"Rick Wagoner Is Running Out of Excuses"

[wildcat]

Among the comment on developments at GM this week is an article by Jonathan Fahey, "Rick Wagoner Is Running Out of Excuses," on the website Forbes.com

[CARBIZ]

Nothing new here. Just rehashing everything everybody already knows.

[jbartley]

Yeh, um i'm tired of hearing "Rick Wagoner Is Running Out of Excuses". We all know that. It all comes down to between now and UAW renegotiations next spring. I wish the press would go on vacation til then.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Nice that the article makes GM out to be 'A big fat crybaby' Typical media cynicism. I think GM will be okay.... But for how long?

[Croc]

Well GM has been a big fat crybaby. For the last decade and a half! Fact is GM does not have classleading, superior product in many segments. Corvette and the GMT900s are really the only truly classleading vehicles in the GM stable.

[I hope GMRULES again]

A fair article.

[balthazar]

Fact is GM does not have classleading, superior product in many segments.

That sentiment describes every car company currently in business.... except those companies that have ZERO class-leading products.

[Croc]

The point I was trying to make and I'm sure you understood was that GM needs MORE classleading products.

[CaddyXLR-V]

Who is to say what is class leading anyway? Different people have different preferences. Is the Camry class leading because it sells the most? Is the Passat class leading because it has the best interior? The Mazda 6 because it drives the best? G6 because it looks the best? GMs problem is that their cars dont fit their brand identities.

[Croc]

Classleading: having a product that is in some way superior to a competitor's. Toyota Camry is not classleading, rather it does everything well. Passat has a class-leading interior. Mazda6 has class-leading driving dynamics and handling. The only thing that one could say is even remotely classleading for the G6 is its hardtop convertible, but apparently it might not even make it to market... The point is, in nearly every GM product offering, there is nothing classleading about the vehicle. Corvette, GMT900s, and maybe one or two other vehicles could count as classleading.

[CaddyXLR-V]

The Malibu got all 5s for the crash tests, and is much cheaper than the Camry. Its not as sporty as the Mazda 6, but its not as mushy as the Camry. It could use a better interior though.

[Shantanu]

Rick Wagoner has made so many foolish moves at GM that it's time for him to go. GM's product has improved, but not nearly enough. And GM the company is in its weakest position ever. Not all of GM's woes can be blamed on the stupidity of Roger Smith. Much of it was self inflicted. Rick Wagoner has run GM's shareholder value into the ground. He is too much of a pussy to seriously confront the UAW. He was a complete pussy when it came to the Fiat deal. The man does not have the courage to offer serious leadership. He has no aptitude for cars. But then again, he's not the greatest beancounter or marketer either. I really don't know what he brings to the table. I think he should go. Edited October 19, 2005 by Shantanu

[Chicagoland]

The pint of the article is that some of the things that were dragging them donw are being dealt with, such as trimming costs. So, he has no excuses if any cars flop later on. But, if they are as good as predicted, word of mouth will be the best advertising.

[evok]

Rick Wagoner has made so many foolish moves at GM that it's time for him to go.

GM's product has improved, but not nearly enough.  And GM the company is in its weakest position ever.

Not all of GM's woes can be blamed on the stupidity of Roger Smith.  Much of it was self inflicted.

Rick Wagoner has run GM's shareholder value into the ground.  He is too much of a pussy to seriously confront the UAW.  He was a complete pussy when it came to the Fiat deal.

The man does not have the courage to offer serious leadership.

He has no aptitude for cars.  But then again, he's not the greatest beancounter or marketer either.

I really don't know what he brings to the table.

I think he should go.

[post="30876"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

In hindsight GM should have bit the bullet and filed for Chapter 11 back in 1991-1992 when they were really hours away from really being bankrupt and having a real negative cash flow. That would have allowed them to spin off Hughs, EDS and Delphi cleanly. DPH would not be under court protection today because a separate company with its own contract could have been established without fear of the UAW. This would have also allowed GM to shutter the factories without negotiating with the UAW. The Stemple UAW contract where the jobs bank and pay to sit at home was created would have been axed. The retirement program for the UAW members would have been brought in line with the white collar staff.

But the BOD, Smith and company tried to work around the problems.

Hindsight is so over rated! Anybody can look back and point finger!

[evok]

I really don't know what he brings to the table.

I think he should go.

[post="30876"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

To be replaced by who?

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Well GM has been a big fat crybaby.  For the last decade and a half!  Fact is GM does not have classleading, superior product in many segments.  Corvette and the GMT900s are really the only truly classleading vehicles in the GM stable.

[post="30757"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I was refering to the legitimate competitive disadvantages that have and still do exist today, not product.

[cavalier36]

To be replaced by who?

[post="31033"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

maybe try to hire away Nissan Chief Carlos Goshn.. or one of the top people from Honda or Toyota..

[evok]

maybe try to hire away Nissan Chief Carlos Goshn.. or one of the top people from Honda or Toyota..

[post="31163"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Ford has already tried to get Goshn and Zetsche and failed. Someone from Toyota or Honda would not succeed. Slow and stead are not the change agents GM needs. Believe it or not, there is no one that I am aware of that is more qualified within GM to run the company right now other than Wagoner. He might be getting bad press right now, but they are working on the structural problems. Only when the Lutz product finially gets to market will we see if GM and Wagoner can pull it off. GM has a lot of baggage that simply can not be thrown out over night.

[turbo200]

It will be the comeback of the century if [when] GM can finally rid itself of much of that baggage. Literally, when you think you've solved all the issues at GM, and roughed it out for years, another 50,000 creeping dillemmas present themselves.

[PontiacTechNJ]

Toyota makes NOTHING class leading , unless you count boring and lame . Honestly what makes a Camry better than a Malibu or G6 - certainly not styling ? Transmission , oh the same Auto Trans I can get on a Mitsu Galant , Nissan Altima , Honda accord Aisyn . Is the Camry 4 cylinder better than the world beating 2.4 Ecotec ? Sorry . There is not a whole lot unique or world beating about toyota , just a psycho mantra RELIABILTY RELIABILITY , even when Toyotas are on the back of the tow truck just as much as everybody elses cars

[The O.C.]

The Malibu got all 5s for the crash tests, and is much cheaper than the Camry. Its not as sporty as the Mazda 6, but its not as mushy as the Camry. It could use a better interior though.

[post="30869"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

First of all, I've ranted in another post about how poor and uncompetitive the Malibu is after I rented one and drove it about 250 miles.

Second of all, I have a Camry right now for a rental car (in Reno for a convention) and it's FAR from mushy. Soft, yes....but it's a nice compliant ride over bumps but refuses to float like a Dynaride Buick, etc. And the structure is rock-solid.....unlike the Malibu I had a month or two ago....

[The O.C.]

Toyota makes NOTHING class leading , unless you count boring and lame . Honestly what makes a Camry better than a Malibu or G6 - certainly not styling ? Transmission , oh the same Auto Trans I can get on a Mitsu Galant , Nissan Altima , Honda accord Aisyn . Is the Camry 4 cylinder better than the world beating 2.4 Ecotec ? Sorry . There is not a whole lot unique or world beating about toyota , just a psycho mantra RELIABILTY RELIABILITY , even when Toyotas are on the back of the tow truck just as much as everybody elses cars

[post="31268"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

See my post above this......Camry is 10-times the car Malibu is. I think it IS more stylish than Malibu (not G6 though.)

The Camry 2.4L L4 TROUNCES the Ecotec in terms of smoothness, refinement, and NVH.

Toyota has built total competence into this car from the fit-and-finish, to the quality of the interior materials, switches, knobs, seats, stalks, etc., to the powertrain refinement and the Buick-like level of quietness inside the car.

Exciting? No, not really.....but definitely a "class-leading" product....and it has the sales to prove it.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I'll agree that the Toyota Camry is very competent... (Many of you remember the disgusting twist of irony that I had to endure February of this year with a Camry Rental)

But... It's not desirable. The reason it sells so well is because it is an appliance for non car people to buy. That and Toyota's golden reputation, which I think they would be no where without. Toyota engineers more PR than they do cars, but thats another topic.

The Malibu is good IMO (Haven't driven one though) but it does need to be better. Although I don't think it's as bad as some 'opinion swaying' posters think. http://www.cheersandgears.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/AH-HA_wink.gif

[Croc]

I like the Malibu for the most part. Interior needs an upgrade though.

[Allante93]

To be replaced by who?

[post="31033"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Rumors are already circulating through GM that, Frederick (Fritz) A. Henderson, will replace Wagoner in the not so distant future. If you look at his bio, he's made the rounds, last leading GM's most profitable region Asia-Pacific, and was then sent to bring GME back into the black. The question is not who, but when?

GM Officer Bio:

GM Group Vice President
Chairman, GM Europe

Frederick (Fritz) A. Henderson has been chairman of GM Europe, responsible for General Motors activities in Europe, based in Zurich, Switzerland, since June 2004. He is also a GM group vice president and a member of the GM Automotive Strategy Board.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 29, 1958, Henderson earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Michigan in 1980 and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1984.

Henderson started his career at General Motors in 1984 as a senior analyst in the treasurer's office in New York. After holding a variety of financial assignments, he was transferred to GMAC in 1989 as director of mortgage banking. He was promoted to several positions of increasing responsibility until becoming GMAC group vice president of finance in Detroit in 1992.

In 1994, he was appointed executive in charge of operations for the former Automotive Components Group in Pontiac, Michigan, and then became a GM vice president and general manager of Delphi Saginaw in May 1996.

From 1997 to 2000, Henderson was GM vice president and managing director of GM do Brasil with responsibilities for GM operations in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In June 2000, Henderson was named group vice president and president of GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East (LAAM) headquartered in Florida, and in January 2002, he moved to Singapore as president of GM Asia Pacific, a position he occupied before being appointed to his current one.