The New General Motors Company Launches Today

[CSpec]

The New General Motors Company Launches Today

• GM gets back to the business of building great cars and trucks, serving customer needs
• New company created from GM's strongest assets
• Four core brands backed by the nation's largest and strongest dealer network
• Streamlined organization on a global basis for faster decisions, sharper focus on the customer
• Commitment to open communications

DETROIT - The new General Motors Company began operations today with a new corporate structure, a stronger balance sheet, and a renewed commitment to make the customer the center of everything the new GM does.

"Today marks a new beginning for General Motors, one that will allow every employee, including me, to get back to the business of designing, building and selling great cars and trucks and serving the needs of our customers," said Fritz Henderson, president and CEO. "We are deeply appreciative for the support we have received during this historic transformation, and we will work hard to repay this trust by building a successful new General Motors."

Created from the old GM's strongest operations in an asset sale approved by the bankruptcy court on July 5, the new GM is built on:

• Four core brands in the U.S. and the largest, strongest dealer network in the country,
• A fresh lineup of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC cars, trucks and crossovers, each with leading-edge designs and technologies that matter to both consumers and the environment,
• A competitive cost structure, a cleaner balance sheet, and a stronger liquidity position that will enable GM to invest in new products, key technologies, and its future,
• A winning culture focused on customers and products.

"One thing we have learned from the last 100 days is that GM can move quickly and decisively," said Henderson. "Today, we take the intensity, decisiveness and speed of the past several months and transfer it from the triage of the bankruptcy process to the creation and operation of a new General Motors.

"Business as usual is over at GM," said Henderson. "Today starts a new era for General Motors and everyone associated with the company. Going forward, the new General Motors is fully committed to listening to customers, responding to consumer and market trends, and empowering the people closest to the customer to make the decisions. Our goal is to build more of the cars, trucks, and crossovers that customers want, and to get them to market faster than ever before."

Committed to great cars and trucks

The new General Motors launches with a clear and simple vision - to design, build and sell the best vehicles in the world.

"A successful auto company needs to focus on both the cost and the revenue sides of the business," said Henderson. "Success on the revenue side means building the stylish, high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles that customers want - and getting them to market fast."

Despite the recent downturn, GM has maintained its cadence of strong new products. In the U.S., for example, the Chevy Camaro has surged past its rivals to lead its segment, while the new Chevy Equinox, Cadillac SRX, and Buick LaCrosse are earning strong initial reviews. Later this year, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and GMC Terrain debut, followed next year by the Chevy Volt, Chevy Cruze and Cadillac CTS Coupe.

This emphasis on great new products is also reflected in the Chevy Agile now launching in Latin America, in the Chevy Cruze and Buick Excelle in Asia Pacific, and in the new Opel Astra in Europe.

Just last month, GM announced its intention to build a new small car at a plant in Orion Township, Michigan, which will add to GM's growing portfolio of fuel-efficient cars and restore approximately 1,400 jobs.

GM also has moved aggressively to develop a full range of energy-saving technologies, including advanced internal combustion engines, biofuels, fuel cells, and hybrids. The company is also a leader in the development of extended-range electric vehicles, with its first model, the Chevy Volt, currently undergoing road testing and scheduled to launch in 2010. The new GM is also taking steps to make advanced battery development a core competency, and expects to make additional announcements on this matter late this summer.

"The success of our recent launches and the exciting new vehicles and technologies we have in the pipeline are evidence of our ongoing commitment to excel at everything we do," said Henderson. "Our goal is to make each and every General Motors car, truck and crossover the best-in-class."

Stronger brands and dealers

As part of its reinvention, the new GM has also focused its resources on four core brands and a stronger, more effective dealer network.

General Motors' core brands - Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC - will have a total of just 34 U.S. nameplates by 2010. This emphasis on fewer, better entries will enable the new GM to put more resources into each nameplate, resulting in better products and stronger marketing.

In May, the company accelerated its dealer consolidation efforts, with the goal of reducing the number of GM dealers in the U.S. from 6,000 this spring to approximately 3,600 by the end of next year. Even so, GM will still have the largest dealer network in the U.S. and GM dealers have committed to continue to improve the total customer experience for GM customers.

"We're also working on new ways to make car buying more convenient for our customers, including an innovative new partnership with eBay in California to revolutionize how people buy vehicles online," Henderson said. "Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'buy it now' price. We'll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months. In all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned."

A pledge to regain trust and confidence

General Motors Company is primarily owned by the governments of the United States, Canada and Ontario, and by a trust fund providing medical benefits to UAW retirees. Specifically, common stock will be owned by:

• U.S. Department of the Treasury: 60.8 percent
• UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust: 17.5 percent
• Canada and Ontario governments: 11.7 percent
• The old GM: 10 percent

"We are very appreciative of the support provided by the stakeholders through the transformation process. Though General Motors Company will not initially be publicly traded, we will be transparent in our financial and other reporting to further strengthen trust and confidence," said Henderson. "We expect to take the company public again as soon as practical, starting next year, and to repay our government loans as soon as possible. We are required to pay off the loans by 2015, but our goal is to repay them much sooner."

Stronger balance sheet

General Motors Company launches with a strong balance sheet, a competitive cost structure, and a strong cash position, enabling it to compete more effectively with both its U.S. and foreign-based competitors here in the U.S., and to continue its strong presence in growing global markets.

The new company acquired old GM's strongest operations and will have a competitive operating cost structure, partly as a result of recent agreements with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Canadian Auto Workers (CAW).

In the U.S., the new GM will be a far leaner company. By the end of 2010, the company will operate 34 assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants, down from 47 in 2008, and capacity utilization is expected to reach 100 percent during 2011. Overall U.S. employment will decline from about 91,000 at the end of 2008 to about 64,000 at the end of this year, creating a company sized to respond quickly to changes in the market, while still retaining the global scope necessary to develop world-class products and technologies.

The new GM will begin with a much stronger balance sheet, including U.S. debt of approximately $11 billion, which excludes preferred stock of $9 billion, and could change under fresh-start accounting. In total, obligations have been reduced by more than $40 billion, representing mostly unsecured debt and the VEBA trust fund that provides medical benefits to UAW retirees. The stronger balance sheet and lower break-even point will allow the new GM to reduce its risk, operate profitably at much lower volume levels, and reinvest in the business in the key areas of advanced technology and product development.

GM's subsidiaries outside the United States were acquired by the new company and are expected to continue to operate normally without any interruption.

A new way of doing business

With the launch of the new General Motors, company leaders will work to change the culture of the company, making the speed and decisiveness that GM demonstrated over the past several months the new way of doing business, and adding an intensified focus on the customer.

Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., who oversaw the creation of the new AT&T, will serve as chairman of a GM board with a number of new directors. Henderson will continue as president and chief executive officer, working closely with Whitacre. He also will take responsibility for GM's operations in North America, eliminating the GM North America president position.

To speed day-to-day decision-making, two senior leadership forums, the Automotive Strategy Board and Automotive Product Board, will be replaced by a single, smaller executive committee, which will meet more frequently and focus on business results, products, brands, and customers.

Bob Lutz has agreed to join the new GM as vice chairman responsible for all creative elements of products and customer relationships. Lutz and Tom Stephens, vice chairman, product development, will work together as a team, partnering with Ed Welburn, vice president of design, to guide all creative aspects of design. GM's brands, marketing, advertising, and communications will report to Lutz for consistent messaging and results. He will report to Henderson, and be part of the newly formed executive committee.

"I am pleased to announce that we are 'unretiring' Bob Lutz so he can fill this important position in the new GM," said Henderson. "He has a proven track record of unleashing creativity in the design and development of GM cars and trucks. This new role allows him to take that passion a step further, applying it to other parts of GM that connect directly with customers."

General Motors will also end its regional operating structure, moving decisions closer to the customer. This eliminates the regional president positions and the regional strategy boards. Nick Reilly will be named executive vice president of GM International Operations (GMIO) which will be based in Shanghai.

GM is also removing layers of management - reducing the number of U.S. executives by 35 percent and overall U.S. salaried employment by 20 percent by the end of this year - flattening the organization and speeding decision making.

Additional details of the new structure and leadership moves will be communicated later this month, said Henderson. "These and other actions will simplify our organizational structure and reduce the level of bureaucracy that, in the past, has prevented GM from moving faster."

More direct communications

Henderson also announced initiatives to open more direct communications between customers and GM employees at every level. "Beginning next week, we will launch a 'Tell Fritz' website where customers, or anyone else, can share ideas, concerns, and suggestions directly with senior management. I will personally review and respond to some of these communications every day."

Henderson and other General Motors leaders will go on the road regularly to meet with consumers and others with a stake in the new GM. "In August, we'll begin regular visits with customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and others - in the U.S. and abroad - who impact our relationships with customers. We'll be listening to their ideas, and acting on the ones that will improve our ability to serve our customers better. And of course, other executives and I will continue to reach out to customers through our ongoing web and Twitter chats.

"Today we launch the new General Motors, and our promise is simple. We will be profitable, we will repay our loans as soon as possible, and our cars and trucks will be among the best in the world," said Henderson. "We recognize that we've been given a rare second chance at GM, and we are very grateful for that. And we appreciate the fact that we now have the tools to get the job done.

"To our current customers, we appreciate the confidence that you have placed in us, and going forward, we'll offer you nothing less than great cars, trucks and crossovers, with unmatched customer service. To those who have supported us through this challenging time, we are deeply grateful," said Henderson. "And to those who have never tried a GM vehicle - or who have tried one and been disappointed - we look forward to the chance to win your business and earn your trust."

[smk4565]

"I am pleased to announce that we are 'unretiring' Bob Lutz so he can fill this important position in the new GM," said Henderson. "He has a proven track record of unleashing creativity in the design and development of GM cars and trucks. This new role allows him to take that passion a step further, applying it to other parts of GM that connect directly with customers."

Because the G6, STS, Soltice, Sky and Saturn reinvention all worked out so well. They need to re-retire Lutz, and get a 40 mpg Malibu on sale for 2011 model year, a compact, rear drive luxury sedan, a world class subcompact to replace the Aveo, and a minivan. The Fiesta and Fiat 500 are coming, plus new Kias are improved, the small car segment is getting really competitive. GM gets killed in this segment, and doesn't compete at all in compact luxury or minivan.

What they say sounds good, but I won't believe it until their actions back it up. Ford I think has done a remarkable job turning themselves around, and without government money, I give a lot of credit to Alan Mulally.

[daves87rs]

Sounds interesting. Will have to see how sales do, not so much based on product, but how many people were that pissed about the government loans.

Getting people to test drive is going to be important...

[z28luvr01]

Because the G6, STS, Soltice, Sky and Saturn reinvention all worked out so well.

Of those, only the Solstice/Sky are fully Lutz' "fault", and I wouldnt be so quick to call them failues, either. G6 and STS were pretty far along when he arrived.

They need to re-retire Lutz, and get a 40 mpg Malibu on sale for 2011 model year, a compact, rear drive luxury sedan, a world class subcompact to replace the Aveo, and a minivan.

Spot on about the 40mpg Malibu and the RWD sedan. Viva will replace Aveo in 2011 I believe. As for minivan, I'm not sure it's a good idea to enter a segment that's seen little to no growth, and noone but Chrysler and Honda have entries worthy of consideration. The money is better spent on CUVs, which GM is doing very well these days.

The Fiesta and Fiat 500 are coming, plus new Kias are improved, the small car segment is getting really competitive. GM gets killed in this segment, and doesn't compete at all in compact luxury or minivan.

Don't go singing the praises of the Fiesta or the Fiat just yet. Remember how much we wanted the Astra here when it first came out over there? How well was it received when it got here? Not very well.

What they say sounds good, but I won't believe it until their actions back it up. Ford I think has done a remarkable job turning themselves around, and without government money, I give a lot of credit to Alan Mulally.

Ford took out a loan in 2006, and one of the stips was that they not take out another loan from anyone else. Yes, Ford's turnaround is remarkable, but let's not make more of it than what it is just because they didn't use gov't funds. They still used borrowed funds and drastically downsized their operations, which is exactly what GM did today.

[Justin Bimmer]

So on Yahoo! they are talking about using EBAY to auction new vehicles and they are launching a "Tell Fritz" website for people to email GM.

[G. David Felt]

Of those, only the Solstice/Sky are fully Lutz' "fault", and I wouldnt be so quick to call them failues, either. G6 and STS were pretty far along when he arrived.

Spot on about the 40mpg Malibu and the RWD sedan. Viva will replace Aveo in 2011 I believe. As for minivan, I'm not sure it's a good idea to enter a segment that's seen little to no growth, and noone but Chrysler and Honda have entries worthy of consideration. The money is better spent on CUVs, which GM is doing very well these days.

Don't go singing the praises of the Fiesta or the Fiat just yet. Remember how much we wanted the Astra here when it first came out over there? How well was it received when it got here? Not very well.

Ford took out a loan in 2006, and one of the stips was that they not take out another loan from anyone else. Yes, Ford's turnaround is remarkable, but let's not make more of it than what it is just because they didn't use gov't funds. They still used borrowed funds and drastically downsized their operations, which is exactly what GM did today.

I totally agree with all you stated.

[CSpec]

G6, STS

I'm not sure if you've seen the pictures of those two before Lutz arrived, but they were pretty ghastly. The G6 looked like an Aztek sedan and the STS was pretty weird. He delayed the STS and Lacrosse a full year, and I'm pretty sure there was a similar delay of the G6 for emergency redesigns. Obviously the results were not that great given their time constraints, but they were sure better than the designs they were gonna use before he got there.

[Justin Bimmer]

I'm not sure if you've seen the pictures of those two before Lutz arrived, but they were pretty ghastly. The G6 looked like an Aztek sedan and the STS was pretty weird. He delayed the STS and Lacrosse a full year, and I'm pretty sure there was a similar delay of the G6 for emergency redesigns. Obviously the results were not that great given their time constraints, but they were sure better than the designs they were gonna use before he got there.

I wish I could remember seeing some of the pre lutz emergency redesigns.

[turbo200]

This press release and communications are very promising. Ironically, GM finally is listening, it took bankruptcy, but they are seriously incorporating the good ideas presented here and elsewhere by regular people. even going as far as mentioning beaurocracy and culture--not the primary subjects widely talked about in the media, but definitely on the fan sites. I'm looking forward to this new approach.

for the future I'm looking forward for new product announcements soon. I'm looking forward to the return of the luxury rear drive performance sedan and coupes that will bring Caddy to the top, and create respect for the company as a whole. I'm looking for the world class small cars, with still more original, more focused, and more empowering design appeal than astra and cruze [already good looking cars]. i'm looking for them to solidify middle-class sedans, continue on an emphasis towards luxury there. I'm looking for increased focus on better driving and more efficient trucks---that means serious changes to the 900 lines, that will take money, but will drive them well into 2020 with forward thinking design. I'm looking also for the relaunch of a brand destined for sexy design. Pontiac used to be the ideal for it. affordable and aspirational. Buick is premium and sedate. A sexy brand to evoke Italian design would be wonderful....down the line, say 2016.

[87Chevette]

So Exciting!

Sounds almost too good to be true..

My Chevrolet wrist watch arrived at FedEx today.. Coincidence?

[turbo200]

given the cohesiveness of the design teams....the balance of car design at GM.......the significance the raw appeal a car has.......the way the design team has been turned around......and the results we're seeing now in excellent product......nothing more can be said than Bob Lutz has done his job exceedingly well. if not for him we might still be stuck with concepts like this. and product like this

[CSpec]

I wish I could remember seeing some of the pre lutz emergency redesigns.

Those were pretty hard to come by even in 2003-2004.. I have no idea where you could find them today. The STS was a black and white scan. C&G actually ran an exclusive image of the pre-Lutz G6, but that was many years and servers ago. It looked very similar to the REV concept.

[turbo200]

it was a lot more outrageous than the current one, probably fitting for Pontiac, and a lot more awkward, cumbersome and clumsy like the Aztek.

[Justin Bimmer]

Is this it? Or is this after Lutz worked it.

[turbo200]

Is this it? Or is this after Lutz worked it.

definitely not it. that was the concept lutz made for the g6. that's the perfect version of the production version we got.

this concept is more the sexy expressive car I was talking about in my post above. GM really doesn't have brand that fits this aesthetic at the moment. unless they just decided to replace buick with opel [which makes a lot of sense if GM holds onto opel completely].

Edited July 10, 2009 by turbo200

[CSpec]

It looked pretty similar to this:

[turbo200]

It looked pretty similar to this:

for all those against Lutz. here is your pre-Lutz GM design era.

[Johnny Quest]

Without a fundamental shift, even if GM does "okay", GM will be much smaller (and to the chagrin of many US GM executives much less relevant in North America).

GM needs a solid business person at the helm -- to hold senior management accountable -- and cut'em loose if they don't achieve. (Whether Fritz is good or not, doesn't matter - I'm not sure he can make it happen as he's jaded by the past...) I'd say folks will give GM one year, and only one year, to show it can change and there will not be a second bailout. The next 90 days will be critical.

There are no more excuses.

The tough decisions - the real ones - the ones that were never made were the downfall. Great cars, but not a great car company.... GM executives, the "old boys", should be ashamed, not because of the bankruptcy, but because of the institutional denial. Even if it wasn't their direct fault, even if it was the fault of the market or legacy decisions, or prior leadership, it doesn't matter. I don't mean it at a personal level - I mean that as an institution, leadership needs to accept that there is a problem. They failed to act. Again, they didn't do what needed to be done. Anyone left who is "political" needs to be booted - and fast. My concern is that the cutting - the salaried folks and the executive ranks - will be done in a political manner - the exact opposite of what is needed to ensure survival.

Cars may be a passion, but a car company is a business. Again, there are no more excuses. Getting out of "bankruptcy" is not success. Any idiot, myself included, can run a businesses into the ground. It takes real geniuses to take what was once the world's largest company and destroy it.

[87Chevette]

It looked pretty similar to this:

Good Lord. That thing is hideous.

[Oracle of Delphi]

I predict within 2 or 3 years, GM will be in Chapter 7 liquidation ...

As for Lutz, Pontiac died under his watch (remember Pontiac was his brand, his baby), let's see if he can't kill off Buick or Chevrolet next.

Bob Lutz has agreed to join the new GM as vice chairman responsible for all creative elements of products and customer relationships.

Yes, that's exactly who I would put in charge of Customer Relationships, is the man that said Global Warming is a crock of $h!, more or less.

EPIC FAILURE

Edited July 10, 2009 by PCS

[Intrepidation]

I'm not sure if you've seen the pictures of those two before Lutz arrived, but they were pretty ghastly. The G6 looked like an Aztek sedan and the STS was pretty weird. He delayed the STS and Lacrosse a full year, and I'm pretty sure there was a similar delay of the G6 for emergency redesigns. Obviously the results were not that great given their time constraints, but they were sure better than the designs they were gonna use before he got there.

I haven't seen those, got pics?

[ocnblu]

Global Warming may or may not be a crock of $h!... but we as humans simply cannot do anything about it. Even if all industry on this planet stopped today. Before humans, when drastic climate changes took effect... who's fault was that? It's all baloney... a Chicken Little mentality.

Bob Lutz is and has always been as far back as I can remember, a breath of fresh air. What did he do to destroy BMW when he worked there, huh?

[z28luvr01]

I predict within 2 or 3 years, GM will be in Chapter 7 liquidation ...

As for Lutz, Pontiac died under his watch (remember Pontiac was his brand, his baby), let's see if he can't kill off Buick or Chevrolet next.

Yes, that's exactly who I would put in charge of Customer Relationships, is the man that said Global Warming is a crock of $h!, more or less.

EPIC FAILURE

Lutz gave Pontiac the GTO, the G8, the Solstice, and a cleaned up G6 and Grand Prix. He also was on the side of GM that wanted a Pontiac Alpha and an return to all RWD. He did everything that GM would allow him to do to save Pontiac, but other factions within GM wouldn't have it and starved the brand to death. Pontiac's death is not his fault.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Lutz gave Pontiac the GTO, the G8, the Solstice, and a cleaned up G6 and Grand Prix. He also was on the side of GM that wanted a Pontiac Alpha and an return to all RWD. He did everything that GM would allow him to do to save Pontiac, but other factions within GM wouldn't have it and starved the brand to death. Pontiac's death is not his fault.

Who are these factions you speak of? What are their names? Are you sure he was on the side of the Pontiac Alpha? I wouldn't bet your bike on that if I were you.

The GTO and G8 are exactly my point, the wrong cars at the wrong time, especially when gas was over 4 bucks a gallon at the time. Nothing like continually shooting yourself in the foot as Lutz does ...

If you remember, even Lutz said the GTO was a failure ...

http://www.houstoncars.org/bob-lutz-explai...s-a-failure.php

[wildcat]

Here's from today's "Detroit News." Maybe Lutz's first attempt could be to change PCS' perception of him LOL

"Lutz vows to change attitudes about GM"

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington -- General Motors Co.'s vice chairman Bob Lutz -- who canceled his retirement in order to stay on with the automaker -- says his job is to change people's minds.

"My job is to integrate GM's marketing and communications activities to create messages that are clear enough and compelling enough to break down what I call the 'perception gap,' " Lutz told The Detroit News late today. "GM today has the best product portfolio in its history. It's the first time we can truly say 'Compare our new vehicles to those of any other large producer, regardless of national origin.' "

Lutz has long been frustrated that the Detroit automaker doesn't get the credit it deserves.

"We win award after award, receive accolade after accolade from the industry journalists. And yet, the perception among a disturbing percentage of Americans is that we are still the producers of less-than-excellent, undesirable vehicles. My job is to close the perception gap," Lutz said.

Company officials have pointed to internal focus groups that show people have more favorable ratings of GM vehicles if they have no badge -- or if they have a Toyota Motor Corp. badge -- as evidence that perceptions lag the quality improvements of GM vehicles.

[Camino LS6]

I knew you wouldn't like Lutz's new position, PCS!

And I'll bet you have already guessed how I feel about it.

It is the one thing going forward that gives me hope for GM.

No offense, but it looks like GME's agenda just got derailed, and I'm pleased as punch.

[wildcat]

Is it possible that Lutz agreed to come back now that GME is (somewhat) out of the picture, if GM sells a huge portion of it?

[Oracle of Delphi]

I knew you wouldn't like Lutz's new position, PCS!

And I'll bet you have already guessed how I feel about it.

It is the one thing going forward that gives me hope for GM.

No offense, but it looks like GME's agenda just got derailed, and I'm pleased as punch.

GME's agenda is as sound as ever, as half of them are now in GM, who do you think replaced all those Americans that were let go? As for Lutz, just like his cars, he is the wrong man at the wrong time, it's as simple as that.

[Camino LS6]

Is it possible that Lutz agreed to come back now that GME is (somewhat) out of the picture, if GM sells a huge portion of it?

Well, something he didn't like is out of the way now...

[Oracle of Delphi]

Here's from today's "Detroit News." Maybe Lutz's first attempt could be to change PCS' perception of him LOL

"Lutz vows to change attitudes about GM"

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington -- General Motors Co.'s vice chairman Bob Lutz -- who canceled his retirement in order to stay on with the automaker -- says his job is to change people's minds.

"My job is to integrate GM's marketing and communications activities to create messages that are clear enough and compelling enough to break down what I call the 'perception gap,' " Lutz told The Detroit News late today. "GM today has the best product portfolio in its history. It's the first time we can truly say 'Compare our new vehicles to those of any other large producer, regardless of national origin.' "

Lutz has long been frustrated that the Detroit automaker doesn't get the credit it deserves.

"We win award after award, receive accolade after accolade from the industry journalists. And yet, the perception among a disturbing percentage of Americans is that we are still the producers of less-than-excellent, undesirable vehicles. My job is to close the perception gap," Lutz said.

Company officials have pointed to internal focus groups that show people have more favorable ratings of GM vehicles if they have no badge -- or if they have a Toyota Motor Corp. badge -- as evidence that perceptions lag the quality improvements of GM vehicles.

The only thing Lutz hopes to change are his pension numbers ...

[wildcat]

. . . As for Lutz . . . he is the wrong man at the wrong time, it's as simple as that.

If he's got anything to do with marketing, he's got to be better than Mark LaNeve!

And in my opinion Bob Lutz revitalized GM more than anybody else in the last 20 years (at least). I'm not saying that everything he did was fully successful. Some things weren't in his control, but maybe they will be now.

[Oracle of Delphi]

If he's got anything to do with marketing, he's got to be better than Mark LaNeve!

And in my opinion Bob Lutz revitalized GM more than anybody else in the last 20 years (at least). I'm not saying that everything he did was fully successful. Some things weren't in his control, but maybe they will be now.

Not with the US Government running GM, all Lutz will be allowed to do is rebadge the Volt, he's good at rebadging, I'll give him that ... :AH-HA_wink:

[Camino LS6]

Sounds like sour grapes to me, PCS.

Lutz doesn't need the cash, so something else must have sparked his interest.

I will be waiting to see what that is.

Edited July 10, 2009 by Camino LS6

[regfootball]

Of those, only the Solstice/Sky are fully Lutz' "fault", and I wouldnt be so quick to call them failues, either. G6 and STS were pretty far along when he arrived.

Spot on about the 40mpg Malibu and the RWD sedan. Viva will replace Aveo in 2011 I believe. As for minivan, I'm not sure it's a good idea to enter a segment that's seen little to no growth, and noone but Chrysler and Honda have entries worthy of consideration. The money is better spent on CUVs, which GM is doing very well these days.

Don't go singing the praises of the Fiesta or the Fiat just yet. Remember how much we wanted the Astra here when it first came out over there? How well was it received when it got here? Not very well.

Ford took out a loan in 2006, and one of the stips was that they not take out another loan from anyone else. Yes, Ford's turnaround is remarkable, but let's not make more of it than what it is just because they didn't use gov't funds. They still used borrowed funds and drastically downsized their operations, which is exactly what GM did today.

solstice and sky are not failures. their plant overhead had more to do with cancellation than anything. did GM not lead sales in the compact roadster segment? these will be collectible for years. GM still should not have killed them. make the ecotec turbo standard and solve the interior and trunk issues. only because saturn and pontiac got axed is why we don't have them.

no one in the US still WANTS small cars. so yes i even am apprehensive on how well $h!boxes (albeit good ones) like the fiesta will sell. Americans still love size.

That said, i am a big Astra banger and I still don't have one, primarily because I will only pay so much for a small car, despite how good it is.

I still believe in GM. Why? Because there is nothing REMARKABLE about toyota, kia, honda, hyundai. My vehicular history is laced with GM and now Ford product, and they are part of my history and my country;s history. Don't get me wrong, I had a Honda ATC 3 wheeler which i think was cool too, but GM deserves to be as relevant or even more relevant in the US than ever before. Global economy = nice. whatever. i am one of those folks that wants to keep it within the family. Even my $h!ty chevette scooter i loved as a car, and i would love to support GM Ford whatever. Lets give GM a chance. Last i checked, most folks in the US no longer have the method by which to buy overpriced and overhyped $h! like Lexus, etc. anyways.

Man, i would love to go pound down and smoke a few with Lutz. He's not perfect, but he has cajones.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Sounds like sour grapes to me, PCS.

Lutz doesn't need the cash, so something else must have sparked his interest.

I will be waiting to see what that is.

Sour grapes? Not at all, I just hate to see you get all worked up, just to have the rug pulled out from you once again, how many times is it now, I've lost count ...

Remember I can also come back if I wish ...

[Camino LS6]

Sour grapes? Not at all, I just hate to see you get all worked up, just to have the rug pulled out from you once again, how many times is it now, I've lost count ...

Remember I can also come back if I wish ...

Unless you're bringing some RWD goodness with you, don't bother.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Unless you're bringing some RWD goodness with you, don't bother.

I'm surrounded by RWD, at BMW, it's all around me ...

[ocnblu]

The bitterness is so palpable, it cannot be denied. Plain as the brow on his face.

[A Horse With No Name]

Getting people to test drive is going to be important...

Agreed.

And let's not call the Solstice/Sky kappa twins failures. They are both great cars.

In some ways I like them both better than the Z3/Z4, Miata, Boxster, S2000, et all..

Chris

[A Horse With No Name]

solstice and sky are not failures. their plant overhead had more to do with cancellation than anything. did GM not lead sales in the compact roadster segment? these will be collectible for years. GM still should not have killed them. make the ecotec turbo standard and solve the interior and trunk issues. no one in the US still WANTS small cars. so yes i even am apprehensive on how well $h!boxes (albeit good ones) like the fiesta will sell. That said, i am a big Astra banger and I still don't have one, primarily because I will only pay so much for a small car, despite how good it is.

One of the guys in our local VW club has a son who just got an Astra. the 18" wheels, two door, everything you could get on it, the blue that is beautiful...

For 13K out the door from a dealer in Cincy. don't wait to long or they will be gone.

And I am one of 7 people in the USA that wants a small car.

People will want small cars in the USA when gas goes to $4.50 a gallon, and it will.

Cars like the Soul, Scion xB, etc. still sell as small cars. I just want GM to put GM goodness into a small car, and not give me a crapbox fleet grade Aveo or a fleet grade Cruze. The new Focus looks wonderful, and I will be possibly writing a check to Ford if the interior is anywhere near as good as the Mustangs.

Chris

[balthazar]

Betting I'm the only person who recognized that the 'new GM' was organized under the FIRST name of the entity; incorporated as 'General Motors Company' in the state of New Jersey on 09-16-1908.

GM's 2nd birthday was when they reorganized in DE on 10-13-1916 (GMCo was dissolved 08-03-1917).

[Satty]

There are 2 main reasons small cars dont sell in America at the moment.

1--Most small cars available now (and for the last few decades) have been crap. The ones that have been successful have been European, which to some just screams "reliability nightmare" and priced significantly higher than other cars of a similar size.

2--Americans are freaking fat

Maybe the economy will crap out to the point where people quit eating and they'll be able to fit into cars like the Cooper and Fiesta and they'll see how fantastic they are.

[hyperv6]

it was a lot more outrageous than the current one, probably fitting for Pontiac, and a lot more awkward, cumbersome and clumsy like the Aztek.

I think you are thinking of the GP. He showed up just a short while before the 04 GP and Larcrosse appeared. The Lacrosse was put back for a entire redesign of the body and the GP got a nose job because it had a Aztek nose. I saw it once and it was awful.

[!!!TED!!!]

I have all the pre-Lutz images.....

...on my corrupt old hardrive

EDIT: the G6 was to look like this:

There were more developmental images (as above) even included in the actual post-Lutz G6 brochure.

We had actual pictures of the full scale model, that looked almost exactly like this rendering!

[hyperv6]

Here is some of the keys to GM' Future

1 to continue to improve on what they already have started with better quality and products.

2 Price their product at or below the compitition.

3 Builfd the best small cars avaiable as gas prices will go up and they need to address all markets not just large cars and trucks.

4 Marketing marketing and marketing. GM's greatest failure is they could barely support development of a car and then still afford to market it properly 6 months after intro. If you want people to know your product you need to tell them and tell them again. To bad we lost Billy Mays!

5 Did I say marketing!

6 GM also need to find ways to answer the press and defend themselves from unfail attacks. There are many people out there that are working in the press and other areas to make sure GM fails. They need to address this and call the bluffs on this kind of atttack. I have already seen the people saying GM needs to get better product when they can't even name any of the new cars ready for release in the next 3 years. They make it sound as if GM has nothing in the pipeline.

7 Remove the clueless dead wood from within GM. Is see some of some of it is already gone. So this is already a positive.

There are many more details but GM does have a fighting chance and the economy is right now their worst enemy. The one thing they do have is they have income form China and some other areas. Count this with reduced operating cost and no majore debt other than the goverment loan it should be easier. Note I did not say easy.

The last factor in their corner is the Goverment can not afford to let them fail now. The democrates can not afford to go into an election year with GM failing after the loans. THe people will vote each and everyone out for this reason alone not to mention the Cap and Trade bill.

[hyperv6]

I have all the pre-Lutz images.....

...on my corrupt old hardrive

EDIT: the G6 was to look like this:

There were more developmental images (as above) even included in the actual post-Lutz G6 brochure.

We had actual pictures of the full scale model, that looked almost exactly like this rendering!

The GP was even worse. It has the upper scoop line like the Aztek had. I wish I had save the picture I saw of the prototype. GM really locked down on these photos.

[!!!TED!!!]

The GP was even worse. It has the upper scoop line like the Aztek had. I wish I had save the picture I saw of the prototype. GM really locked down on these photos.

I kinda like the aggressiveness of the Pre-Lutz stuff.

Here is a photochop I did in 2004 (I think), that shows more or less the pre-Lutz GP.

[CSpec]

I kinda like the aggressiveness of the Pre-Lutz stuff.

Here is a photochop I did in 2004 (I think), that shows more or less the pre-Lutz GP.

Yikes. I had forgotten about that--I think that was even before my time at C&G! I wonder where to find that old STS scan... it was all over the web at some point, someone must have saved it.

[Satty]

I had the GP and STS saved in a file with a bunch of other pics I had on a screensaver on my desktop. But I lost them when it took a dump.

[!!!TED!!!]

Good news for those interested. I found a back up CD from July 18, 2006!

It contains tons and tons of C&G and GM related stuff, including the pre-Lutz STS, G6, some rare pics etc etc!

Here is the real G6 we were supposed to get!

And something I made for C&G in '06:

Pre-Lutz STS!

and something I made for C&G:

I will post up some more interesting stuff I find later (after 20/20's GM expose lol).

Its a good thing Im a digital pack-rat (as well as in real life!).