In an interview with WunderBob Lutz, the Associated Press reported that "he wants to retire from General Motors Corp. after the company brings a plug-in electric car to market, possibly sometime in 2010." After what must have been enough phone calls and e-mails to bust a switchboard, Lutz has clarified the AP story with a resounding "I'm not thinking retirement."The AP stands by its story, which it said was a story about retirement. The confusion perhaps came from Lutz saying he wanted to retire after a plug-in electric comes out, and the AP writing that he could "possibly" retire immediately after it came out.
Lutz also said, "Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted as a statement that I would retire at the end of 2010. While this remains a possibility, it is not 'a plan'! We'll just take it a year at a time!" Of course, the furor also points out just how important Bob Lutz is to GM. The General said that whenever the time comes, a replacement will be found, but come on -- a guy called "Maximum Bob" will probably be difficult to replace.
[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bananas @ Dec 13th 2007 3:03PM
WHEW! Close one!
Mr. Oak @ Dec 13th 2007 3:04PM
My prayers have been answered.
rndmnme @ Dec 13th 2007 3:41PM
Maximum Bob Forever!
AlexP @ Dec 13th 2007 3:54PM
I just hope there will be more people like him in this industry. Robert's awesome, but I hope he won't be working 'til his death (albeit in an domain he loves), nobody really deserves that.
Here's to hoping GM doesn't go back to its old self after he retires, whenever that would be.
Mallory @ Dec 13th 2007 5:41PM
Ummm, what did you expect him to say? Here's how these things go down:
1. Exec says something that he probably shouldn't have.
2. Report comes out about what exec said.
3. Readers learn about possibilities and make the leap to assume these are definites.
4. Exec denies all, using the plausible deniability associated with 'might' and 'possible'.
You don't get to be an exec, a politician or a lawyer without learning how to play this basic game.
Philthy @ Dec 13th 2007 11:23PM
Does your guide to how life works include a chapter on how the Media more-than-occasionally jump to conclusions? Or is it an appendix?
Mallory @ Dec 14th 2007 9:26AM
Actually it's in both. Did you not read the complete guide all the way through?
Xcountryflyer @ Dec 13th 2007 5:43PM
He looks fairly youthful for a 70 something fellow. Must be the car fanatic in him keeping him spry.
Glad to hear that retirement is "optional."
Andy @ Dec 13th 2007 6:01PM
He's an ego-maniacal mouthpiece. His departure will have zero effect at GM. Except for the PR fluff pieces on when he flies his jet.
Whitie @ Dec 13th 2007 6:29PM
Andy, I couldn't disagree with you more. Bob Lutz has done incredible things at GM by breaking down the walls within GM (specifically Design, Engineering and Marketing). I give him a ton of credit for run of excellent products coming from GM these days.
iQuack @ Dec 13th 2007 6:26PM
Unless Lutz's photo is old or heavily retouched, he seems to be in good shape for a man of 75.
If Lutz has been largely responsible for the Aura, Malibu, and CTS, he's worth having at GM which hasn't had a line-up of cars as good as they currently are in decades.
GM is WAY ahead of Ford and Chrysler IMO.
Ben K. @ Dec 13th 2007 7:05PM
Why would want to leave? His best is yet to come! Don't worry, Mr. Lutz will make it known when the time is right. I',m glad he's staying at least until the Volt is launched. It will be his finest hour, but that's hard to clarify. The Viper, Prowler and Phaeton and Copperhead concepts aren't to shabby to start with. He will leave GM much improved, than when he arrived in 2001. Solstice, Sky, Corvette, HHR, Tahoe, Yukon, Sierra, Silverado, Acadia, Outlook, Enclave, Lucerne, Aura, Malibu and CTS for starters. He seems to be enjoying his final race, these challenges have proven he is at his best. Bob just keeps getting better with age. Captain Lutz is the best pilot GM could have chosen. Put the pedal to the metal General.
whofan @ Dec 13th 2007 7:18PM
If Bob stayed with Chrysler, or should I say if Lee Iacocca put Lutz in comand of Chrysler when he left. I bet Chrysler would be bigger than Ford at least in the US market.
Bobs public relations job is just screw off time. If people think thats all he does they are sadly mistaken.
Bob Lutz saved Chrysler the second time around under Iacoccas watch.
I bet GM wishes he were 40 years younger.
A true leader!
naif @ Dec 15th 2007 7:54PM
keep Lutz, fire Wagoner.