen operator and she told me that the Speedlab is closed. I am in a panic now. What good is it to own a Saleen if the Speedlab is closed. I can't get anymore parts or technical support for my car??? Is the speedlab closed temporarily or is it closed for good??????

In Irvine they're busy packing up to move to a new location, so if you can't get hold of Jared or Ned, it's probably because of that. I'd give a couple of weeks for the dust to settle, and they'll certainly try to return e-mails as soon as they can. Voice mails to Irvine may get lost in the shuffle, so beware of that.

HotRodHarry
09-16-2008, 04:27 PM
Hire me! Hire Me!! :biggrin:

05 Saleen
09-16-2008, 07:39 PM
When I went to the Saleen plant in Irvine I spoke to a few employees. Basically Saleen has for the most part completely moved to Michigan. That was a financial decision.

However, most of R & D will be staying in California. I guess you can't test parts and get California EPA Certification from Michigan... let alone TEST DRIVE R & D projects 5 months out of the year with their weather.

They are moving south of Irvine but it will only be a few miles away according to Jared.

They will have a smaller facility, which will also help them save money and have a California presence.

:smile: Saleen I alive and well... it is only a financial transition out of Irvine.

06saleen281
09-17-2008, 11:00 AM
I am glad they are moving to Mich. it's closer to me about 8 hours by car since I live in Maryland. I drove to Mich several years back to visit the old tiger stadium before they tore it down.

Saleen_Cloner
09-17-2008, 04:28 PM
When I went to the Saleen plant in Irvine I spoke to a few employees. Basically Saleen has for the most part completely moved to Michigan. That was a financial decision.

However, most of R & D will be staying in California. I guess you can't test parts and get California EPA Certification from Michigan... let alone TEST DRIVE R & D projects 5 months out of the year with their weather.

They are moving south of Irvine but it will only be a few miles away according to Jared.

They will have a smaller facility, which will also help them save money and have a California presence.

:smile: Saleen I alive and well... it is only a financial transition out of Irvine.

I am glad to hear that Jared is still around and that they are only moving. I am worried because I pre-ordered a 1,700 dollar shaker charger upgrade for my car and I am looking for it. When I called and it seemed like everyone disappeared I got worried. I deal with Jared all of the time. I really need the upgrade soon because I live in Maine and my "Groundhog" will hibernate for the winter really soon!

Saleen Forums News
09-25-2008, 12:22 AM
Update: McCammon is joining Paul Wilbur at Aptera, and not going to Tesla as previously reported.