OUCH!! GM CEO Henderson: "Bob Lutz Says A Lot Of Things, But He Works For Me"
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OUCH!! GM CEO Henderson: "Bob Lutz Says A Lot Of Things, But He Works For Me"
http://jalopnik.com/5315431/gm-ceo-h...e-works-for-me
When Autoblog asked GM CEO Fritz Henderson about Bob Lutz's comments on the G8 becoming a new Chevy Caprice, his response was much different than what he gave when asked the same question later by two print journalists.
The comment he gave Autoblog? "We've been looking at it for police applications. As for whether or not it's broader than police applications, I am not a believer in re-branding and re-badging. We've been talking about in terms of potential police applications and we'll leave it at that."
Then, to the two print journalists, his comment was: "No. It's not going to happen." Then, when pressed for a specific comment about "Maximum" Bob's remarks, Henderson retorted in his best "I'm the decider" voice: "Bob Lutz says a lot of things, but he works for me." Awesome. Way to tell off Bob for straying off the reservation.
It seems to us like Fritz is saving his best lines for the non-online outlets, doesn't it? It's too bad neither print journalist actually published this quote as it's SO much better than the Autoblog quote.
The comment he gave Autoblog? "We've been looking at it for police applications. As for whether or not it's broader than police applications, I am not a believer in re-branding and re-badging. We've been talking about in terms of potential police applications and we'll leave it at that."
Then, to the two print journalists, his comment was: "No. It's not going to happen." Then, when pressed for a specific comment about "Maximum" Bob's remarks, Henderson retorted in his best "I'm the decider" voice: "Bob Lutz says a lot of things, but he works for me." Awesome. Way to tell off Bob for straying off the reservation.
It seems to us like Fritz is saving his best lines for the non-online outlets, doesn't it? It's too bad neither print journalist actually published this quote as it's SO much better than the Autoblog quote.
Last edited by 95redLT1; Jul 15, 2009 at 06:32 PM.
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Ok. I guess we can look forward to a lot of colorful "New GM" articles in the coming months.
This is probably in the other thread but what is the export capacity for the current G8 and whatever is said to replace it? That's probably what most of this hinges on.
This is probably in the other thread but what is the export capacity for the current G8 and whatever is said to replace it? That's probably what most of this hinges on.
Last edited by Good Ph.D; Jul 15, 2009 at 06:43 PM.
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If I can read between the lines...
Henderson is probably wondering:
Q. 50K units capacity. What's going to make GM more money over the journey?
Selling the VE to the police force or selling VE to the private buyers? A. Police Force.
Lutz is probably wondering:
We'll give the enthusiasts the Caprice and continue to attract the private buyer (following on from the G8's success).
We'll attract a new generation of buyers for Chevrolet and it will be a wonderful image builder for GM.
Henderson is probably wondering:
Q. 50K units capacity. What's going to make GM more money over the journey?
Selling the VE to the police force or selling VE to the private buyers? A. Police Force.
Lutz is probably wondering:
We'll give the enthusiasts the Caprice and continue to attract the private buyer (following on from the G8's success).
We'll attract a new generation of buyers for Chevrolet and it will be a wonderful image builder for GM.
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Lutz may work for Fritz but he would be wise to listen to him. A car company especially one fresh out of bankruptcy on taxpayer dollars can't survive without product. No amount of accounting or downsizing will save a company without a relevant product to sell; Plain and simple.
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I don't think you will hear much from the new Fiat management team. It doesn't play into the saving of an "American" company with "American" dollars if the spokespeople have an Italian accent. Also, the Fiat product which will be introduced and supposedly change the game for MOPAR is some time off.
Last edited by 1fastdog; Jul 15, 2009 at 11:10 PM.
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I don't think you will hear much from the new Fiat management team. It doesn't play into the saving of an "American" company with "American" dollars if the spokespeople have an Italian accent. Also, the Fiat product which will be introduced and supposedly change the game for MOPAR is some time off.
Also, there's been plenty of rumors coming out of Chrysler, but since I'm not familiar with the Lancia/Alfa product line, they don't really mean much.
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GM walked away from the POMS, the police and municipal service fleet sales over a decade ago, giving the market for V-8 powered RWD sedans to the Ford Crown Vic. While not huge, around 50 or 60 thousand units a year, it was a steady sales stream of customers who paid their bills- and gave untold amounts of product placement and advertising as vehicles that could take day-to-day abuse and keep working. The Caprice 9C1 has a legendary following, with many clubs and on-line support communities- and the WX3 Impala SS was a spin-off of that program, basically a police car with a leather interior and alloy wheels-
By ceding this market, GM gave up how many units since 1996? 600,000? 700,000? Just one more example of GM's fine management- that this is even a question galls me- I let my views be know repeatedly when GM dropped the full-sized V-8 RWD sedan- to no avail. When they finally, if ever, stop trying to tell the market what they think it should want, and start building the product that people want to buy, maybe their business state will turn around. A full-sized sedan with some version of the LSX engine and RWD would probably sell briskly- especially maybe even a wagon version. Not everybody that has a family or a camp on the lake wants to drive an SUV- And, as good as their trucks are, there is something inherently lacking in trying to drive a truck or SUV in a sporting manner.
By ceding this market, GM gave up how many units since 1996? 600,000? 700,000? Just one more example of GM's fine management- that this is even a question galls me- I let my views be know repeatedly when GM dropped the full-sized V-8 RWD sedan- to no avail. When they finally, if ever, stop trying to tell the market what they think it should want, and start building the product that people want to buy, maybe their business state will turn around. A full-sized sedan with some version of the LSX engine and RWD would probably sell briskly- especially maybe even a wagon version. Not everybody that has a family or a camp on the lake wants to drive an SUV- And, as good as their trucks are, there is something inherently lacking in trying to drive a truck or SUV in a sporting manner.
