Just a thought: If the Obama/US Government pushes GM in a direction not based on a sound business/marketing case (e.g., a ubergreen car 'nobody wants'), do you think Lutz will push back? I do...to the point of resignation. Could be the proverbial canary-in-the-coalmine.
Isn't "Global" just "Asia & America" for most intents and purposes? They're getting rid of Opel, Vauxhall, & Saab, right? Do the 1000 CTSs they sell in Europe after decades of marketing Cadillacs count?
I have to agree with the general tenor of the commentariat. This is great news. No matter where you put him, Maximum Bob has shown that he is going to be REAL, and give it 110%. It's just the way he is.
I was never sure why he had to leave--seemed it was a token sacrifice to appease the angry godlings in Washington--whose combined car industry knowledge wouldn't fill a mechanic's shirt pocket.
That's great news. From what I hear of Lutz, he's a good man, and more or less responsible for the ZR1 and the CTS-V, which are just amazing cars with incredible value. His Lutz-Ring was important to the development and fine-tuning of those cars' suspensions, and helped make them world-beaters. I think someone as uncouth as him would be well suited to a marketing role, and making shocking, memorable adverts (preferably featuring Megan Fox) go a long way in increasing sales of their new, improving cars. Just imagine, though, if the bread and butter cars are produced with Vette levels of attention and care and passion. Toyota who?
Best of luck to New GM and Lutz, and I hope they just remember to keep innovating and improving their cars.
Bob is a great big slice of Old Detroit, when what really is needed is a big shot of new thinking. The Japanese have been eating Detroit's lunch for a long time now, and Bob was at the wheel for a fair amount of that. I'm not saying it's solely his fault, but I think Bob's experience and philosophy have proven to be insufficient to win the day.
Step down, Bob. You're a badass, we get that. You don't have to prove it anymore. Go fly your jet or something.
@Elhigh: I disagree somewhat. Old Detroit didn't become world leader for nothing, they've got some aspects that are still useful in the current market. But I do agree that perhaps a new CEO is appropriate, one who will be able to lead GM to be more flexible and innovative in the bread and butter segments and make better cars that people actually buy. As I said in my other comment, he could be a great marketer, and/or leading the performance divisions. Those are two places that reward badassery. (Is that even a word?)
@Elhigh: I think Maximum Bob's problem is just that he's Maxiumum all the time. I think he's exactly the type of person the Big 3 need - committed to interesting, quality product. He just needs detail people to keep things on course.
@Mobius_1000_Club For marketing I think he's got the chops - put Bpb himself in front of the camera. Do it a lot.
Hey, put Bob in the Reasonably Priced Car on Top Gear. That would be fun to watch.
Old Detroit became world leader back when the rest of the world didn't exist. In the 60s it was damned unlikely you were going to see anything foreign in this country, the exception being Volkswagens, Mercedes, and the other occasional luxury or sport Euro models. But taking that example, when VW came to the States, on year one they sold two cars, the next year they sold thousands and thousands, because Detroit wasn't making what an awful lot of people wanted. That has been the case all this time. For Detroit to insist, even now, that they cannot build a good small car profitably, while foreign automakers spend millions of dollars to tool up todo exactly that, then spend even more to ship the cars to these shores, puts Detroit's rationale in a bad light.
I could begin a rant about unions, insurance costs etc. here, but I think we all know where that kind of thing goes.
@Tomsk 1.1: Wait, Buick HAD an ad campaign?
Was this on TV, or purely imaginary?
On a slightly related note, I saw the next-gen Lacrosse on the 405 today bearing Michigan MFR plates and "KELLY BLUE BOOK TEST VEHICLE" emblazoned on the side via a very large magnet.
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He knows what makes a good enthusiast car, but he's definitely got cranky old man syndrome...on account of being a cranky old man.
07/09/09
Best of luck to New GM and Lutz, and I hope they just remember to keep innovating and improving their cars.
07/09/09
Maximum Bob gives me a Maximum Bob every time I see him.
He's a man's man; a true diagram of manliness. One of the last true balls-out cowboys.
The world will be a less hairy place when Lutz beats the shit out of this mortal coil.
07/09/09
Step down, Bob. You're a badass, we get that. You don't have to prove it anymore. Go fly your jet or something.
07/09/09
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07/10/09
Hey, put Bob in the Reasonably Priced Car on Top Gear. That would be fun to watch.
Old Detroit became world leader back when the rest of the world didn't exist. In the 60s it was damned unlikely you were going to see anything foreign in this country, the exception being Volkswagens, Mercedes, and the other occasional luxury or sport Euro models. But taking that example, when VW came to the States, on year one they sold two cars, the next year they sold thousands and thousands, because Detroit wasn't making what an awful lot of people wanted. That has been the case all this time. For Detroit to insist, even now, that they cannot build a good small car profitably, while foreign automakers spend millions of dollars to tool up todo exactly that, then spend even more to ship the cars to these shores, puts Detroit's rationale in a bad light.
I could begin a rant about unions, insurance costs etc. here, but I think we all know where that kind of thing goes.
07/09/09
07/09/09
Was this on TV, or purely imaginary?
On a slightly related note, I saw the next-gen Lacrosse on the 405 today bearing Michigan MFR plates and "KELLY BLUE BOOK TEST VEHICLE" emblazoned on the side via a very large magnet.
07/09/09
Of course, assuming GM still exists in a year.
07/09/09
Puts Lutz in the clear!