Lutz not leaving the building: GM head has no plans to retire in 2010
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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bananas 3:03PM (12/13/2007)
WHEW! Close one!
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Mr. Oak 3:04PM (12/13/2007)
My prayers have been answered.
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rndmnme 3:41PM (12/13/2007)
Maximum Bob Forever!
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AlexP 3:54PM (12/13/2007)
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.
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Mallory 5:41PM (12/13/2007)
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.
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Philthy 11:23PM (12/13/2007)
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 9:26AM (12/14/2007)
Actually it's in both. Did you not read the complete guide all the way through?
Xcountryflyer 5:43PM (12/13/2007)
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."
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Andy 6:01PM (12/13/2007)
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.
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Whitie 6:29PM (12/13/2007)
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 6:26PM (12/13/2007)
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.
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Ben K. 7:05PM (12/13/2007)
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.
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whofan 7:18PM (12/13/2007)
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!
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naif 7:54PM (12/15/2007)
keep Lutz, fire Wagoner.
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