CNBC's "Saving GM" gets thumbs up from Lutz
There has been a lot said about GM in the wake of tough market conditions and the Detroit Automaker's $15.5B Q2 loss. As you can imagine, a lot of the talk isn't upbeat. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz seems to think much of the discussion surrounding the General is nothing more than speculation and uninformed bias, but then again Maximum Bob's got a bit of a pro-GM bias of his own. So you can imagine that Blogger Bob was interested to see an hour long special called Saving GM, which recently aired on CNBC. Mr. Lutz' assessment of the piece? He thought it was fair and unbiased, and it touched on the good and bad of GM over the past few years in an honest way. Lutz said he liked that the documentary concluded that GM needs the public to think "smash hit vehicle from GM" and think of "cars in showrooms, not museums."
We haven't seen the hour long special Saving GM, so we reserve judgment as to whether or not it was fair, but we've heard from a few people it's worth a watch. Saving GM will re-air on CNBC on August 10 at 10 pm ET, so set your TiVo. You can also read more about here at the CNBC website if you need more convincing.
[Source: GM Fast Lane Blog, CNBC]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Red 1:36PM (8/08/2008)
Not the world's biggest GM fan, but I agree with Lutz. The special was very interesting and really my only complaint was it was too short. It became engrossing and then it was just sort of...over. I posted pics of what looks like maybe a production version of the Volt in the previous Volt entry. Those came from this special, but if you go on CNBC's site and view the video, the pics are probably clearer than the YouTube vid I got them from. Overall, I'd like to see a second part to this, or perhaps one on Ford or Chrysler. I think those may be interesting as well.
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AkulaX1 1:37PM (8/08/2008)
Get up General and shut the f up all the SHT talkers on here and everyone. GET UPPPPPPPPP!!!
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Tim 2:33PM (8/08/2008)
I thought it was pretty fair too though the magnitude of their losses and the depths of their problems were only touched on. GM will emerge from bankruptcy a lighter and more formidable player after all is said and done...
Torrent 3:53PM (8/08/2008)
Get up? wha?
boneheadotto 3:24PM (8/10/2008)
they should title the show Mission Impossible.
BlackCanary 1:37PM (8/08/2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs2wzyrZSio
Trailer on Youtube
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fazster 1:45PM (8/08/2008)
Wow, an unbiased story from C-DNC, umm CNBC. There must be an Obama plug in there someplace.
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Red 2:03PM (8/08/2008)
As far as I recall, no, there wasn't. *smh*
@AkulaX1,
what the hell does "get up" mean? Were they laying down? Did somebody punch them in the face and knock them out? Were they just asleep?
J M C 3 2:39PM (8/08/2008)
Well,speaking of Obama and how He relates to GM's solvency,,His social programs will add to the cost of producing cars in the USA.
He supports domestic partnerships and redefining marriage.So with those so called 'progressive' (cough ,regressive)institutions established GM would have to pay out benefits to appease Obama's constituency.
It's important to also understand that the unions have Obama in their back pocket,and it's in their interest,also,to induct more members because it broadens(cough,chokes industry) their power.
mma 2:02PM (8/08/2008)
I think GM better re-evaluate the Volts mainstream appeal. Honda is going to release a 60mpg car for $18,500, while they are entering with a 40,000 Volt. By then, Prius will be entering 3rd or 4th generation technology. I love the idea of the volt, but I'm afraid by the time it's released, it will be overpriced for the benefits it offers. Anyone know how many miles you can drive on $20000.00?? This could be a big problem if they don't offer a lower cost alternative.
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Franz 2:45PM (8/08/2008)
Very good point imo. The Volt is a good idea, but something tells me it's gonna be too late to the party, and cost too much.
patrick 2:01PM (8/08/2008)
Dyslexic foreshadowing: "cars in showrooms, not museums."
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Brian 2:04PM (8/08/2008)
I saw it already. I think the special was too short also. It should have been 2 hours. It was a totally unbiased look at GM. It showed where they went bad and how they have made an impressive turn around in quality. It also shows people what Bob Lutz really does at GM. There are alot of $hit talkers on here about "bob kltuz" or "bob nuts" as they call him. They don't know what he actually has done for GM, but they just like to point any finger and label him as bad management and should be kicked out the door. Why do they do this? Basically because they are GM haters and want to see a company fail. I'm glad this special shows what Lutz has done for the company for quality and coming out with some great product. Maybe they will shut up, but I won't hold my breath.
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patrick 4:50PM (8/08/2008)
Bob Lutz did do a great deal of good for not only GM but Chrysler too.
I have to ask myself why do I want to see GM fail? Because they consistently disappoint me with butt ugly styling, stupid marketing, and mistake after mistake.
Why do I wish Bob Lutz would retire and go golfing? Because he's become a corporate blo-hard. Towing the company line. Volt Volt Volt.
Why do I want GM to fail? Because they represent a brand of corporate managment that's time has come and gone.
GM lost it's design soul. No more glory years left in the General. There's just no passion there. I wish there was. I truly wish there was.
I remember when Bob introduced the Solstice. I was so excited. The last GM I owned was a Fiero GT fastback. I thought the Solstice would get me back into a GM. It didn't. When I found out there was literally no trunk space with the top down I was infuriated. How the hell would I go on vacation without being able to put my luggage in the trunk if the top was down? That's just plain stupid.
GM is trying to play catch up and they don't realize they lost the game back in the eighties to the europeans and japanese.
Bob Lutz just happens to be the target for people to aim at. These people probably all loved GM at one point in their lives and they're just completely and totally dissappointed at what GM has done to itself.
Robert Lutz is a king among men but he just happens to be beating a dead horseless carriage company right now.
If Bob were smart he'd go to work for TESLA.
Dondonel 2:04PM (8/08/2008)
The quality is not so good, but there you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eOGHeSD9K4
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500 3:03PM (8/08/2008)
Funny, I just caught part of this on TV last night (can't recall if it was on CNBC or MSNBC.) What I saw seemed quite upbeat, talking about GM's successes overseas, particularly Buick in China, and the excitement surrounding the Camaro.
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Aki 3:08PM (8/08/2008)
I was just about to post that link.
I think regardless of whether the Volt catches on, it's a good, bold step for GM. I respect the company a lot recently for its gutsy decisions.
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VP 3:13PM (8/08/2008)
How come no one @ Autoblog watched it? What is everybody doing? If Alex was made to suffer through the Knight Rider debacle, i actually thought he would be live blogging this too. Atleast somebody could have DVR'ed it.
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dsharp23 4:40PM (8/08/2008)
Saw the special, and it was pretty good. It did make Lutz look like a young visionary in a world of old guys with blinders on. But hopefully american automakers get the point. I think its that they need fresh blood. Most of the upper level guys have been there since the 70's and 80's, they are old and tired, and the Germans and Japanese are killing them. And soon the Koreans will bury the american automakers....remember when people made fun of foreign cars!?
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Gumby 5:53PM (2/11/2009)
http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/on/index.cfm?story=ON-20080807-000774-1606
Every sale of 2008 SUV or PickUp mean ten more years of guzzling. Where is Big Oil when GM is hard pressed financially to do deals to buyers?? Big Oil is the only winner! That is why we ought to tax Big Oil windfall profit to help millions buy fuel efficient cars.... Plus, GM doesn't have to do deep discounts... They can sit on 500,000 unsold SUVs and PickUps indefinitely for years if necessary. Just shut down the whole SUV and PickUp plants for as long as the unsold guzzlers remain on the lots.
People are already risking their necks drving in feather light subcompacts and dodging SUVs and PickUps gulping gasoline and keeping gasoline prices higher than necessary.
Maybe we ought to charge GM windfall profits on SUVs and PickUps if GM and Ford do not get busy getting help from Big Oil.
Why is it our government's problem? It is not theirs but Big Oil and GM and Ford's own problems. If they together cant fix the problem then we ought to tax their brains off!!
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