Edward T. Welburn Jr.

Edward T. Welburn Jr. is an automobile designer known for his 44-year career at General Motors, where he shaped the design of numerous vehicles. Welburn became the first Black American hired to design GM vehicles and later served as the first Black American Vice President of GM Global Design, a role previously held by figures such as Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell. His interest in automotive design began in childhood, leading him to study sculpture and product design at Howard University before joining General Motors.

Welburn contributed to the design of the Oldsmobile Aerotech, which set speed records exceeding 257 miles per hour, and served as chief designer of the Oldsmobile Studio. His projects included the Oldsmobile Antares concept car and the Oldsmobile Intrigue, both recognized by AutoWeek at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Welburn also oversaw Saturn's design programs in Germany and directed GM's Advanced Design division before becoming Vice President of GM Global Design. In this capacity, he established 10 Design Centers in seven countries, managing a team of 2,500 across the United States, Germany, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil, and India.

During his tenure, Welburn led the development of vehicles such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as concept cars including the Cadillac Ciel and Buick Avista. He designed multiple pace cars for the Indianapolis 500 and led the design of the presidential limousine, known as The Beast, for Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Welburn also initiated automotive fashion shows in Detroit and Dubai, integrating automotive and fashion design. He appeared on Jay Leno's Garage, CNBC, Velocity TV's AmeriCarna, and truTV's Motor City Masters.

Welburn's career has been recognized with honors including Black Engineer of the Year at the BEYA STEM conference, an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the College for Creative Studies, and induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame. He received an Emmy Award for Diversity/Equity/Inclusion short-form content, and his work was archived by the Smithsonian Institution museum, marking the first time an automobile designer received this distinction.

Following his retirement from General Motors, Welburn founded The Welburn Group, a design consultancy, and Welburn Media Productions. He was featured in the video game "Gran Turismo 7," providing insights and commentary on GM products. Welburn serves as a judge at events including Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance, and The Peninsula Classic. He continues to contribute to automotive design, media, and culture.