Bob Lutz would fall on sword for Wagoner
Bob Lutz has been eerily silent of late. One would expect the Vice Chairman of General Motors might have something to say about the recent trips taken by GM, Ford and Chrysler to Congress, but he left the talking to his boss, CEO Rick Wagoner. When it comes to members of Congress suggesting Wagoner step down as CEO, though, Lutz could stay silent no longer. In fact, Blogger Bob even went so far as to offer up his own head for the gallows in order to keep Wagoner in charge. Lutz told the Detroit Free Press that he should go if someone has to resign, and he pointed out his controversial remarks regarding global warming as a reason to pick him instead. Lutz went on to praise his boss for transforming GM into a global automaker and streamlining the company's processes.It should be pointed out that the current legislation on the table for $15-17 billion in federal loans doesn't include a requirement that any of the Detroit 3 CEOs resign. Senator Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) did, however, mention in a TV interview that he thought Wagoner should "move on".
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jvijil 10:01AM (12/09/2008)
it would be a shame if lutz left for he spearheaded the volt program what will most likely save GM from bankruptcy...
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MUSASHI66 10:18AM (12/09/2008)
One car, in the $35-40K range, will save GM? Hopefully for GM, by the time Volt is released, gas will be $8 per gallon. It it stays in $1.50-2 range, Volts might rot on dealers lots.
Kotse 10:22AM (12/09/2008)
"In fact, Blogger Bob even went so far as to offer up his own head for the gallows in order to keep Wagoner in charge...."
Bob Lutz must know something that most don't...GM is in a irreversible decline, and he's bailing out (no pun) on a sinking ship.
RWDSwede 10:06AM (12/09/2008)
Dodd's from Connecticut. Massachusetts has its own set of problems *coughBarneyFrankTedKennedyJohnKerryandprettymucheveryoneelseinofficetherecough*
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Nick 10:07AM (12/09/2008)
they should both leave. end of problem.
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SOhp101 11:20AM (12/09/2008)
Yes, nearly ALL of GM's upper management should be fired.
hyundaifans.com 1:36PM (12/09/2008)
Maximum Bob talks too much. Wagoner and him should both be fired by the board.
steve clark 10:54AM (12/09/2008)
I don't and haven't understood the calls for Wagoner's departure. He's done more to save and improve GM than any CEO since the fifties. I really think people are just looking for a symbolic sacrifice, which won't solve ANYTHING.
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Stéphane Dumas 11:56AM (12/09/2008)
good point, it's like if a hockey/baseball team decide to fire the coach hoping then the team could improve (sometimes it works, sometimes it got worst then before)
I spotted some articles who suggest some peoples to replace him like Jack Welch, Lewis Campbell, Mark Fields, Tim Cook and Carlos Ghosn
http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/top-5/2008/12/08/The-Next-General-Motors-CEO
http://www.leblogauto.com/2008/12/la-rumeur-du-jour-carlos-ghosn-pour-remplacer-rick-wagoner-la-tete-de-la-general-motors.html
Sea Urchin 10:15AM (12/09/2008)
Ahhhhh, Bob's an idiot
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bornfromjets03 11:45AM (12/09/2008)
This is the dumbest thing Lutz has said in his career, even dumber than his global warming bit.
Lutz dreamed and built the SKY/SOLS. then built the Redline/GXP versions.... EPIC WIN.
Lutz was the one that decided that watering down your concept cars will never bring out good products, thus he made sure GM's products were good.
Wagoner sucks, Lutz needs to stay
Kattleox 10:17AM (12/09/2008)
I think Lutz is what made GM good and Wagoner is what made GM what it is today. I hope Lutz stays: he's like the Kaz Harai to Wagoners Ken kataguri (nerdy PS3 reference)
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Mazda FTW! 10:21AM (12/09/2008)
How is Bob an idiot? He brought back good-looking, fun to drive product back to the GM stable. Wagoner isin't that bad either. GM has actually accomplished a lot in a very short time. The public and the media thinks turnign around a company GM's size takes half a day. It doesn't. And ofcourse, the public and the media doesn't want to alter their increasingly-outdated perception of GM so they aren't helping either.
The problem with American corporate culture is short-sightedness. "Lets fire him. That should fix our problems!" instead of "A team takes time to gel before it can perform".
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mmstowes 11:45AM (12/09/2008)
Wagoner's been with GM since the late 70s. The problem is, GM hasn't had someone who genuinely loves cars in a very high position, practically since Wagoner got there. That was what Lutz brought to the table, a genuine passion for automobiles. Wagoner and his successor, IIRC, are/were both accountants and only see the bottom line and costs. I'm not going to bother beating a dead-horse over specifics, however, I will say, under Wagoner, GM's stock has fallen from $70 in 2006 to under $3 in Nov. 2008 (it's $4.77 as of 12/9/08...by comparison Toyota's is $60.01).
Short-sighted yes. But executives of a business as large as GM's global operations short-sighted for over a decade? Inexcusable. Every business needs a sustainable short and long term business plan. Fine, we know GM's short term plan was to sell large vehicles and make huge profits on them. But where's was the long term plan? Even after the bailout, we know GMs business plan calls for many short term changes, but again, where's the long term model that shows the possibility of some sustainability? Until anyone sees that, it's completely fair to argue the bailout will do exactly what everyone and their grandmother thinks it'll do...stall the inevitable bankruptcy by a month or two. They're waiting for Obama to take office, praying he throws them a bigger lifeline. Had GM not gotten this money, it's possible they wouldn't have even made it to inauguration. And the Volt doesn't count if gas prices don't jump soon and stay high (which they likely will, but when is anybody's guess). Regardless, one vehicle that's not even profitable in its first generation isn't going to be the saviour of the brand.
It's nice to see Lutz so noble, but Wagoner still needs to go. If that means they both go, so be it, but personal distaste aside, it'd be a shame to see Lutz go. GMs vehicles hadn't really changed until he got there. I'm not saying they're perfect or that even entire lines are all that great (I can't think of a single brand, other than perhaps Saturn that's made a fairly large leap and Saturn was on the chopping block). A few spots of success aren't going to cut it with all of those brands domestically and globally to manage, but I'm not blind to the effort.
Stan Man 10:24AM (12/09/2008)
Bob did such a bang up job while at Chrysler (1986 – 1998 )…… NOT !!!!
He and Rick both need to be kicked to the curb.
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Dude 10:47AM (12/09/2008)
Yeah, the 90's were so bad for Chrysler
Dodge Viper
Dodge Ram
Chrysler LH cars
Chrysler Minivans
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Dodge Neon
jv2k 1:09PM (12/09/2008)
Wasn't that around the time the caravan came out?
Polly Prissy Pants 10:41AM (12/09/2008)
You don't get where Bob is by not knowing how to play the game. Lesson one is to find out who's signing your check and say he/she is the greatest thing since velcro. In the mean time, the puppet show continues....
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Dude 10:41AM (12/09/2008)
Lutz is the man! He's also right about man-made global warming being a bunch of BS.
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Serge 10:42AM (12/09/2008)
Not Maximum Bob!!!
But seriously, Lutz contributed ALOT to make GM cars what they are today. He always talked about making class leading interiors and overall fit and finish, and look at the cars that came from that methodology...
I think the CTS has the best interior of it's class, the Mercedes E-class, BMW 5series, Lexus GS, Infiniti M and Acura RL all have cheap looking plasticky dashboards in comparison. To get an all leather interior from another manufacturer you would have to buy a $70,000+ car! With a notable exception of the Jaguar XF.
The Volt is almost near production ready. And it looks fantastic, I would even consider buying it and I'm a torque junkie (I need at least 300ft-lb doses at a time).
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