Driving Innovation: Harvey Bell’s Legacy in Engineering and Education

A. Harvey Bell IV has spent his career shaping the future of engineering, from pioneering advancements at General Motors to mentoring the next generation at the University of Michigan. His journey is one of innovation, collaboration, and a passion for problem-solving that continues to inspire students and industry leaders alike.

Harvey Bell’s career is a testament to the power of curiosity, collaboration, and an unrelenting drive for innovation. Over nearly four decades at General Motors, he played a pivotal role in shaping the future of vehicle development. Now, as a leader in engineering education, he’s passing his wealth of experience on to the next generation, ensuring that students gain not only technical knowledge but also the creative problem-solving mindset necessary for tackling the industry’s toughest challenges.

A Career Built on Asking the Right Questions

Harvey spent 39 years at General Motors, holding various leadership roles, including Executive Director for the Advanced Vehicle Development Center in North America. In that role, he was responsible for launching GM’s new vehicle platforms, an assignment that demanded both deep technical expertise and strategic foresight.

Throughout his career, he was known for asking the tough questions – the ones that sparked major breakthroughs. One of those questions, aimed at Alan Taub during his time leading GM’s research team, played a crucial role in keeping the Buick brand alive through the company’s 2009 bankruptcy. “Alan will still tell people I was his best customer,” Harvey recalls with a smile. “I’d ask a lot of questions, and his team put together some incredibly impactful work as a result – including ways to make cars ‘library quiet’.”

His ability to connect research with real-world applications helped drive GM’s success in vehicle design, from pioneering electronic fuel injection systems to championing systems engineering – an approach he credits as one of the most significant shifts in modern automotive development.

From GM to Academia: A Passion for Mentorship

Rather than fully retiring after his GM career, Harvey decided to dedicate himself to mentoring the next generation of engineers. He started and still plays a leadership role in the Multidisciplinary Design Program (MDP) and the Wilson Student Team Project Center, where students work on hands-on engineering challenges. His mission is clear: to ensure that creativity and experiential learning become core components of world-class engineering education.

Harvey believes that engineers must work creatively and collaboratively with other people. “The best engineers are the ones who can connect creativity with problem-solving,” he explains. “It’s not just about knowing the theory – it’s about learning how to synthesize the design, build, and confirm. That’s why these student projects are so important.”

Harvey oversees several student teams at the Wilson Center, many of which are focused on autonomy, batteries, motors, and controls related to EVs. One of the most technically complex teams is MRover, which designs and builds a Mars Rover capable of conducting scientific analysis and experiments, including navigating extreme terrain. Wilson Center and MDP projects, plus Harvey’s mentorship, give students unparalleled opportunities to work at the cutting edge of engineering.

Lessons from the Camaro and Firebird

One of the defining moments of Harvey’s career was his time leading the development of two American classics: the fourth-generation Camaro and Firebird. He was tasked with revitalizing the performance cars, balancing legacy design elements with new engineering advancements. This project also marked the beginning of his deep dive into systems engineering, a discipline that would become a cornerstone of his work moving forward.

“GM had brought in expertise from Hughes Aircraft to help integrate aerospace-style systems engineering into vehicle development,” he recalls. “That experience fundamentally changed how we thought about designing and launching cars.”

Engineering’s Next Frontier: AI

Another project that Harvey leads and is particularly proud of is Maizey – a custom GPT designed to enhance engineering education at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering. Funded by the U-M Electric Vehicle Center, Maizey is integrated into Canvas, the university’s course management system, where it serves as an on-demand knowledge assistant.

Designed to act as “office hours on steroids,” Maizey allows students to ask questions and receive timely, validated answers drawn from curated course materials, lectures, and other faculty-approved resources. Unlike searching the internet, where information can be outdated or unreliable, Maizey ensures students have access to accurate, up-to-date knowledge directly relevant to their studies.

Harvey has worked closely with U-M IT experts to develop and refine Maizey, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed—he has been invited to present the tool across various schools and colleges within the university to encourage broader adoption. “If this is going to be successful, it has to become the first, second, and third source students turn to for information,” he says. “And we’re making great progress toward that goal.”

“Students today will be working on challenges we couldn’t have imagined when I started my career,” he says. “That’s why it’s so important to teach them not just how things work, but how to think critically and solve new problems as they arise.”

At the U-M Electric Vehicle Center, Harvey continues to push for stronger industry-academic collaborations, ensuring that students gain real-world exposure to the latest developments in EVs and sustainable mobility.

A Legacy of Leadership in Engineering Education

Beyond his mentorship, Harvey holds several distinguished titles at the University of Michigan, serving as the Charles S. and Ann S. Hutchins Professor of Practice in Engineering and Clinical Professor of Undergraduate Education. His academic leadership builds upon his deep industry expertise, making him one of the College of Engineering’s most valuable connections between research and real-world application.

His career has spanned engine control optimization, energy consumption studies, adaptive vehicle control, and connected vehicle systems – topics that are increasingly relevant in today’s rapidly evolving mobility landscape. Through his involvement in both industry and academia, Harvey has played a significant role in shaping how engineers approach sustainable energy, vehicle automation, and intelligent control systems.

Advice for Future Engineers

When asked what advice he’d give to students considering a career in engineering, Harvey emphasizes creativity, curiosity, and resilience. “Engineering isn’t just about equations – it’s about solving real problems that impact people’s lives. Be creative, ask questions, and never stop learning.”

Life Beyond Engineering: A Love for the Mountains

Despite his busy schedule, Harvey makes time for one of his greatest passions – skiing. With deep family roots in New Mexico, he spends as much time as he can in Taos, skiing the high-altitude slopes he first fell in love with decades ago. “It’s my way of staying active and connected to nature,” he says. “And, of course, it’s a great way to clear my mind.”

Another personal passion is sustainability. Harvey and his wife recently built a net-positive energy home, meaning it generates more energy than it consumes. “We’re not just talking about sustainable energy in theory – we’re living it,” he explains. His home features solar panels, battery storage, and advanced energy management systems, underscoring his commitment to practical solutions for energy efficiency.

With a career that has spanned from pioneering fuel injection systems to shaping the future of engineering education, Harvey Bell is a bridge between the automotive industry’s past and its promising future. His commitment to mentorship ensures that the next generation of engineers will not only inherit that future but build it.