Jalopnik: Rick Wagoner

Caption This: Rick And Ron Edition

The Auto Insider — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:52:53 EST

Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News

GM CEO Rick Wagoner Rolls Up To Capitol Hill In Cruze-Covered Chevy Volt Mule

Ray Wert — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:15:00 EST

We didn't have the video of Wagoner pulling up in the Chevy Volt mule dressed up in the skin of a Chevy Cruze earlier. Now we do. We also have to say, we're pretty happy with how the Cruze looks in motion. Pretty snazzy if you ask us. We'll take ours with a turbo 1.4-liter four-banger rather than the Volt innards and definitely with the "dog-and-pony show" graphics-delete option. Also, we're now told Alan "Boeing! Boeing!" Mulally and Bob "The Builder" Nardelli are seated and Dodd's started flapping his gums. UPDATE: According to CNBC's Phil LeBeau, GM's modifying their request from the gubm'it — they need $4 billion this month and $4 billion in January (from $4 billion in December, $6 billion in March) to stave off the Carpocalypse!

GM's Rick Wagoner Arrives At Capitol

Ray Wert — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:45:00 EST

GM CEO Rick Wagoner just showed up to Capitol Hill driving the Chevy Volt mule. No clue where the other CEOs are.

We kind of hope the Chrysler Aspen hybrid carrying Bob "The Builder" Nardelli made it. Ford CEO Alan Mulally may have accidentally gone to the Senate Armed Services Committee, so someone should check up on him.

But, according to Wagoner, there's one overwhelming reason why America needs to save their automakers:

"It's very important for the U.S. to have a home team in the global auto industry..."

Photo Credit: Win McNamee / Getty Images News

Report: GM, Chrysler Consider Bankruptcy For Federal Bailout Loan

Ray Wert — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:40:00 EST

The CEOs of the not-so-Big Three made it to DC for committee hearings beginning today at 10:00 AM. According to Bloomberg's sources, GM and Chrysler execs are considering a pre-arranged bankruptcy (which we've already said is a good thing) as a last-resort of getting a multibillion-dollar government loan.

This flies directly in the face of GM CEO Rick Wagoner's past comments that a bankruptcy would mean liquidation because customers would refuse to buy cars from a company that might not be able to back warranties or supply parts. Our sources, whether from inside the General or from the outside, have given us similar arguments in the past.

That hasn't stopped staff for three members of Congress, who've asked restructuring experts if a pre-arranged bankruptcy — negotiated with workers, creditors and lenders — could be used to reorganize the industry without liquidation.

But it's not just the congressional committees at work here. According to another source, a representative of Obama’s team contacted at least one bankruptcy-law firm to say Daniel Tarullo, a professor at Georgetown University’s law school who heads Obama’s economic policy working group, would call to discuss the workings of a so-called prepack, according to this person.

But don't expect anything on this to come out of this week's hearings as we're also told

"Negotiations are splintered among small groups, making it unlikely a proposed solution such as bankruptcy would emerge until next week at the earliest..."

We'll obviously continue to be all over this story like a fat kid on cake. Stay tuned throughout the day to our "Carpocalypse Now" tag today as we bring you the latest news from D.C.

[Bloomberg]

Mr. Wagoner Makes It To Washington, Driving Volt Mule To Morning Senate Hearing

The Auto Insider — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:20:00 EST

There's General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner, stepping from a Chevrolet Malibu hybrid last night at his hotel in Washington to the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi after driving from Detroit to testify at Congressional hearings for an auto industry not-a-bailout. If the not-so-Big Three automakers have learned anything since their last trip to Washington, it's the old way of doing business just won't fly. So the decision by auto executives to travel in hybrid cars rather than corporate jets is just the start to overhauling their image as the industry pleads its case for more than $25 billion in federal loans.

The next step? Heading over to a 9:30 AM rally at the corner of Delaware Ave. and C street just outside the Russell Senate Building and the 10:00 AM Senate hearing. To get there from his hotel? He'll be driving a Volt mule. Seriously.

[via Breitbart, GM-Volt]

[Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert]

GM Asks FAA To Bar Public Tracking Of Leased Corporate Jet, Still Asks Public For Money

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST

In yet another stunning display of GM's critical lack of understanding of the importance of transparency when asking for public assistance has asked aviation regulators to block the public's ability to track the company's leased private planes. When will this company learn a little thing called "message?"

When asked about the request to the FAA, GM spokesman Greg Martin declined to discuss the reason, only saying "we availed ourselves of the option as others do to have the aircraft removed."

The move comes after the automaker was criticized for flying CEO Rick Wagoner (pictured above demonstrating a landing maneuver) in a leased Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV jet on November 18th and 19th to testify in front of Congress for a $25 billion loan to save the American auto industry.

While the move is something they're "allowed" to do, it's monumentally stupid given their desire for a bridge loan to save the company. Congress, the media and the public (even SNL!) already would like to tar and feather the automaker and it's CEO, this is yet another reason to do it. Just a hint to the PR staff at the General — right now you need more transparency, not less of it. You certainly don't need to be making moves easily perceived by the public as hiding information, and this can very easily be perceived as such.

We're beginning to wonder whatever happened to GM's vaunted PR staff — and whether there's anyone over there who's truly in command of the automaker's message.

[Bloomberg]

SNL Sketch Takes On Not-So-Big Three Congressional Hearing

Ray Wert — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

Saturday Night Live took on the not-so-Big Three's congressional testimony and "jetpooling" incident in this weekend's "cold open," and unfortunately fell into the trap of shamelessly mocking tired stereotypes. Which is sad, because we'd watched SNL take on a new level of relevancy as of late thanks to the uber-adorable Tina Fey and an election season devoid of real political commentary. That's not to say watching Will Forte as Rick Wagoner, Darrell Hammond as Bob "The Builder" Nardelli and Jason Sudeikis as Alan Mulally isn't funny, but hearing about quality issues on the upcoming Ford Fiesta and a Cadillac XLR-V is a bit ol' and busted if you ask us. Now quality issues on a Chrysler 300C? That's comedic genius. But hackneyed and tired jokes aside, we were more concerned with further evidence the automakers have done the world's worst job of getting their message out.

For example, when we heard Casey Wilson as NY Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Clueless) explaining to the auto chiefs Congress mandated 200 MPG cars and in doing so they've "done their part." The joke on cluelessly ineffective CAFE over-reaching was met with absolute silence. Contrast that with a moment later when Hammond, as Nardelli, responds to the question "What is Chrysler doing to make more fuel efficient cars?" with "I don't know." The joke's greeted with massive laughter. Here's a tip for GM, Ford and Chrysler — when you become a bigger punchline than Congress, you know you've done a piss-poor job at message management. Just sayin'... [SNL via Crooks and Liars]

Not-So-Big Three Automakers Take Corporate Jets To Beg For Money From Congress

Ray Wert — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

It's probably a bad thing to fly a private jet from Detroit to Washington, DC when you're going to ask Congress to provide you a multi-billion dollar loan to bail you out of a financial crisis. That fact hasn't stopped Ford's Alan Mulally, along with the heads of the other automakers, who not only flew to D.C. in the Ford private jet but are, apparently, unwilling to fully cut themselves from the corporate crack that is their private air forces. This really disturbs us. We've been having all sorts of problems with the way the US automakers have managed their message in making the ask for money from the Feds for survival. First they weren't getting their message out. Now, however, they're getting the wrong message out. Frankly, when folks begin saying things like this:

When the management of these automakers start acting like they’re in crisis, then perhaps we’ll believe them. They’ve come to Congress not to rescue their companies but to salvage their lifestyles. This is an industry that desperately needs bankruptcy and collapse to put an end to unrealistic labor deals and obnoxious executive behavior. The American taxpayer doesn’t have any business subsidizing this failure."

You know you've got a problem not even a Rick Wagoner-penned op-ed in the WSJ will solve. What GM, Ford and Chrysler need to do is start getting the PR people in charge of fixing their image problem ASAP. If the PR people were already running the show, fire them and bring in new ones who understand the importance of a strong public image right now. Then sell the planes — despite there probably being a rational reason for them — fix your image and get back to the task at hand. You know, saving your company. [Hot Air]

Barack Obama Will Not Meet Rick Wagoner Without Preconditions

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:30:00 EST

Barack Obama took time away from talking about his mother-in-law and a college football playoff system to talk about the automaker bailout in an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes. While admitting Detroit needs help, he said it's important to make sure it's conditioned on the stakeholders (labor, suppliers, execs) coming up with a plan for a sustainable domestic auto industry as opposed to just giving out "a bridge loan to nowhere." Oh, yes, he went there. This was taped before the scary GM video, which at the very least we're hoping, convinced him to buy a Save GM t-shirt.

NYT: GM Sought Merger With Ford First

Ray Wert — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:30:00 EDT

As if the late-breaking Friday night news of merger talks between Chrysler and GM weren't astonishing enough, Bill "Pickles" Vlasic at the New York Times continued the onslaught of amazement with a follow-up story that GM had initially approached Ford before speaking to Chrysler. Apparently, GM execs approached Ford about a possible merger in July but Ford rejected the idea despite the talks progressing until as late as last month. And we though it was hard creating a name for a merger of GM and Chrysler — try coming up with one for Ford and GM. Best we could come up with was "Big Blue Moval."

But we digress. The talks apparently involved several meetings between the General's big bossman, "Slick" Rick Wagoner and its president, Fritz "Free Money" Henderson. On the Ford side of the table was Bill "Willie Style" Ford; and its CEO, Alan "Boeing-Boeing" Mulally, according to the Times.

Ford spokesman Mark "News-hound" Truby responded to Vlasic's determined questioning by declining to confirm discussions between the two automakers, and adding the following:

"What we can say is that we are convinced our best opportunity is to continue to integrate Ford and leverage our global assets...that remains Ford’s focus.”

Hmm, glad to see they're still integrating a company that's been around for over 100 years. Yeah, given that need, you'd probably want to remain focused on that.

But the big question remains — if GM was for a merger with Ford before they were for a merger with Chrysler — does that make them flip-floppers, or just really desperate for another automakers cash? [NYT]

WSJ: General Motors To Cut 15% Of Salaried Workforce By November

Andrew Stoy — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

The Wall Street Journal is reporting GM plans to remove another 5,000 salaried workers from payrolls by November as part of its re-restructuring announced earlier this month. The cuts would amount to about 15% of GM's North American white-collar staff, continuing what has become a 40% salaried headcount reduction since 2000. News of the job losses comes as GM is preparing analysts and the media to expect a large second-quarter loss when the company reports earnings tomorrow. Rather than layoffs, GM hopes to encourage staffers to leave with early retirement packages and cash incentives. Hey, it works for the cars, so why not try it on the employees? [WSJ (sub. req.)]

Jalopnik Crashes GM's New Global Powertrain Engineering Center In SE Michigan

Andrew Stoy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

In a move that GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner described as "A major step forward for General Motors," the company today dedicated its new Global Powertrain Engineering Development Center. The center is located in Pontiac, MI, spitting distance from the defunct Silverdome — the former home to the Detroit Lions, and consists of a 450,000 square-foot facility touted as the most technologically advanced powertrain development center in the world. What makes it so? Join us after the jump for our look around.

Apparently, GM has been hard at work on a system for shortening powertrain development time. The company calls it RLM: Road to Lab to Math. If you're like us, the first thing you saw in that phrase was "Meth Lab," but we were assured stimulants are not involved. Instead, RLM is marketingspeak for removing expensive road testing from the design equation, first by replacing much of it with laboratory simulation, and finally, by collecting enough data that new engines and transmissions can be designed mostly in a computer (the "math" component). The new Powertrain Engineering Center is the "lab" component in the system.

So why all the emphasis on removing as much road testing from the vehicle design process as possible? Because it's expensive. Our hosts threw out one example of cost savings, citing the use of RLM during the design of GM's new 6-speed RWD automatic transmissions. Through lab testing, they were able to eliminate a third of the prototypes that would ordinarily be needed.

The other major breakthrough featured in the Global Powertrain Center is standardization across the globe, and interconnectedness to go with it. GM has a number of powertrain design centers around the world, and thanks to new integration in the headquarters, simulation data can be shared across all of them. We thought that sort of came along with the Internet back in the '90s, but hey, it takes what it takes, so huzzah!

In fact, much of the Powertrain Engineering Development Center is designed to accomplish things that we thought they were already doing. For example, engine and transmission cold-soak testing. Yeah, they've been doing that for decades, but the only way it was accomplished was by shipping entire cars and loads of test equipment to the arctic for a few months at a time. Now they can hook a big chiller up to a crate powertrain, cool it down overnight, and test it on a stand. We don't know why we find it surprising that they couldn't do that before, but we do.

Of course, the speed with which they can swap components in test cells has dramatically improved. Rather than having to hook each engine up individually in a cell, they can shuttle them in and out using big, air-pressure-lofted pallets. The swap time for a powertrain cell has been reduced from 24 hours to 20 minutes. Plus, 95% of the emissions from the test process are burned up in massive regenerative thermal oxidizers, and 15% of the plant's power is generated by engines on dynamometers.

After the tour, Chairman Rick and a cadre of local politicians pressed a giant red button, starting a soundtrack featuring engines revving, apparently symbolizing the ridiculousness of dedication ceremonies. But all pomp and circumstance aside, the Global Powertrain Engineering Development Center is quite a place, and since we live in SE Michigan, we salute any potential rise in property values it may bring. Of course, we'd probably say as much about a brothel if it were to accomplish the same thing.

Toyota To Lower Sales Forecast, Try To Wrest Sales Crown From GM By Tricking Them?

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

According to reports out of Japan today, Toyota plans to lower its global sales estimate to 9.5 million vehicles this year, down from a previous sales estimate of 9.85 million. The report comes the day after GM's "Sweeping-Reorganization Press Conference, Part II," thus making their significant 385,000-unit sales forecast cut seem like a paltry hiccup in comparison. Well played, Toyota, but will it be enough for the win and the title of the world's super best number one automaker?

If General Motors' global sales don't increase above their final tally of 9,369,524 for 2007, and Toyota actually hits their reduced number, Toyota wins. More ominously, GM hasn't provided a forecast for 2008 sales; given the thinly veiled sense of panic around the RenCen these days, there's concern that year-over-year sales figures could remain stagnant enough to allow Toyota to take the top spot.

As always, don't count out the power of cash incentives. We know the General too well to assume they won't toss a "buy a Yukon, get an Aveo for a dollar!" two-for-one promotion into the mix come November. GM for the win! And, as always, the eventual loss. [Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

Rick Wagoner Unwraps First Shots Of Chevy Cruze, Cadillac SRX

Mark Arnold — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:40:00 EDT

In the now-infamous press conference from General Motors this morning, Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner not only spelled out GM's strategy to save itself from impending doom, but also revealed pretty much every upcoming GM vehicle that hadn't already been shown to the public. This includes the first photos of the 2010 Chevy Cruze, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Saab 9-4X, and the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. This comes in addition to official confirmation of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe and 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon. So basically, along with GM's own downsizing, they're also putting plenty of enterprising spy photographers out of business too.

GM Wants More Money, Fewer Employees; Cadillac CTS Coupe, Saab 9-4X Get The Green Light

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:01:00 EDT

GM announced in a press conference this morning that its turnaround progress was proceeding so well that significant layoffs were needed. Oh, and please, send money. But the more pressing concern this week is to come up with $15 billion through cuts to the cost of salaried employees, particularly among white-collar staffers, along with spending in areas like health care costs and dividend payments. As part of its second restructuring this year, the company also announced that the 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe and Saab 9-4X have been green-lighted. Details on where the job cuts will hit hardest were absent, but if our job description had the word "truck" in it anywhere, we'd be dusting off the resume quick-like. More analysis after the jump.

Among the initiatives Wagoner announced today were:

-Truck capacity reduction by 300,000 units, including stamping and engines
-Cutting sales and marketing budgets, particularly in motorsports and promotions
-Holding engineering expenses steady
-Reduce salaried headcount
-Eliminate health care coverage at 65 for retirees, but increase pension payments
-No base compensation increases for salaried employees through 2009
-No cash bonuses for executives
-Delaying next gen full size pickups and SUVs
-Delay V8 engine design developments
-Alternative and small displacement engine design budget increases
-Suspension of dividend payments
-Defer health care spending payments
-Explore sale of assets: Hummer under review, remaining brands focused on profit improvements
-Additional borrowing against assets

Prior to the news conference, an anonymous GM executive familiar with the plan said, reportedly with a straight face, "It will be a clear message on the ways we will restore our health, our measures to realign capacity. It's tough medicine, but it's real." Unlike every wave of job cuts since 1973, this one is REAL. Well, that should do it then.

GM Says Brands Not Under Strategic Review, Just Jobs

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:40:00 EDT

On the heels of yesterday's WSJ story that GM was planning to eliminate thousands more jobs and potentially cut another brand, GM spokespeople are denying at least half the claims. Further brands are, supposedly, not under strategic review. Job cuts? Well...yeah, those are probably still going to happen. Our snap analysis after the jump.

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: The key is that no brands are under strategic review at this time. Everything depends on July sales numbers. We expect if sales are even lower than June, the General will change its tune faster than the reels on a gas pump. GM spokespeople on the other hand, will more than likely continue to sing off-key. Stay tuned. [Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

GM To Get More Layoffs, Lose A Brand

Andrew Stoy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EDT

According to the WSJ, GM's early-August board meeting is likely to result in layoffs affecting both blue- and white-collar workforces. They're also reporting GM is seriously exploring sloughing off another brand, either by outright closure or by placing it up for sale, a-la Hummer's "strategic review." We've put together a quick brand-viability ~~scorecard~~ breakdown after the jump for those of you playing along at home.

The Journal claims GM has already taken Chevrolet and Cadillac off the table, considering them core to the company. But what about the rest of the lineup?

Saturn: GM's low-price, non-haggle, donut-loving import-fighter brand has reportedly never made a profit. Even with products like the Aura and Astra, it's having trouble making any inroads with consumers despite a loyal fan base. Coupled with the fact GM has reportedly stopped development work on the next-gen Aura, we think Saturn's got a good chance of getting to know Geo in the division dumpster.

Saab: The storied Swedish born-from-jets brand has either been vastly improved or pathetically watered-down during GM's ownership, depending upon whom you talk to. Either way, with only about 35,000 sales per year in the U.S. — about what the Accord sells each month — Saab is probably due for an ownership change.

Buick: If it weren't for Buick's gangbusters Chinese sales and the strong-selling Enclave, we'd be more concerned about the tri-shield brand. Would it go Asian-market only? Possibly, but Buick's made it out alive before, and we think it'll do so again. There are just too many old people out there to sell to.

GMC: GM's truck brand sells rebadged Chevrolets almost exclusively, and Acadia is reportedly already a goner. But the division has a strong brand presence among site foremen who enjoy driving the same vehicle their workers drive, but at a 10% premium. Will that be enough? We give GMC a 50/50 shot.

Pontiac: The performance division has Solstice, the G8, and the reasonably strong-selling G6. Pontiac has always been an image brand as well as a volume brand; is G8 enough to bring that performance image back? We're not so sure...but we don't think Pontiac is going away any time soon.

So, who's following Hummer (and probably about 25,000 current GM employees) out the door? Give us your thoughts. [WSJ]

Rick Wagoner Announces We May See Chevy Volt Sheetmetal Soon, Eventually

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:40:00 EDT

We were beginning to think GM had developed a masterpiece of long-range marketing with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt program. Let reporters in every once in a while, strategically leak images while actually showing nothing, all the while keeping a late-2010 entry on the lips of every eco-dork in the motoring press. Let them build the buzz for you! Genius. However, with Slick Rick's statement that we'll be getting a look at the production sheetmetal for the Volt, we wonder if they've made a strategic error. What it looks like is practically the only thing we don't know about the car.

Showing it off now is going to be like pulling a Camaro on us: By the time it hits the show floor, we'll be tired of the look. They'll be wasting acres of print space now, rather than revealing it with a flourish and sending it to dealers right away, Apple style. Whatever. We're not paid to come up with strategery, but making fun of it we can do all day. [TopSpeed]

Hummer Up For Sale, Four Truck Plants Gone?

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:53:21 EDT

The times, they are a changin', and this week GM Chairman and Chieftain Rick Wagoner seems to have noticed. Wagoner announced a "strategic review of our Hummer brand," yesterday. Translation: "Anyone want to buy Hummer? Anyone? C'mon...cheap! Cerberus, I'm lookin' at you." Also included in the statement was news that four truck plants will be making the ultimate sacrifice: Moraine, Ohio; Janesville, Wisconsin; Toluca, Mexico; and Oshawa, Ontario.

The news isn't all doom and gloom, however: Third shifts are coming to the Lake Orion plant that builds G6 and Malibu and to the Lordstown plant spewing Cobalt and G5. In other words, big vehicles out, little econoboxes in. Next up: Chrysler announces new Lean Burn 300C.

Wagoner Says Gl W*g Not A Crock Of Something

Travis Hudson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:05:00 EDT

Let's put our hands together for Rick Wagoner, the CEO and Chairman of General Motors, who just discovered how to clean up after his s**t-loving Vice-Chairman, "Maximum" Bob Lutz. It was exactly a month ago when we first told you about product czar "Maximum" Bob's claim that global warming was simply a crock of...you know...stuff and finally Wagoner is ready to touch on the topic. Wagoner told reporters in Washington that Lutz's comments about global warming "weren't coming out of the company."

When asked what he thought about global warming, Wagoner essentially said that the temperature is indeed rising. Yes, Wagoner, winter is fading for spring, I would hope the temperature would rise. I'll admit, I'm being a little rough on him and for that, I apologize for my crockery. [via WSJ]

The Rick Wagoner NADA Keynote Live-Blog

Ray Wert — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:53:00 EST

Though we doubt many care, we've got an embedded journalist in San Francisco reporting out to us on what's going on at the NADA annual whatever out there tonight. Our embed will be covering the event live for us but for reasons of NADA-nal security, can't reveal his or her name — so we've nicknamed them "Rick_Fan_001" to protect them. Without further ado, here's our live instant messenger chat of this evening's keynote by GM CEO Rick Wagoner after the jump. Just keep hitting refresh as we add more:

Rick_Fan_001: guy on stage imitating ed sullivan
wertraym: Are you fucking kidding me>?
Rick_Fan_001: nope
Rick_Fan_001: the dealers are going crazy
Rick_Fan_001: they love this shit
Rick_Fan_001: now they are spinning plates on stage

Rick_Fan_001: I shit you not
wertraym: Of course they do — are they all wearing golf slacks and green sport coats?
wertraym: with white patent leather shoes?
Rick_Fan_001: of course
Rick_Fan_001: now they are juggling
Rick_Fan_001: and balancing objects on their faces
Rick_Fan_001: like bowling pins
Rick_Fan_001: dide - best part is I got this entertainment for free
wertraym: Is this the National Auto Dealers Association keynote by Rick Wagoner or the Barnum & Brothers Circus?
Rick_Fan_001: they are still balancing plates to the song flight of the bumblbee
Rick_Fan_001: I wish the transformer bumblebee would show up and fry these guys
wertraym: Maybe I'll just post this back-and-forth, kinda like a live-blog
Rick_Fan_001: wagoner in a yellow camaro
Rick_Fan_001: that would be killer
wertraym: Wagoner in a yellow Camaro, or posting this as a live-blog?
Rick_Fan_001: now six plates are going at once on poles
Rick_Fan_001: this rocks
Rick_Fan_001: hahahah
Rick_Fan_001: wait they are going for 7 plates
wertraym: Holy cow, the insanity
Rick_Fan_001: 60 yr old cheerleader is asking the crowd to go wild and cheer for plate 7
Rick_Fan_001: I kid you not
wertraym: I'm not sure I believe you
Rick_Fan_001: crap... a plate fell
wertraym: Did it break?!?!
wertraym: Oh noes!
Rick_Fan_001: no, just a thud
wertraym: Oh.
Rick_Fan_001: obviously not chinese made
wertraym: Anti-climactic
Rick_Fan_001: 60 yr old cheerleader is dancing now
wertraym: I can hardly contain my excitement.
Rick_Fan_001: shes jumping up and down and blowing on the plates to make them go around
wertraym: It's a 60-year-old female cheerleader?
Rick_Fan_001: Im getting hot...whoops wrong IM window
wertraym: Great...
wertraym: Is Wagoner actually going to speak,or is this some big tease?
Rick_Fan_001: I think they are wrapping it up
Rick_Fan_001: big finale coming
Rick_Fan_001: wait for it
Rick_Fan_001: wait for it
Rick_Fan_001: 9 plates!!!!
Rick_Fan_001: yes!
wertraym: No drops?
Rick_Fan_001: nope
Rick_Fan_001: they are catching them now
Rick_Fan_001: they are playing a polka
Rick_Fan_001: taking a bow
Rick_Fan_001: gotta save battery
Rick_Fan_001: be right back
wertraym: K
* Offline: Rick_Fan_001 has signed out.
* Online: Rick_Fan_001 has signed back in.
Rick_Fan_001: second act on stage
Rick_Fan_001: magician
wertraym: OMG!
Rick_Fan_001: they are tangoing
wertraym: Ask him to pull some car and truck sales out of a hat for GM
Rick_Fan_001: magician and his asst
Rick_Fan_001: he reaching into his hat
Rick_Fan_001: his blue gloves just turned red
Rick_Fan_001: now they are green
Rick_Fan_001: now they are yellow
wertraym: WOWZ!
Rick_Fan_001: wow
Rick_Fan_001: his asst just changed into clothes instantly
Rick_Fan_001: from red dress to yellow
wertraym: Was she out of clothes?
Rick_Fan_001: they are called 'QUick Change'
Rick_Fan_001: cuban music playing
Rick_Fan_001: Cuban Pete
Rick_Fan_001: singing chick chicky boom
Rick_Fan_001: asst just pulled out fake flowers
Rick_Fan_001: she has a giant tube
Rick_Fan_001: wow - big flowers in the tube
Rick_Fan_001: WoW - cool trick
wertraym: I'll be she does have a giant tube
Rick_Fan_001: new chick , other asst just disappeared
Rick_Fan_001: nice job
Rick_Fan_001: haha
Rick_Fan_001: he has a bottle of absithe
Rick_Fan_001: and monks are singing in the background
wertraym: Monks?
wertraym: So its not a Jewish magician?
Rick_Fan_001: heh
Rick_Fan_001: one sec
Rick_Fan_001: I'm mezmoreized
Rick_Fan_001: wow her dress just turned from blue to purple
Rick_Fan_001: now hes in a white outfit
Rick_Fan_001: so many clothes changes
Rick_Fan_001: now shes in a black and white polka dot dress
Rick_Fan_001: now its orange
Rick_Fan_001: I cant keep up
Rick_Fan_001: holy crap
wertraym: So like Rick Wagoner — a one-trick pony
Rick_Fan_001: he just spilled glitter on her and her dress turned white
Rick_Fan_001: Ed Sullivan is back on stage
Rick_Fan_001: he says they are opening up a strip malle
Rick_Fan_001: mall
Rick_Fan_001: get it - a strip mall cause the dresses were changing so fast
Rick_Fan_001: ed is doing impressions
Rick_Fan_001: Nor Cal resident
Rick_Fan_001: Clint Eastwood as a baby doing a poem
Rick_Fan_001: Im a little baby that you still have to carry - and I call my diaper Dirty Harry
Rick_Fan_001: I shit you not
Rick_Fan_001: Jack Nicholson now
wertraym: What the hell is this?
Rick_Fan_001: Its all visua
wertraym: NADA or talent search?
Rick_Fan_001: visual
Rick_Fan_001: Oh man, here come the Beatles
Rick_Fan_001: she loves you ya ya yah
Rick_Fan_001: these guys are good
Rick_Fan_001: best part of the show
Rick_Fan_001: george harrison guy is a dead ringer
Rick_Fan_001: no pun intended
Rick_Fan_001: I'll stay away from Lennon jokes
wertraym: What the fuck?
Rick_Fan_001: Im anonymous here
wertraym: This NADA has warped my fragile little mind.
Rick_Fan_001: dude, and youre not here
Rick_Fan_001: gotta save battery
Rick_Fan_001: and clap over my head
Rick_Fan_001: whole crowd is doing it
Rick_Fan_001: now were going to stand
wertraym: Oy.
Rick_Fan_001: and clap with beatles
* Offline: Rick_Fan_001 has signed out.
* Online: Rick_Fan_001 has signed back in.
Rick_Fan_001: welcome speech finally
* Offline: Rick_Fan_001 has signed out.
* Online: Rick_Fan_001 has signed back in.
Rick_Fan_001: NADA chairman Dale Willy is speaking about profitability
Rick_Fan_001: standby
wertraym: k
Rick_Fan_001: introducing NADA exec committee
Rick_Fan_001: about 10 to 15 away from Rick W
wertraym: Woo-HOO! More magic tricks!
Rick_Fan_001: Im missing those more and more
Rick_Fan_001: be back
* Offline: Rick_Fan_001 has signed out.
* Online: Rick_Fan_001 has signed back in.
Rick_Fan_001: product info gathered under real world, daily conditions from dealers is valuable to manufacturers - it's free
Rick_Fan_001: quoting Bill Daily - NADA chair ( I need to check that though)
Rick_Fan_001: justifying role of dealers
Rick_Fan_001: should be partners with manufacturers
Rick_Fan_001: not just when there are slow selling cars
Rick_Fan_001: but before cars get off the drawing boards
Rick_Fan_001: car mfgrs are not always fair to all dealers
Rick_Fan_001: dealers should be treated as partners in govt affairs
Rick_Fan_001: help shape legislation
wertraym: Well, that would make sense if dealers could keep their big mouths shut about product planning
wertraym: Yes, dealers should do EVERYTHING — except, you know, sell cars.
Rick_Fan_001: legislators have found that NADA fills a valuable spot between mfgrs, govt and consumers
wertraym: blah, blah, blah...
Rick_Fan_001: NADA understands and can communicate realistic remedies for legislation on behalf of consumers and auto makers
wertraym: NADA=greatest thing since sliced bread
Rick_Fan_001: fed govt officials are here to talk to regulators one on one
Rick_Fan_001: its the chairman of NADA ... need to get his name checked
Rick_Fan_001: we the deales are the point where teh consumers, automakers, and congress interesect. we're uniquiely qualified to unite these sectors
Rick_Fan_001: our role will become even more critical over the next 100 years
Rick_Fan_001: no one means more to the future than we do
wertraym: haha
Rick_Fan_001: its a big responsibiltiy and we;re up to the task
Rick_Fan_001: standing up now
wertraym: Yes — no one means more to the future of cars than NADA
Rick_Fan_001: ok, next speakinger coming up
Rick_Fan_001: theme this year is 'focus on profitability'
Rick_Fan_001: 700 exhibitors
Rick_Fan_001: 5 halls
Rick_Fan_001: 40 workshop topics
Rick_Fan_001: 145 work sessions
Rick_Fan_001: half the speakers are new this year
Rick_Fan_001: acn get workshop certificates online for attending 4 or more workshops
Rick_Fan_001: 35 countries
Rick_Fan_001: 1500 foreign attendees
Rick_Fan_001: NADA goes back to New Orleans next year
Rick_Fan_001: first time since Katrina
Rick_Fan_001: video of 2008 convention highlights being shown
Rick_Fan_001: Rick coming up soon
Rick_Fan_001: Time Magzine Dealer of the Year award too
Rick_Fan_001: and Jay Leno
Rick_Fan_001: Dale Willar is speaking
Rick_Fan_001: introducing Rick
Rick_Fan_001: Dale Willard is introducing Rick Wagoner
Rick_Fan_001: Wishing GM a 100 year happy birthday
Rick_Fan_001: video highlights of GM
Rick_Fan_001: history
Rick_Fan_001: GM design defines an era
Rick_Fan_001: tech firsts
Rick_Fan_001: getting closer
Rick_Fan_001: today is Rick's Birthday
Rick_Fan_001: he is being introduced still
Rick_Fan_001: youngest CEO in GM history
Rick_Fan_001: rick is on stage
Rick_Fan_001: great to be here
Rick_Fan_001: on his birthday
Rick_Fan_001: laughter
Rick_Fan_001: he's been to NADA every year since 2004
Rick_Fan_001: since he came back stateside
wertraym: Happy Birthday Rick!
Rick_Fan_001: yep
wertraym: Happy Birthday GM!
wertraym: Will they have a big cake?
Rick_Fan_001: rick did a keynote here back in 2001
Rick_Fan_001: dealers and OEMs need to work together - predicted rate of change would accelerate
Rick_Fan_001: its even more than he imagined
Rick_Fan_001: pretty incredible to consider all the challenges faced over the past 7 years, like 9/11
Rick_Fan_001: like 100/barrell oil
Rick_Fan_001: bankruptcy from suppliiers
Rick_Fan_001: economoic challenges
Rick_Fan_001: runaway health care inflation
Rick_Fan_001: dealer challenges, like profitability and industry consolidation
Rick_Fan_001: talked about dealers and OEMs working together
Rick_Fan_001: example: automotive youth education program
Rick_Fan_001: Jack Smith proposed it
Rick_Fan_001: OEMs and dealers should work together to create an apprentice program for service techs
wertraym: OMG! This is like, riveting and stuff...
Rick_Fan_001: that's what Jack Smith proposed
wertraym: Yes, OEM's should work by themselves to do the dealers job for them
Rick_Fan_001: hey - its an example of OEMs and Dealers working closely together
Rick_Fan_001: 4,500 dealers are participing...impacted 13,000 lives of skilled auto techs
wertraym: The dealers should bear the ability to intervene in the decisions of the automaker and yet take on none of the responsibilities.
Rick_Fan_001: ongoing consolidation of dealers is next topic
wertraym: Oh good
Rick_Fan_001: has to be a mutual decision between OEMs and dealers...deales leaving the industry should be able to leave with dignity
wertraym: And how they'd rather all die of gonorrhea and rot in hell than do it?
wertraym: ha!
wertraym: Dignity?
wertraym: That which they've never provided to customers they now want?
Rick_Fan_001: find mutually agreeable ways to do this
Rick_Fan_001: that must happen
Rick_Fan_001: justifying role of dealers
Rick_Fan_001: should be partners with manufacturers
Rick_Fan_001: not just when there are slow selling cars
Rick_Fan_001: but before cars get off the drawing boards
Rick_Fan_001: car mfgrs are not always fair to all dealers
Rick_Fan_001: dealers should be treated as partners in govt affairs
Rick_Fan_001: help shape legislation
wertraym: Well, that would make sense if dealers could keep their big mouths shut about product planning
wertraym: Yes, dealers should do EVERYTHING — except, you know, sell cars.
Rick_Fan_001: legislators have found that NADA fills a valuable spot between mfgrs, govt and consumers
wertraym: blah, blah, blah...
Rick_Fan_001: NADA understands and can communicate realistic remedies for legislation on behalf of consumers and auto makers
wertraym: NADA=greatest thing since sliced bread
Rick_Fan_001: fed govt officials are here to talk to regulators one on one
Rick_Fan_001: its the chairman of NADA ... need to get his name checked
Rick_Fan_001: we the deales are the point where teh consumers, automakers, and congress interesect. we're uniquiely qualified to unite these sectors
Rick_Fan_001: our role will become even more critical over the next 100 years
Rick_Fan_001: no one means more to the future than we do
wertraym: haha
Rick_Fan_001: its a big responsibiltiy and we;re up to the task
Rick_Fan_001: standing up now
wertraym: Yes — no one means more to the future of cars than NADA
Rick_Fan_001: ok, next speakinger coming up
Rick_Fan_001: theme this year is 'focus on profitability'
Rick_Fan_001: new fuel legislation was a good example of join NADA cooperation with OEMs
Rick_Fan_001: NADA played a key role
Rick_Fan_001: big warning on the hurdles that need to be overcome by 2020
Rick_Fan_001: work reminds him of a story of a cowboy that went before St. Peter
Rick_Fan_001: St Peter asked if he had done something of particular merit
wertraym: BTW — this is all live on site right now
Rick_Fan_001: cowboy : bikers were harrassing a girl and he said dont do that. cowboy knocked over a bkier bike
Rick_Fan_001: St peter said when did this happen?
Rick_Fan_001: cowboy - a few minutes ago
Rick_Fan_001: unlike cowboy, we want to live to tell the tale
Rick_Fan_001: bring succsfully to maket a new range of propulsion technologies
Rick_Fan_001: focus on gas friendly to gas free
Rick_Fan_001: like Volt
Rick_Fan_001: as we bring these new technologies to market, we'll change the way people think about transportation
wertraym: From gas friendly to gas free?
wertraym: From Beano to gas free?
Rick_Fan_001: this is a huge assignemnt as we work together to bring the technoglogy to market and sell and aservice it
Rick_Fan_001: 2 areas of big focus to work together on NOW
Rick_Fan_001: NADA and OEMs
Rick_Fan_001: 1) first workt together for right regulatory environment to reduce growth of US oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Rick_Fan_001: some states want to go beyond federal regulation
Rick_Fan_001: but the fact is we should be focuseed on national standards, not states
Rick_Fan_001: it would fragment our efforts to achieve end results
wertraym: God forbid we'd fragment it
Rick_Fan_001: in short we need to work together to educate state and local lawmakers on the important of tough national satandards
wertraym: God forbid some states would want to get SOME legislation enacted
Rick_Fan_001: 2) reduce oil consumption by fostering creation of infracsturure needed to implement alt energy solutions
Rick_Fan_001: charging stations
Rick_Fan_001: hydrogen refueling infrastructure
Rick_Fan_001: today we need ethanol pumps to support flex fuel vehicles
Rick_Fan_001: but its hard to make this happen
Rick_Fan_001: take E85...we've taken the chicken out of the chicken and egg problem
wertraym: I can't drive E85!
Rick_Fan_001: we're making flex fuel
wertraym: Flex your fuel, GM!
Rick_Fan_001: E85 is ramping up, but we're doing a lousy job making E85 available to consumers
Rick_Fan_001: despite best efforts
Rick_Fan_001: dealers and OEMs need to workt togehter to push E85 acceptance
Rick_Fan_001: wrapping it up now
Rick_Fan_001: appealing for dealers and OEMs to continue to work hard at working together
wertraym: Dealers and OEM's, living together in perfect harmony!
wertraym: Like fucking Ebony and Ivory
Rick_Fan_001: we have the ability to solve great problems
Rick_Fan_001: domestic mfgrs have been restructuring and are better able to compete globally
Rick_Fan_001: we stand at a time of great dynamic change
Rick_Fan_001: success comes to those who lead
Rick_Fan_001: looks forward to working with dealers in the days and years to come
Rick_Fan_001: thats it
wertraym: Success comes to those who lead?
* Offline: Rick_Fan_001 has signed out.
wertraym: So does that mean Toyota is succeeding?
wertraym: Crap, now we'll never know.

Caption This: Tailgating Edition

Matthew DeBord — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST

What are we to make of a dapper Rick Wagoner and his lovely wife taking a tailgate moment at the ~~auto show prom~~ charity preview the night before the public opening of the Detroit Auto Show? We throw it to you, dear readers. Caption away! Caption like you've never captioned before! [via the Detroit News]

CNET Covers GM... Favorably?

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:45:00 EST

Looks like Rick Wagoner making nice at CES ended up being a smart move. The trip to the geekfest by GM's top man has led to gadget industry stalwart CNET giving GM some free press, and it's mostly favorable. CNET Executive Editor Charles Cooper comes close to damning GM with feint praise, but his article comes off as hopeful the General is actually turning the corner on tech and environmentalism. Pretty soon we'll be hearing how more companies should be like GM. Before you know it, exurbanites will be gushing about how environmentally friendly their Cadillac Escalade Hybid is (snicker). [CNET.com]

We Ask GM's Rick Wagoner About a New El Camino...Back-Asswardly

Ray Wert — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:45:00 EST

As we hinted at yesterday — we had the opportunity to sit down (with a group of other auto journos — but it totally felt like it was just the two of us in that room. Or maybe it's just because I could care less about the fuel economy and economic issues surrounding the General, the direction most of the auto hacks were beating their chests to) and talk with GM's big chief exec, Rick Wagoner, yesterday before his keynote address at CES. So what did we talk about? How about future Zeta products hitting US shores — like the reports we've heard of GM greenlighting an ~~El Camino~~ ute and a wagon for Pontiac under the G8 nameplate. Namely we were wondering about the rumors we've heard that if Pontiac builds both the wagon and the ute, the wagon will only come with a V6 engine while the ute would come in both V6 and V8 flavors. Our back-and-forth with His Slickness after the jump.

Rick, you've got the G8 coming and hitting shores now, Camaro coming next year — what other options are being discussed for the Commodore — excuse me — Zeta platform?

I can think of at least two other potential products that have been and remain on the table. One has a reasonably high likelihood, and one maybe not as high likelihood...due to fuel economy concerns.

Any discussions on whether one may be a V6 only and one may be a V6/V8?

Not at this time. I think the general discussion going forward...as we look at these products will be challenging ourselves whether we need an eight in these products going forward. Hey, when you develop products...we've got to hold ourselves to a higher standard on these. I saw some early data...not sure if it was just a region of the country...but it definitely skewed towards the four's. That's a big change from the old generation.
That's not to say the Camaro...for younger buyers maybe a six or a turbo-charged six may hold a higher cache...

There you have it. Absolutely no answer to the question whatsoever. But now we're worried whether we'll even end up getting both a wagon and a ute. That sound you hear? That's the knot tightening in our stomachs. Yes, it makes a weird sound. Don't make fun of us, it's not very nice.