Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GM FastLane Blog responds to NY Times: Saturn still viable]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/07/gm-fastlane-blog-responds-to-ny-times-saturn-still-viable/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/07/gm-fastlane-blog-responds-to-ny-times-saturn-still-viable/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/07/gm-fastlane-blog-responds-to-ny-times-saturn-still-viable/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



We don't get it. Saturn has done an amazing job transmogrifying itself into a productive division for The General, and people are wistful for the Saturn of yore? In internet parlance, WTF? Three years ago, it would have been apt to predict that Saturn would be nearly done circling the drain by now and well on its way to the same fate as Oldsmobile. What has in fact happened has been an impressive brand renaissance, invigorated by GM's smart utilization of its global operations. Jerry Garrett opined in the September 5th Wheels section of the New York Times that GM's realignment of Saturn amounts to quietly smothering the brand with a pillow and then swiping its identity. Saturn's communications director Kyle Johnson shot back a reply on the GM FastLane blog, and it all makes for fascinating reading.

We'd like to point out that global asset and platform sharing has been going on for decades at GM. It's really no big thing that Saturn is selling Opels. Heck, the Chevette was an Isuzu Gemini, and who can forget the final Pontiac LeMans? Platform sharing has been going on for a very long time at all of the big three, we're not sure why Saturn's excercise of the practice is such news to Jerry Garrett. Kyle Johnson delivers a pretty good dope-slap of a reply, too. It's always entertaining when the fur flies on the interweb.

[Source: GM Fastlane]

GM FastLane Blog responds to NY Times: Saturn still viable originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogfastfast lanefastlanegarrettgermanygmjerryjohnsonkylelanenew york timesNewYorkTimesopelplatformsaturnsharingtimesFri, 07 Sep 2007 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[California AG says feds may have to bail out US automakers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/16/california-ag-says-feds-may-have-to-bail-out-us-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/16/california-ag-says-feds-may-have-to-bail-out-us-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/16/california-ag-says-feds-may-have-to-bail-out-us-automakers/#commentsFiled under:

Of all people and of all places. Normally, California is the state that launches all sorts of initiatives that drive carmakers into a frenzy. Now, The Golden State is the one asserting that the national government might need to drop a few billion large to save The Big Three -- with a few left-handed compliments to go with it, of course.

Jerry Brown, the California Attorney General, said "The American auto industry is in deep trouble and they may require subsidies. They may have to be bailed out by the federal government that has just enabled their inefficiency and their gas guzzling." It's an intriguing position, because essentially, what he's saying is that the government that has allowed American car companies to be profligate with natural resources must now bail them out because it has allowed them to be profligate with natural resources. Twelve states are suing the US government over federal fuel efficiency standards, but Brown is then asking the government to bail them out if there are drastic penalties to pay or changes necessary for those automakers to enact. Brown said "The auto companies are in such a mess, because they persistently refuse to build fuel-efficient cars, that they might find it financially impossible to do the right thing. If that proves to be the case, I think Congress has to look at ways of helping them."

The case won't be decided for some time, but the NHTSA says that is out to balance "economic practicability and technological feasibility," and that it is more concerned with energy conservation than environmental protection. At heart, while it looks like Attorney General Brown wants to do the right thing -- who's the piper, and who's really responsible to pay?

[Source: Reuters]

California AG says feds may have to bail out US automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2007 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attorneybrowncaliforniafederalgeneraljerryWed, 16 May 2007 09:37:00 EST