In turn of the large auto maker’s decline in sales, CEO Rick Wagoner is preparing to make a second announcement of the corporations’ revision of its infrastructure. The purpose of this plan is to cut costs and regain investor confidence.
At the forefront of the cost cutting are the jobs of GM’s white collar workers such as [...]
Car manufacturers are moving one after the other to investment for building their production facilities in India. The main objective of doing so is the low-cost of production and availability of engineering skills.General Motors is planning to invest nearly an amount of Rs 1200 crore to set up the power train producing facility at the Talegaon plant, near Pune.The power train producing facility is
DETROIT - Bruised by a deep sales slump and a half-century-low in its stock price, General Motors Corp. is preparing to cut thousands more white-collar jobs and is considering whether it should sell or shutter more of its brands, people familiar with the matter said.
Both moves are part of a broader re-evaluation of GM’s strategy and of its ability to meet an internal projection of returning
Merrill Lynch issued a warning Wednesday morning that General Motors is in desperate need for cash and if conditions worsen the company may face bankruptcy. As oil prices continue to climb and economic conditions worsen, General Motors is facing a tough time staying a float. It's stock price is now the lowest it has been in 36 years.
General Motors EMD EnginesThe General Motors EMD engine line is typical of the two-stroke diesel breed. These engines were introduced in the 1930s and power a large number of the diesel locomotives found in the United States. There have been three successive series in the EMD line: the 567 series, the 645 series, and the 710 series. The numbers refer to the number of cubic inches per cylinder, wit
General Motors (GM) hit a 52-year low yesterday, and isn’t showing much signs of a technical or fundamental recovery. How did the stable blue-chip company go astray?
Let’s peek at the chart:
To be fair to GM, let’s compare it to Ford Motor Company (F) to see a very similar chart, though Ford is only retesting levels [...]
General Motors has announced that they are closing four truck plants and may completely drop the Hummer line of vehicles completely.Faced with soaring gas prices and a shift in the habits of the American car buyer, General Motors felt they were forced to make some major changes.General Motors said that they will shift some of the production into cars, which are typically much more fuel efficent th
General Motors announced plans to close 4 plants affecting nearly 8,350 workers, as part of its refocusing effort. The company is now changing its business model to focus on new smaller cars as opposed to its core products, pickup trucks and SUVs. All 4 of the plants closing manufactured pickup trucks and SUVs. General Motors also stated that its Hummer would either be sold off or get a remake.
The May 2008 sales comprise of 1667 units of Chevrolet Tavera, 1214 units of Chevrolet Aveo, 383 units of Chevrolet Optra, 2250 units of Chevrolet Spark and 275 units of Chevrolet Captiva.Read more...
General Motors Corp. lead independent director George Fisher said the automaker’s management team has his and the board’s backing after GM fell to the lowest value since 1982, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“Certainly, I and the board still support our management team, as we have in the past,” Fisher told the newspaper, endorsing CEO Rick Wagoner. “We think we have
DETROIT - As a further demonstration of its commitment to fuel cell technology, General Motors handed the keys to four Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to a group of key government partners who are participating in Chevrolet's Project Driveway - the largest-ever market test of fuel cell-electric vehicles.
More than 100 electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen [...]
Quella che General Motors vuole portare avanti con la Chevrolet Volt sembra essera una vera e propria rivoluzione, ovvero una vettura ibrida che garantirà un minimo di 60km di autonomia esclusivamente utilizzando la potenza delle batterie agli ioni di litio, oltre al classico ibrido con motori funzionanti a benzina, gasolio o entanolo. (more…)
Condividi
(Fonte: Auto Shop [...]
General Motors Lineup For 2007 New York International Auto ShowNEW YORK – GM’s global product development efforts will converge in one city as the new 2008 Cadillac STS; two Buick performance models and a refreshed Buick LaCrosse sedan; more powerful versions of the HUMMER H2 and H3; and a first-ever Saab E100 bioethanol concept come to the New York International Auto Show, April 6-15 at the J
General Motors Lineup For 2007 New York International Auto ShowNEW YORK – GM’s global product development efforts will converge in one city as the new 2008 Cadillac STS; two Buick performance models and a refreshed Buick LaCrosse sedan; more powerful versions of the HUMMER H2 and H3; and a first-ever Saab E100 bioethanol concept come to the New York International Auto Show, April 6-15 at the J
Corporate restructuring
← Previous revision
Revision as of 14:44, 21 May 2008
Line 245:
Line 245:
GM sold its 8% stake in [[Isuzu]] on [[April 11]], [[2006]], to raise an additional $300 million.<ref>{{cite web|url= |title=GM sells Isuzu shares for $300 million|work=[[Detroit News]] |accessdate=2006-04-12}}</ref>12,6
TORONTO - In the latest blow to the country’s struggling auto industry, General Motors said Monday it will close its transmission plant in Windsor, Ont., by mid-2010 in a move that will affect 1,400 people.
GM said Monday the closure will occur when current production mandates expire for the four-speed automatic transmissions produced at the plant.
“Despite efforts and discussions with
OnStar Phone - Forced Choice? Why GM is resisting the move to BluetoothIt seems General Motors is often intent on doing its own thing when nearly everybody else is doing otherwise. Such seems to be the case with its OnStar phone system.It seems General Motors is often intent on doing its own thing when nearly everybody else is doing otherwise. Such seems to be the case with its OnStar phone system.When the rest of the automotive industry is adopting Bluetooth technology for their cars which seamlessly integrates with any Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, GM is stubbornly pushing its considerably more expensive OnStar phone system. For instance, 500 minutes is a whopping $174.99 using OnStar, and 1,000 minutes cost a staggering $299.99. The only other option offered is a link to your existing V
General Motors Maintains Your Car With Goodwrench, OnstarDETROIT – Is your oil ready to be changed? Do you know how much air pressure is in your tires? Even if you don’t know the answers to these important maintenance questions, chances are, your GM vehicle does. Most GM vehicles today are equipped with advanced technology that helps take the hassle out of vehicle maintenance.DETROIT – Is your oil ready to be changed? Do you know how much air pressure is in your tires? Even if you don’t know the answers to these important maintenance questions, chances are, your GM vehicle does. Most GM vehicles today are equipped with advanced technology that helps take the hassle out of vehicle maintenance.GM’s Oil-Life System determines when it’s time for oil changes and maintenanceGM’s pa
Military equipment Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) repair manual,this military vehicle is based on GM's Tahoe and Suburban. Inside the manual there are checklists, pictures and tables for you. Frankly, not much informations covered herein.
Struggling auto manufacturer, General Motors, reported a $3.3 billion loss for its first quarter. A huge drop in automobile sales here in the states have slowed down sales for the company. General motors also posted $1.45 billion in write-downs related to its mortgage division.
Customers look at Buick and Chevrolet cars at a sales office in Beijing in this Oct. 18, 2006 file photo. General Motors Corp. will sell its first gas-electric hybrid cars in China in July, introducing a model created in part by GM's Shanghai design center, the company said Saturday. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)
General Motors Corp. will sell its first gas-electric hybrid cars in China in July
A Honda Automóveis confirmou a participação na Reatech (Feira Internacional de Tecnologias em Reabilitação, Inclusão e Acessibilidade), que será realizada de 24 a 27 de abril no Centro de Exposições Imigrantes, em São Paulo, SP.A empresa promove o Honda Conduz, implantado no país há mais de dez anos, que auxilia na obtenção da documentação necessária para a aquisição de veículos, por meio da rede de concessionárias.No estande da General Motors as atrações com melhor custo-benefício são os modelos Meriva Easytronic (automatizada) e Astra (com transmissão automática), ambos equipados com motor flex. Toda a linha Chevrolet, com transmissão mecânica, também pode ser adquirida com isenção do IPI para os denominados “PPD não condutor” (casos em que o veículo
Hybrid cars that you can recharge from mains electricity are going to change the world. Andrew English gets a sneak preview of General Motors' plug-in Volt and reports on recent American legislation changes that will affect us allThere should have been maroons over Michigan two weeks ago when California's Air Resources Board (Carb) plumped for plug-in hybrids over battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cells in its latest legislation. California is the world's largest and most influential car market - the state's inhabitants buy more than two million new cars each year. Carb's anti-pollution rules are highly influential across the globe and are mandated by another 13 states in the USA. Hybrid petrol-electric and diesel-electric cars, along with bioethanol from crops, are America's big ideas f
General Motors issued a recall for 207,000 sedans due an issue where they can develop oil leaks leading to fires. Models effected by the recall include Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix. It says there has 267 incidents and six injuries regarding the defect.
La General Motors Italia dovra' pagare 300 euro di risarcimento danni per lo spamming via e-mail ai danni di un cittadino.
Lo ha deciso il giudice di pace di Napoli, accogliendo la richiesta dell'avvocato Angelo Pisani - presidente di Noiconsumatori.it - in relazione al continuo invio, non autorizzato, di messaggi pubblicitari via posta elettronica.
'La sentenza fa profilare tempi duri,
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has taken pains to assure the public that despite his recent comment that global warming is "a total crock of sh--," his view have no influence on the automaker's mission to build cars that are environmentally friendly.Internet bloggers have been abuzz since Lutz made the comment to reporters in Texas last month. He said those angry with him for downplaying the threat of climate change are "missing the big picture" about what GM is doing for the environment.GM has been criticized for emphasizing production of SUVs such as the Hummer and failing to embrace hybrid technology. Lutz said his beliefs on climate change "have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors." Source: uk.reuters.com
General Motors Corp. (GM) has announced the opening of a new design studio which will be a dedicated space for their next generation of electric vehicles. The studio contains clay and vinyl models of Volt, which was unveiled earlier this year.
The American automaker describes the Volt on their website as "radically different than any on [...]
General Motors Corp. reported to add more new cash incentives on its large Pickups and SUVs for October following its second-straight month of sales gains.
The offers of $1,000 cash rebates on such vehicles as the 2007 and 2008 Chevrolet Silverado large Pickup and GMC Envoy SUV began Tuesday and run through the end of the month, said GM spokesman John McDonald.
GM has sought to lift profit by scaling back on costly incentives this year. Cash rebates and zero-percent loans last month helped it boost truck sales by 3.5%, while the industry had a 2.4% truck decline.
“We are trying to introduce customers to some of our new 2008 models and continue our sales success,” McDonald said.
GM also extended through Oct. 31 its offer of zero-percent financing for up to five years on some SUVs and large pickups, McDonald said. The $1,000 cash rebates are in addition to other incentives and can’t be used with the zero-percent loans.
More News of Automotive Industry:
+ 2009 Honda Acco
General Motors Corp. won its struggle to unload $51 billion in retiree health costs and improve competitiveness in the latest round of contract talks with the United Auto Workers, but not without a short-lived strike that wrung promises out of GM to keep jobs at U.S. plants.The two sides tentatively agreed Wednesday to a groundbreaking agreement that allows GM to move its unfunded retiree health care costs into an independent trust administered by the UAW. The union also agreed to lower wages for some workers. In exchange, the UAW won commitments from GM to invest in U.S. plants, bonuses and an agreement to hire thousands of temporary workers which will boost UAW membership, according to a person who was briefed on the contract. The person requested anonymity because the details haven't been publicly released.Wall Street applauded news of the deal, sending GM shares up more than 9 percent.
;
General Motors Corp. says it intends to improve the mileage of its gasoline engines by making them run more like diesel engines.Although many automakers are pursuing the same strategy - notably Honda - GM became the first company Friday to demonstrate the technology in running concept cars."This is not ready for prime time yet," said Tom Stephens, group vice-president of powertrain for GM. "We don't have a date pinned to it at all," he said at the company's proving grounds here 80 kilometres west of Detroit."But in my opinion, it's going to happen," he said of mass market production of HCCI engines. Called homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI), the system, which has been 30 years in development, enables gas engines to mimic key aspects of the diesel combustion cycle.Specifically, the system uses high pressure to increase burn efficiency to levels only achieved in diesel engines until now.Diesel engines are up to 30 per cent more efficient than gas engines but create more emi
Fuente: cincodiasLas empresas auxiliares ubicadas en el entorno de la planta de General Motors en Figueruelas (Zaragoza) están fabricando actualmente más de la cuarta parte de los componentes del nuevo modelo de Corsa. Este porcentaje es similar al de la factoría de Gliwice (Polonia), área a la que se adjudican las mejores expectativas de crecimiento en la industria europea del automóvil. Sin embargo, la ventaja aragonesa en el suministro de logística y tecnología convierten a Figueruelas en el mejor hinterland (territorio) europeo del gigante automovilístico estadounidense.Gliwice fue ya la principal competidora de Figueruelas para la adjudicación del nuevo Meriva, que acabó recalando finalmente en Zaragoza. Ahora, la planta aragonesa está volviendo a ganar la partida a la fábrica polaca en lo que a retención de industrias auxiliares en el entorno de la fábrica matriz se refiere. En el ac
General Motors plans diesel engines for the U.S. automarketGeneral Motors is planning to put diesel engines in Cadillac and Saturn cars in the United States by 2010. The number one American automaker confirmed the fact that it will use diesel powerplants on the U.S. passenger cars, crossovers and light trucks. Sources confirm that the automaker will present a diesel engine on an Opel E-flex in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show.It is possible that the same variant of engine to be presented also at the Detroit Motor Show in January, on a Saturn and most likely on a Acura sedan.Cadillac will get the same engine by the end of 2009 or in 2010. Sources also confirmed the fact that the new Opel Vectra will get the diesel engine in 2008 and will come to the United States as a Saturn for the next generation Aura if all goes as planned. GM has already two diesel engines under development.A big engine, a 4.5 liter V8 wich is programmed to appear in 2010 and used for light-duty pick-ups and SUV
For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on:
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, “If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.”
In response to Bill’s comments, General Motors issued a press release stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash……..Twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would si
Buick was the special child in the GM family: the beautiful and temperamental second-oldest daughter that somehow always got the most attention from Daddy. Sure, oldest daughter Caddy got to wear the family jewels and formal gowns, but Buick was lavished with style. Whether it was Harley Earl or Bill Mitchell, GM’s top stylists always blessed Buick with their best efforts. For decades, Buick was maintained in the style to which she had become accustomed, and remained America’s fashion-conscious upscale buyers’ wheels of choice. And then, not.Scotsman David Dunbar Buick founded his eponymous automobile company in 1903. The following year, the inventor of the overhead valve engine sold the struggling concern to James Whiting, an ambitious wagon builder. Whiting turned to William Durant to help jump start Buick.With an excellent product to sell (the Model C), Durant’s energy, affability and marketing genius ensured Buick’s ascension to profit and glory. Durant used Buick’s rev
Christian Salvesen, uno de los mayores operadores logísticos de Europa, ha sido reconocido por General Motors como "Proveedor del año 2006" por su buen desempeño en el aprovisionamiento de componentes, distribución de recambios y demás servicios logísticos. La décimoquinta edición de la entrega de premios tuvo lugar en una ceremonia celebrada el 31 de Marzo en Orlando, Estados Unidos. "Estamos orgullosos de distinguir a Christian Salvesen como uno de los mejores proveedores de General Motors en el 2006", dijo Bo Andersson, Vicepresidente del Grupo GM. "Christian Salvesen ha logrado el galardón gracias a un rendimiento excepcional en 2006. Valoramos su energía, trabajo, entrega y dedicación al éxito de GM". Este es el segundo año consecutivo que la Compañía ha sido galardonada con este prestigioso premio que sólo se otorga a aquellos proveedores c
President Bush Participates in Demonstration of Alternative Fuel Vehicles with CEOs of Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, The South Lawn. In Focus: Energy, 11:11 A.M. EDT. PODCAST OF ARTICLETHE PRESIDENT: I've just spent quite a while talking to our CEOs of American automobile companies. And I was interested in their take on my goal of reducing gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next 10 years.I found it very interesting that by 2012, 50 percent of the automobiles in America will be flex-fuel vehicles. That means that the American consumer will be able to either use gasoline or ethanol, depending upon, obviously, price and convenience. That's a major technological breakthrough for the country.If you want to reduce gasoline usage, like I believe we need to do so for national security reasons, as well as for environmental concerns, the consumer has got to be in a position to make a rational choice. And so I appreciate very much the fact that America
General Motors is trying to take the GM or Certified Used Vehicle Sales to the next level. They will be offering a 100000 mile warranty on USED VEHICLES! WOW!First, it has to be a Certified Vehicle from a Certified Used Dealer. A Certified Used GM Vehicle is a car, truck, or SUV from the year model 2002-2006 with less than 60000 miles. Notice that I did not include 2007 models. This is because they already have the 100000 mile warranty included. Brands included are Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, Buick.The warranty is a warranty that will cover engine, transmission, drive train. It is not a bumper to bumper warranty, but will cover the major components that cost the most to fix. This will take the GM sales to record levels this year as it will offer peace of mind. Imagine, you are looking at a 2003 GM Car with 45000 miles. Under the old Certified Program, you would receive a 3 month, 3000 mile bumper to bumper warranty only. You still receive this, but also get the 100000 power train warranty
During a stay in L.A. a couple of years back, friends in Manhattan Beach told us a story of the train that used to run along the beach. It seems that the walk- and bike path along the beach was built on top of the old train tracks that ran all the way to Long Beach. They also said that they were under the impression that apparently the American automotive industry had a hand in it's disappearance, allegedly buying train companies and shutting them down to boost their car and bus business; and at the same time laying the groundwork for L.A.s pollution problem. Today I happened upon the story below posted by Kate of Vancouver, BC, on Now Public:"Beginning in the 1920s, General Motors began investing in mass transit systems. According to historian Marty Jezer (and Congressional hearings held in 1974), between 1920 and 1955, General Motors bought up more than 100 electric mass transit systems in 45 cities, allowed them to deteriorate, and then replaced them with rubber-tired, diesel-power
DETROIT - General Motors Corp. tonight unveiled a concept GMC Yukon Denali SUV developed in partnership with cultural icon Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.
Jay-Z, hip-hop superstar and business entrepreneur,...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
"We anticipate [that the U.S.] will still be the most profitable market in the decade ahead. It's really key not to be excessively dependent on the U.S., but you still need to be successful in the U.S." It’s no surprise that GM Chief Sales Analyst Paul Ballew sent mixed messages to the financial community when revealing GM’s Q2 sales results. Not to put too fine a point on it, the automaker’s U.S. market share continues to evaporate while its overseas operations continue to expand. The General’s growing foreign sales aren’t enough to compensate for the company’s North American sinkhole, but it gave GM’s spinmeister something to spin. Such is the way of things at GM these days.
On Tuesday, the junk bond market sneezed and General Motors caught a cold. Less poetically, the money men behind the buyout of GM’s Allison transmission unit postponed a junk bond offering designed to pay for same. According to market sources, when the “spread” (the extra yield investors demand to compensate for their risk) widened by about 100 basis points, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and Lehman Brothers pulled the plug. GM spokeswoman Renee Rashid-Merem said the company wasn’t worried about the sale: “The buyout remains on track.” Maybe so, but GM can’t afford this kind of setback. Literally.
I've been wary of GM's alt propulsion press vehicles since ’04, when The General faked a hybrid test drive with Autoweek, slapping a cod cover on a pushrod powerplant. So I approached USA Today scribe James Healey’s review of the hybrid Tahoe with no small amount of skepticism. "GM says the electric-only mode could take you to 32 mph under ideal conditions. But the test showed that accelerating in traffic means electric-only lasts only up to about 10 mph." Oops. "Tahoe's gasoline engine shuddered as it fired up and began contributing power. Expect the shakes to be gone in regular production models, says Mark Cieslak, chief engineer for GM's full-size trucks." Doh! But wait! There's more!
In the second financial quarter, General Motors made $891m. The General's camp followers have been delighted with the slim not to say two percent profit. Meanwhile, GM North America (GMNA) lost $39m. The General has been almost universally commended for their U.S. division's performance, as it compares with a $3.95b loss in ’06. Supposedly, the move “close to profitability” indicates the rot has stopped, as a prelude to recovery. But lessening losses is not the same as making money, especially when you need money.
By their own admission, General Motors' North American operations are currently doing business with negative working capital (NWC). At About.com, an unnamed investment adviser has some advice on that subject. "Negative working capital is a sign of managerial efficiency in a business with low inventory and accounts receivable. In any other situation, it is a sign a company may be facing bankruptcy or serious financial trouble." Any guess which one of those descriptions applies to GM?
I’d like to meet the idiot who thought that the Cadillac BLS was a good idea. Actually, I’d like to meet the group of idiots who said sure, let’s create a small, badge-engineered Saab, fit it with a diesel engine, call it a Caddy and sell it to Europeans, South Africans and Mexicans. No, wait; just sit me down in front of the idiot who gave the other idiots the power to green light the idiot who had the idiotic idea in the first place. And I’ll ask him straight out: what part of branding don’t you understand? You know, other than all of it.
Clearly, nothing about the United Auto Workers (UAW) proposed contract with GM is clear. Until we see the precise details, the agreement's ramifications are unknown and unknowable. And just as the UAW withheld the fine print on their new contract with bankrupt auto parts maker Delphi until just before the ratification vote-- denying members sufficient time to consider its implications-- don't expect any contract-related revelations until the eleventh hour. Meanwhile, you'd expect the media to hang fire. Yeah right.
After perusing the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) contract with GM, I reckon both sides got a good deal. The UAW secured job guarantees: assurances that GM won’t off-shore new and existing products for the North American market. For its part, The General gets to off-load the lion’s share of its fixed costs AND a chance to lower the pay scale for a third of its hourly workforce. If the contract is ratified, the UAW protects its existing members’ livelihoods and GM becomes a lower-cost producer. No question: it’s a new lease on life.
This is my first General Motors pre-obituary. I’ve never penned one because I never liked having to face the reality that GM's killing itself one bone-headed decision at a time. But in carmaking as in any type of proto-warfare, turning a blind eye to stupid mistakes doesn’t make things any better. In the past few weeks, GM has made three product announcements that are so head-shakingly absurd they’ve earned themselves the starring role in a GM Deathwatch. Strike one…
“It would have helped to have a little bit of sunshine.” What a strange statement. Not “General Motors is prepared to weather the economic downturn ahead.” More like “Darn it! Just when we got our new picnic blanket spread out, it’s started to rain!” But then GM CEO Rick Wagoner is not a man who speaks with clarity or force. He’s a GM lifer, a Harvard-trained beancounter, a man whose self-effacement hides a genuine like of leadership. “We look forward to the sunny days,” Wagoner continues. “But realistically we can’t plan on it for next year.” So what IS GM’s plan?
That's right, the Chevrolet Spark is selling like hot naan in India. The Hindu reports GM manage to put 3,691 Sparks into peoples' driveways last month, up from just 1,286 the year before. For those of you not familiar with the decade-old Spark, it's also known as the Chevrolet Exclusive, Chevrolet Matiz, Chevrolet Joy, Daewoo Matiz, Pontiac Matiz, Pontiac G2, FSO Matiz, Chevrolet Taxi 7:24 Chronos and of course the hot sounding UZ Matiz (not to mention the Chery QQ). All variations of the Spark come with your choice of 0.8 and 1.0-liter engines. In contrast to the General's fortunes, India's overall auto market has experienced a bit of contraction, moving only 7,42,027 units through February vs. 8,27,594 vehicles the previous year. A big however, however, is in order.
Yesterday, Justin and I caught wind of GM Car Czar Bob Lutz' private pow-wow with bloggers attending the show on GM's dime. Christopher Barger, GM's Director of Global Communications Technology, barred our way. "It's invitation only," Barger announced. "Thirty-five is the limit." (We knew there were only a handful of people in situ.) I asked Barger if he was TTAC-aware. "Sure, you guys hate us," he said. I sand-bagged Maximum Bob, introduced myself and asked permission to attend. "Do we know these people?" Lutz asked. "He knows us well," I said, nodding at Barger. "Do we like them?" "It's up to you," a stunned Barger eventually managed. We were in.
General Motors is about to report a massive sales decline for the month of March. GM’s management will acknowledge the loss, blame it on the general downturn in the U.S. new car market, point to a few successful models and move on. Later, the American automaker will report it’s burned over a billion dollars in the last financial quarter. GM’s management will blame the market downturn (again) and the strike at American Axle. The top brass will admit that GM’s turnaround is… delayed. But at no point will they accept responsibility for their plight. Well, why would they?
GM is re-organizing its corporate structure. It’s putting its eight brands into four divisions under four car czarettes, in a three-three-one-one configuration. For those of you who can’t guess which GM brand will go with which (as there’s no neat, logical way to make these groupings), it’s Cadillac, Hummer and Saab; Buick, Pontiac and GMC; and Saturn and Chevy on their lonesome. “We are further streamlining the organization,” GM’s President of North America announced. “To reduce complexity, align resources to improve the consumer experience and improve bottom line business results." It’s a deeply misguided maneuver.
As a child I loved to play on swings. Leaning back and kicking my legs forward, I could propel myself into momentary weightlessness. Of course, every good swing ended with an acrobatic dismount. At the point of greatest forward momentum, I would let go of the chains and launch myself off the seat. For a brief moment I would be flying. Like an astronaut on NASA’s vomit comet, I would arc across the back yard. The sensation was thrilling. But I wasn’t a bird. Gravity’s hand never failed to pull me back to earth. And so it is with General Motors.
Dean Radin believes some people are psychic. No surprise there; investigating psychic phenomena is what Radin does for a living. And yet, when author Mary Roach asked the electrical engineer if there's a middle ground between believing that the dead contact the living through electromechanical devices and viewing the whole thing a hoax, Radin said "The middle ground between genuinely true and outright faking is unconscious delusion." Welcome to GM's world.
Once upon a time, the myth of Icarus personified the warning that pride goeth before a fall (literally). These days, the RMS Titanic’s death by iceberg-- on its maiden voyage no less-- is the gold standard for illustrating the dangers of hubris. That’s because the public considers the concept of an unsinkable ship patently ridiculous. In fact, the Titanic should have been unsinkable (save tsunami, torpedo or ballistic attack). The reason the ocean liner eventually slipped into the depths has much to tell us about the ship’s corporate equivalent, General Motors.
“Rich people don’t care [about high gas prices].” Bob Lutz’ statement-- made during the launch of GM’s new SUV’s in August 2005-- encapsulates the automaker’s history of arrogance, ignorance and self-delusion. Then again, what else could GM’s Car Czar have said? Whether or not GM should have seen the gas crunch coming, the die was cast. Now, as gas p
In July's Car and Driver, Csabe Csere takes the Secretary of Transportation to task for her ignorance about auto industry lead times. How can Mary E. Peters' department mandate a big increase in fuel economy standards for 2011 when Detroit’s already signed off on those products? Despite the obvious irony-- the buff book’s hobbled by their two-month lead time-- Csere makes a goo
