Tesla executive joins GM's board of directors

A former Tesla executive and chief operating officer at the ride hailing company Lyft is joining the board of directors of General Motors.

The largest U.S. automaker said on Tuesday that Jonathan McNeill, 55, co-founder and CEO of venture firm DVx Ventures has joined its board.

McNeill joined Tesla in 2015, where he was president, global sales, delivery and service. In 2017, McNeill assumed responsibility for government relations before he left to join Lyft.

GM will end its sale of light-duty U.S. gasoline-powered vehicles by the year 2035, as it invests tens of billions in electric vehicles, but lags Tesla in U.S.EV sales.

In August of last year, GM CEO Mary Barra stated that the automaker plans to surpass Tesla in EV sales by 2025.

GM expects to produce 1 million EVs annually in North America by the end of 2025.

McNeill's experience in driving constructive disruption to grow businesses and his commitment to making a positive impact on society will be invaluable as we reimagine how our customers and communities move through the world, Barra said.

GM is ramping up its electric vehicle assembly plans, increasing production of the EV Chevrolet Bolt and other vehicles.

McNeill said in the statement he was excited to help GM unlock the opportunities it has been enabled by its transformative investments in technology. McNeill founded Sterling Collision Centers, a company that Tesla said in 2015 that it had reduced industry repair times by 90%.

The board of GM has 13 directors, including six women.