Yeah. Why go bankrupt when you can get the idiots in congress to bail out [you and the other fools in GM management] while you continue to deny (or delay) good vehicles to the American public and score your fat bonus for it?

As I said in the Cruze thread, I can understand cash-saving delays on US-only models, but models that are already developed for global markets including the US and on sale everywhere else is a BS move geared very likely more toward not offending your north american design staff. If GM is going to be that way, I’ll take my business elsewhere no matter what car I want.

I wonder if he has ever considered retiring and leaving the company in the hands of someone with intelligence.

“GM has NEVER considered bankruptcy. And I am NOT an alcoholic.”

It’s absolutely shameful how so many Leftlane users go to great lengths to display their scorn for American automakers. Yes, they’re as arrogant as car companies can get; yes, that arrogance has led all three to make insanely bad decisions. Nonetheless, without these companies a great deal of Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and Europeans will suffer job loss, economic disaster, and worse.

You aren’t considering the number of people that are indirectly employed by the Detroit Three. Johnson Controls, Delphi, and a thousand other firms are adversely affected every time some wag says, “I wish GM and Ford and Chrysler would just go out of business.”

Your own family depends on these companies. You might not realize it, but without their contributions to the national economy, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost; millions if you include the various suppliers and ancillary companies which provide materials to these firms and their subsidiaries.

Please stop, and think carefully, before posting senseless comments like, “Bob Lutz should just push up daisies,” or “The American car companies are a pox on the face of the world.” You are all correct that these companies need better leadership and more responsive management. Nonetheless, you do yourselves, your families, and your neighbors a tremendous disservice each time you post such words.

If the American auto industry founders and sinks on the seas of the stormy world economy, every single country on the planet will suffer as a result. This isn’t patriotism speaking, it’s cold hard economic reality. The very best way you can help effect positive change is to be activists and try to help the former “Big Three” understand that there are alternatives to “business as usual” and instead of just being negative, offer positive suggestions and input as to how they might save their sinking ships rather than just being critical of everyone and everything involved in their existence.

We live in an interlinked and interdependent world economy. When the biggest businesses in any field suffer, many many individuals suffer as a result. Please, try to remember this the next time you want to show your dislike of Chrysler, Ford, and GM. Without those three companies’ mistakes, Japanese and European automakers would still be niche builders instead of offering you the Civics, Camrys, and Golfs so many love so dearly.

I know Lutz is everyone’s favorite whipping boy, but the reality is that he’s got an incredible head for the business as he took over Chrysler from Iaccoca and made it the most profitable US car company to the point that Mercedez Benz couldn’t stop falling over themselves to buy them up in a “merger of equals”. The result of the merger was Dr. Z pushing out Lutz and Lutz going to GM. At the time, GM sucked so bad that the only division with better quality than Hyundai was Buick. Under Lutz GM has made a tremendous turn-around in product selection and quality (Don’t believe me? Go drive any GM from 1998 and any GM from 2008 and tell me there isn’t a world of difference)! It wouldn’t matter if Jesus Christ ran GM (or Ford or Chrysler) right now, people simply want to be mad at somebody (the press keeps telling you to) and so it’s easy to select the “fat cats” and easier still to select the “fat cats” at the companies most damaged by the circumstances they find themselves in due to geo-political issues that they have little to no control over.

Lets not re-write history about Lutz. He does it well himself.
The most difficult years for Chrysler were late 70’s early 80’s when Lee Iaccoca requested US congress to guarantee 15 billions in loans. Iaccoca was paid $1/per year until Chrysler returned to profitability and re-payed loans 5 years before maturity. During Iaccoca days at Chrysler K-car was born – piece of automotive crap but savior during gas austerity for the company. K-car become platform for mini van. Revolution in automotive design in 1984. Public was buying those vehicles in unprecedented numbers. Lutz joined Chrysler in 1986, when it was already powerhouse compare to prior years. He was never payed $1/year nor he was CEO or chairman at Chrysler. He was a board member.

As far as not planning for bankruptcy? It does not appear that GM will set the world on fire any time soon with its products, dealers, service – necessities of automotive success story. If you make a mistake and purchase GM vehicle outside of Kazakhstan the value of your investment will disappear in front of your own eyes. You can thank Lutz for that since he is vice-chairman of GM. And if they were not planning for bankruptcy, what they were planning for dismantling of the company outright?

He is still a POS, and if the Big 3 were to dissolve away then the Asians would be taking over their factories in no time and we would have better quality Japan cars for the same prices or cheaper.

If that Cruze story is true, options are fast becoming not an option at GM.

I wonder what board DID talk about during board meetings? Absurd compensation for non-performance? Brand disintegration? Inability to design & build cars that public inclined to buy? Remedies for all of the above? Flomax? Vaigra? I would love to be a fly on a wall.

I have to agree – despite my lack of interest in American cars..the new CTS-V has been a pleasant surprise.

While I don’t want GM/Ford/Chrysler to go out of business…they really need to get their act together and look outside Michigan…the CTS was a great start..let’s keep those good products coming!

It is refreshing to see the GM shills on board! First off, the vehicle industry does not the economic stability of the world hold. That is propaganda at its best or worst which ever way you slice it. Wagoner and Lutz have become what is known in Human Resources department as “blockers.” They stay too long in their respective positions blocking better-qualified people the opportunity to replace them. If both Lutz and Wagoner were given an actual employe evaluation (and not one by the Board of Directors who simple want to line their pockets—see how much they make annually by sitting on board) both would and should be released for sub par performance. What Lutz or Wagoner did in the past has nothing to do with today’s situation of which they are highly-paid, but miserably failed. Remember, Lutz is one against anything “green” and his hay day was when gas was plentiful. Lutz’s failure to both understand and comprehend those who were keen on the today’s topics should mean his immediate dismissal.
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It is time for Lutz and Wagoner to accept accountability and responsibility—like real employees do. And for those who brown-nose them to look for browner cavities.

Denial is the first sign you have a significant problem.

GM debt plumbs depths of junk territory.

Perhaps it should be considered as an option, aye Lutz?

Is that a real picture or a cardboard cut-out ???

Usergonemad raises some good points, but I stiil think that GM and Chrysler are total crap. The only reason I slightly like Ford is because I need to buy a truck next year for my construction business, and I like their trucks the most. Bob Lutz is a total Putz!

Ratman I sell commercial trucks…. just look me up on line in the L.A. county, Pnsk-Leasing, “(it is company policy that I can not state my company’s name and express my personal opinion in any type of forum)” just send me a e-mail…