AUTOS

Former GM Purchasing Chief to Join Volkswagen: Volkswagen announced for a second time that Jose Ignacio Lopez de Arriortua, former General Motors purchasing chief, is joining the German auto maker. Lopez will join the firm’s board and head a new production and purchasing division, VW said. The move follows a highly publicized but unsuccessful attempt by GM to keep its chief cost-cutter on board. VW said Lopez’s appointment is immediate and added that the Spanish-born executive replaces Guenter Hartwich as the person responsible for global production. Hartwich will be an adviser at VW’s Mexican plant.