With sales down double digits this year, there has been plenty of talk of one – or more – of the Big Three filing for bankruptcy protection. Chapter 11 would protect the Detroit automakers from creditors – now banging down the door for tens of millions of dollars – but would be disastrous for the future of Ford, Chrysler or General Motors. Because of this harsh reality, GM has ruled out any possibility for bankruptcy filings, no matter how bad things get on Wall Street.
GM’s stock prices have followed the rest of the market right off the cliff, and are now hovering around 60-year lows, according to Automotive News. Not helping the situations is the fact that GM’s stock was further downgraded into junk status earlier this week. But despite the bleak financial outlook, GM has no plans to turn to Chapter 11 protection.
“Clearly we face unprecedented challenges related to uncertainty in the financial markets globally and weakening economic fundamentals in many key markets,” the Detroit-based automaker said in a statement. “But bankruptcy protection is not an option GM is considering.”
While many analysts believe GM has enough cash on hand to weather the storm for the remainder of 2008, 2009 could be a whole different story. With 2009 expected to be even worse than 2008 for new car sales, Standard & Poor’s warns GM will face a “serious challenge to liquidity during 2009.”
Not only is the threat of GM bankruptcy bad for the auto biz, but it would ravage and already crumbling U.S. economy. Hopefully GM’s North American turnaround plan will kick in soon enough so we won’t have to image a world devoid of a major pillar of the U.S. economy.



10/10, 11:49 AM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Unfortunately, for GM it is now a juggernaut, and there is a very stark reality that it may very well be crushed by its own weight. Would you buy car form company that future is in question? Less and people are. It all exponentially adds to the end for some American car companies. Sad.
10/10, 12:28 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
In spite of its history of horrible decisions, GM always manages to rebound.
10/10, 12:34 PM
posted by:
golf4me
Ummm, it might be the ONLY option if the market doesn’t do a 180 in a couple of months.
10/10, 12:50 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
@ howsmydriving, I hope so, but you have to take a look at GM’s lineup. There’s not much going for it for such a large company (Vette, CTS, Volt). The Volt is too late in coming and GM would have to sell an awful lot of Volts to change things; the Volt is has no track record. In down times, customers are not willing to take a gamble on unproven things. American car companies are too unhealthy and there is no hiding that fact. Plus, the American taxpayer has not yet received the outrageous bill for the Iraq war. (You think 700 billion is a lot? Hold on to your hat!)
10/10, 1:33 PM
posted by:
GM CEO
Bail us out plz
:X
10/10, 1:35 PM
posted by:
bauer100
why is this question always asked?
10/10, 1:36 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
@GM CEO, now that is damn funny! Where’s Lutz these days? Destroying more of the environment or chasing greenies? According to Lutz is has always had all the answers.
10/10, 1:42 PM
posted by:
shaver
Maybe Toyota or Porsche should just by GM and/or Ford.
10/10, 1:50 PM
posted by:
MercMark
Put all the subprime loan morons to work making GM’s cars for $5 an hour
10/10, 1:53 PM
posted by:
John Doe Jr
@ Shaver… Why would Toyota or Porsche want anything to do with GM or Ford? Seriously?
10/10, 1:53 PM
posted by:
Lau
@Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Yeah, Iraq costs the US 1 billion dollars…..A DAY. It’s pretty bad, but back to cars.
I’ve had faith in GM for a long time now, but the saying “Too little too late” fits this situation. If my prediction is corect, than the Big 3 are about to become the Biggest 3 losers. But, i’m neutral. If they do succeed, awesome. If they don’t, i’ll get myself a a Volt at a low price.
10/10, 1:56 PM
posted by:
John Doe Jr
@ MercMark…That would probably result in a higher quality product.
10/10, 2:09 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Filing bankrupcy costs money that GM does not have.
10/10, 2:21 PM
posted by:
Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
@ Lau, but who will service your Volt when all is defunct?
✪
@MercMark, not a bad idea, not a bad idea at all, but sooner or later they too would be asking for yet another bailout.
10/10, 2:48 PM
posted by:
A4
if i have faith in one of the big three its GM… just about nothing theyve brought out in the last few years has been a bad product.. Malibu, Corvette, Volt, Cobalt, G8, CTS, Solstice/Sky, Silverado/Sierra, Lambdas… it could go on for days, they are all quite exceptional competitors and much more full of life and style than Ford’s offerings and especially Toyota.
10/10, 2:53 PM
posted by:
GM CEO
Hey guize, I need help paying off my multi billon dollar debt and liabilities. I swear I will be good if you give me a few billion more. A few billion more and I’ll make more daewoos, more riced out Saturns and Tahoe/Hummer Trucks with EXTRA CARRYING CAPACITY!. HAH EXTRA CARRYING CAPACITY! BELIEVE IT!
plz Im hungries and needs a new NYC pent house.
:3
10/10, 6:04 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Liek I said Ford or GM could be bought by someone within the next 2-4 yrs.
10/10, 7:08 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Of course bankruptcy is not an option. GM’s management however needs to step it up now…it’s do or die!
10/10, 8:45 PM
posted by:
autonut
Gm will probably receive lions share of 25 billion package already approved. They have nothing to worry about: we are nationalizing banks, next we all will be paying for need-more-oil-for-gm to post his nonsense here while on company dime. For all we know it is Lutz himself posting.
10/10, 11:10 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
autonut: thanks a lot. I used to spend idle moments contemplating the origins of mankind- or how much beer was left in the fridge.
10/12, 9:08 PM
posted by:
DB9
If GM declares bankruptcy it’s all over for everyone! Why? If GM were to declare, Ford and Chrysler would already be gone! What it will do to the credit markets and State/Provincial economies (direct and indirect ripple effects) in this fragile economic period…staggering to say the least.
Question for everyone?/! What percentage of cars are financed or “leased” greater than 50%…75%+…? What does this imply for Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Porsche/Volkswagen/Audi (flywheel on my CDN$35K 2007 Jetta disintegrated August past) etc.? How many $50k+ Bmers and Benzs y’all see moving off the lots in the near future? LoL:-))) The consequences of the 20 year exuberance in financial assets has just started to pop…no putting this Jeannie back in its bottle;-) As Buffet stated 15yrs ago the use of extreme leverage + exotic financial instruments (derivatives on derivatives on…) were like “weapons of mass destruction” – yes he said this!
GM gone; a pity; as it was just starting to produce some nice product! I haven’t bought a domestic in 15yrs… yet just took delivery of a Sport Red G8. For those that remain…well since no money or the ability to finance development or purchases…what will happen to product? I see Toyota is already significantly lowering guidance and cutting production; this ball has just started to gain momentum!
10/14, 1:22 AM
posted by:
manarc250
GM and Ford can not go away/file bankruptcy. It would be a terrible tragedy. These are great American companies that have provided careers and retirements for hundreds of thousands of Americans. Sure they made crap products in the past but they are rapidly getting past that and now have a right to be in your driveway. GM way more than Ford but Fords great products are coming. Chrysler…..I like that they are an American company other than that i have nothing uplifting to say about them. their product portfolio is crap and i have not seen much interesting in the pipeline. If you have not looked at a new GM product do yourself a favor and swing by a showroom or next car show, its very nice stuff. No I do not work for GM. I have had a ford explorer in its hay day. Three BMWs consecutively and now just took delivery of a 2009 Corvette. World class car, i love it.
10/14, 7:00 AM
posted by:
BMW M1
Hmm, i think its pretty improbable for GM to file for bankruptcy. The Unions will shout and rant quite a bit and then the US government will step in and bail them out…..again.
The chance of a merger between GM and Chrysler seems more likely and this will lead to further streamlining of product lines and workforce. Currently GM has divided itself into too many platforms and models (something which BMW is replicating, I have absolutely no idea why!!!) and doesnt have sufficient funds to adequately market the good products.
I hope when GM and Chrysler merge somebody goes and fires a bunch of those managers sitting at the very top…that itself should save them a lot of money.
With the Camaro’s pricing the Volt is already in hot water…and by the time it releases there will be further competition a.k.a Pininfarina B0/ Audi A1/Electro Mini etc.
In the end GM really needs to somehow do the impossible and get rid / reduce the effect of the union and speed up the introduction of newer models that are well marketed.
10/16, 12:39 AM
posted by:
GMCMG
I really think it is a shame that the US car market is getting hit the hardest. Toyota, Honda, etc. They aren’t all they are cracked up to be. What… you might get a few more miles per gallon better on a few of their cars. GM overall has a better product at a better value. Look at the the half ton truck, GM vs. Toyota and tell me who has the better value. GM of course! you can get a fully loaded 1/2 ton for what Toyota has as there starting price of one of those gas guzzling things. I have met a few people that bought the Tundra and they said they will never buy another because they were only getting 10-12 mpg, where you would be getting upwards of 16-18 with a gm. People need to look a little deeper at the prices and do better shopping. Lets just look at electronics like sony, sanyo, etc. the foreign markets already took them over, now is it going to be the vehicles. The US will have nothing left made in america after all this goes down. Unfortunate