Tom Walsh on GM-Chrysler Tie-Up-(new article)

[longtooth]

TOM WALSH

Auto merger would limit the bleeding

BY TOM WALSH • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • November 4, 2008

Forget about whether General Motors Corp. acquiring Chrysler LLC makes any sense.

Don't get caught up in the semantic debate about whether federal intervention in the fates of Chrysler, GM and Ford Motor Co. is a bailout, a rescue or descent into a socialist hellhole. The drama over Detroit's future, which resumes after a brief intermission for today's election, boils down to two words: damage control...

http://www.freep.com/article/20081104/COL0...1014/BUSINESS01

After the dust from the General Election settles I expect "President Obama" (fingers crossed at this point) to get a coalition right on this. Not that GM/Chrysler/Cerberus execs have forgotten about it.

It is very compelling. It means permanent change within the Industry that defined the Nation for decades. To many, the end of the world as they knew it.

[Chicagoland]

Split Mopar between GM and Ford?

One issue is all the West and East coast yuppies want to see them fail [and thousands out of work] because of a 25 y/o grudge of a 'lemon' [or a car they didn't know how to take care of] or the tired old "I dont like the feel of their interior materials"

Edited November 4, 2008 by Chicagoland

[longtooth]

Split Mopar between GM and Ford?

One issue is all the West and East coast yuppies want to see them fail [and thousands out of work] because of a 25 y/o grudge of a 'lemon' [or a car they didn't know how to take care of] or the tired old "I dont like the feel of their interior materials"

Going forward, if I were in the position to affect matters, I'd strive to ensure that every vehicle was developed and executed in the style of the '08 Malibu. No compromises. Win each sale back on the basis of substance (and style) and court the customers already loyal to the brand(s) through diligence.

[cletus8269]

Going forward, if I were in the position to affect matters, I'd strive to ensure that every vehicle was developed and executed in the style of the '08 Malibu. No compromises. Win each sale back on the basis of substance (and style) and court the customers already loyal to the brand(s) through diligence.

sort of along the lines of the "thats a saturn?" commercials i have been showing anyone with interest in a new vehicle everything that is GM. the #1 response to the bu and G8 is wow thats a chevy or thats a pontiac. reminds me of the have you driven a ford lately tune from the 90's. people have overlooked them for so long they just chunk the though out without even glancing at the lots.

[longtooth]

sort of along the lines of the "thats a saturn?" commercials i have been showing anyone with interest in a new vehicle everything that is GM. the #1 response to the bu and G8 is wow thats a chevy or thats a pontiac. reminds me of the have you driven a ford lately tune from the 90's. people have overlooked them for so long they just chunk the though out without even glancing at the lots.

Yes. Good point.

Also, GM and the UAW have to find a way to bury the hatchet (after all the hourly workers are 'hacked'-to-death, figuratively speaking)

The constant airing of the dirty laundry does neither any good.