Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Etc., Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler, LLC., Ford, GM
GM's Wagoner heading to Congress in Malibu Hybrid
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Malibu Hybrid
While it won't get him there as quickly (or as luxuriously) as a Gulfstream corporate jet, GM CEO Rick Wagoner will drive to Washington this week in a Chevrolet Malibu hybrid to ask for taxpayer-funded bridge loans. Last month, Wagoner, Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Chrysler LLC CEO Robert Nardelli, all received some serious flak from both lawmakers and the public when they arrived in Washington via three separate private jets while begging for $25 billion in federal money. All are expected to take alternate forms of transportation this time around, with Mulally already announcing plans to drive a Ford Escape Hybrid. Simple math says Wagoner's Malibu hybrid should only burn about 15 gallons of fuel during the 520-mile trek from Detroit to Capitol Hill, costing the automaker about $30 in gasoline (compare that to the estimated $10,000 cost of the jet one-way). It should be quite the road-trip.
[Source: Google/AP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
TyWright 2:02PM (12/02/2008)
Still can't BELIEVE Mulally has a Lexus. He needs to drink the Koo-Aid to save the company. Agree??
Reply
chad.dawkins 2:19PM (12/02/2008)
Didn't he buy that before he took over the company?
Taylor 2:24PM (12/02/2008)
Maybe...but it doesn't matter. He's the CEO of the company and can afford the cost of one of his own vehicles. Even if it is for full price. Hell, I bet they'd give him one for free. He's the face of the company and he's driving the competition.
....on a side note, what would be funny is if one of these 3 CEOs broke down on the way there. I can already see the egg on their faces from that.
chad.dawkins 2:35PM (12/02/2008)
So because he switches jobs he should sell his cars? That's kinda silly don't you think?
Rich 2:50PM (12/02/2008)
Here we go again. "Why should he"? It's about the company's public image.
He could drive a Jaguar, a Land Rover or a Range Rover, a Volvo, or any number of different brands that are (currently) within the Ford umbrella. Better still, he could drive a Ford. But he drives a Toyota.
What does that say about all those companies Ford owns? What does it say about Toyota?
It says that, from the gamut of Ford-owned brands, there is not a single vehicle that matches Mulally's needs. Only a foreign manufacturer -- indeed, a competitor -- can satisfy his needs.
Foreign cars used to get vandalized by the union workers. Now the CEO drives one.
If you don't get it, go back to playing games, or whatever it is you do with yourselves.
Epyx 2:53PM (12/02/2008)
He DOES NOT currently own a LEXUS. He canceled his order for the car when he received the CEO position at Ford.
Let's say this agian HE DOES NOT OWN A LEXUS NOR DID HE OWN A LEXUS WHILE AT THE HELM OF FORD.
"Alan Mulally said Wednesday that he canceled his order for a Lexus after taking over as Ford Motor Co. CEO, but he nevertheless respects Toyota Motor Corp. and its luxury brand, though he has no intention of bringing the companies any closer."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/04/ap/business/mainD8ME76N81.shtml
Rich 3:03PM (12/02/2008)
My bad, Epyx. I took TyWright's word for truth.
Good on him for cancelling, then.
TyWright 3:17PM (12/02/2008)
Here's Mulally getting in his 430 last week.
http://tinyurl.com/5d7428
He said he wouldn't order ANOTHER Lexus until Ford builds one.
Do your research boys. What does he drive then if he doesn't drive this Lexus???
Mobius_1 3:17PM (12/02/2008)
Age has caught up with him...
JT 3:48PM (12/02/2008)
TyWright.
I will say this once. Don’t be a slave to the media. There is a lot of BS about this Lexus. Apparently the photo in question was an old file and not taken while our friend was at the helm of Ford. It was poor journalism if you ask me to release such a picture but our lazy media outlets cough fox news, cnbc, cnn etc.cough do this sort of thing all the time. Don’t be dumb. You don’t drive a Lexus when you’re the CEO of Ford. They are still a publicly traded company.
And as for the statement above, Mulally driving a Land Rover or Jag….That’s dumb. Tata owns those companies, not Ford. Even driving a Volvo (which they still own) would be poor for corporate culture.
But every one has missed the point. Why have the media, and congress and senate jumped all over these execs for flying private. Let’s do some simple math.
Private Jet= $20,000.00
Which included no wait time at airport, no security checks, and the ability to fly with aides and entourage which are needed and can number up to (for the sate of argument) 10 people.
Vs.
Flying privately
$900 dollars round trip in executive x 10 = $9000.00
The inherent costs of paying expensive execs to stand around for
2.5 hour pre flight (includes boarding, security, check in, and recommended airline pre arrival time)
1 hour baggage claim
Hotel costs for execs staying in Washington dc. Or do we send them back on the red eye, and write off productivity for the next day?
This times 10.
Have we exceeded $20k? Well no, but there are costs associated with all of this that are immeasurable. I.e. If the execs are rested and not tired from travel then they can present and do their job a lot better (i.e. presenting to congress, which proved to be terrible anyway)
What I am getting at, is the difference is marginal. It’s not P Diddy jet setting all over the world. This is a part of every day business, but the media loves to sell newspapers and TV time. So all of you; please be a pawn.
Epyx 3:51PM (12/02/2008)
Hey TY - I am not saying you are wrong but something is suspicious about the picture you linked.
If we look at the picture closer, we can see that the valet’s wearing shorts and a short sleeved shirt.
Since we don’t know where this was shot or when and it’s currently fall (and was two weeks ago) and cold as balls in Detroit, D.C., and Seattle (where Mr. Mulally still has a residence)we can assume this was taken some months ago.
How many months ago, though? If this is recent, then it still stinks that Ford’s chief is driving the competition’s wheels.
But if this is really old footage isn’t there then some dishonesty with ABC News’ coverage? Could this be file footage from when he was with Boeing? Why would he be still driving that old as Lexus? The guy made 21 million last year. If he doesnt care about image enough to drive a old ass Lexus why would he care about being seen in a Ford or Lincoln? Does not pass the logic test.
Flashpoint 4:16PM (12/02/2008)
Sorry congressman... I would have been here sooner but when I tried to start the car, I got a STRONG electric shock and the car's interior caught fire.
jv2k 2:02PM (12/02/2008)
This is so freaken ridiculous. They have to drive from detroit to washington, because instead of looking at the real issue our great congress decided it would be more effective to bash the big three for flying to DC.
I wonder what the Cerberus guys are going to come to washington in.
Reply
Quattroporte 2:08PM (12/02/2008)
"I wonder what the Cerberus guys are going to come to washington in."
Cerberus does own Blue Bird buses.
http://www.blue-bird.com/
John 2:21PM (12/02/2008)
Agreed. What a waste of time. Congress and the mass media is so stupied and easily destracted from the real issues.
Murray 2:44PM (12/02/2008)
With regular gas in the $1.60-$1.80 range hopefully a Challenger or 300C SRT8. That would be bad ass.
Pat 2:46PM (12/02/2008)
lol. Yeah, they "is so stupied". Sorry, don't mean to nitpick, but the irony "destracted" me :)
mmstowes 2:53PM (12/02/2008)
"They have to drive from detroit to washington, because instead of looking at the real issue our great congress decided it would be more effective to bash the big three for flying to DC."
Someone feel free to correct my math, but when I checked the day they went to Congress, a round-trip commercial flight from Detroit to D.C. and back cost under $700. The current average for a gallon of regular fuel in Michigan is $1.72, according to AAA. If a Malibu Hybrid gets 32mpg, the drive to Capitol Hill from Michigan is primarily on the highway (which it is), and, according to GoogleMaps, takes about 9 hours (524 miles). The Malibu Hybrid has a 16 gallon fuel tank, meaning Wagoner could make the entire trip on one tank of gas for about $28.00.
According to the Detroit News, GM spent $256,793 last year on personal flights using the corporate jets. Ford spent $752,203. That compares to $29,107 Ford spent last year on 1st class commercial flights for Mark Fields to travel home to Florida.
You were saying?
Toneroo 3:17PM (12/02/2008)
OK, so it's cheaper for the company to have this guy sitting in a car for 9 hours than to fly him to D.C. first class? I doubt it. I'd say taking two days to drive back and forth is more irresponsible to the company than paying for a first class plane trip.
Red 3:48PM (12/02/2008)
@ Toneroo,
I guess you missed the part that clearly states a round-trip commercial flight to D.C. from Detroit was under $700, and consequently missed the point that there was no need to use the private jet knowing how much it costs and knowing those flights can be publically accessed. Even if they couldn't be accessed, you're going to go to ask the taxpayers for a $25 billion loan when you're in the sh*tter and NOT expect them to ask to see your records so they (the taxpayers) can get an idea as to how you might actually use this ridiculous sum of money they're essentially being forced against their will to loan you? And to top it off, you're going to do all of that and NOT offer any future plans for their compensation for bailing you out of the mess you had a hand in creating?
Um...okay...
Again...common sense people.