Autoblog

GM announces Bob Lutz retained as advisor

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM

The man nicknamed "Maximum" isn't completely retired yet.

General Motors has announced that it has retained Bob Lutz as an advisor. Executives at GM will be able to reach out to Lutz and tap into his knowledge base, which was garnered from a career in the automotive industry lasting over four decades.

Since retiring from GM in 2010, Lutz has supplied information to executives on an informal basis. Now the assistance will be provided on an official retainer, presumably on a more frequent (or at least regularly scheduled) basis.

Click through to the jump for the official press release.

Continue reading GM announces Bob Lutz retained as advisor

GM announces Bob Lutz retained as advisor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success

Noah Joseph — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Lotus

If anyone knows about turning things around, it's Bob Lutz. After all, he was a naval aviator, and those guys can pull some serious G forces. He's also widely credited with keeping Chrysler alive for longer than it might have been otherwise. But what's he up to these days?

Well for one thing he's sitting on the senior advisory board for Lotus, giving Dany Bahar and company some guidance as they endeavor to usher the House that Colin Built into a new era. And an ambitious endeavor it is, rolling out five new models all at once while expanding its motorsports program tenfold and then some.

So what does Lutz think of Lotus' chances? Well he's optimistic, but cautiously so. Lutz reportedly gives the prospects at least a 60 percent chance to succeed, but importantly, he thinks it's more viable than the company's current path. According to Lutz, "It's a risk. But I'm quite certain it stands a better chance than the Lotus status quo, which for sure would eventually lead this great brand into terminal decline."

In other words, while there are no guarantees, it's a good plan - not a perfect one - and it'll take some good ol' fashion elbow grease to make it work - something Lutz knows all about.

[Source: Autocar | Image: Stan Honda/AFP]

Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Lutz in presumptive plane crash? [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, GMC, Celebrities

Officials search for a downed plane - Click above to watch video after the jump

We've been a little curious as to what good old Bob Lutz has been up to after retiring from General Motors. While the former auto exec had said that he would be busy slaving away over his latest book, the truth may be a bit more exciting. Several locals in Pinckney, Michigan called emergency services when they spotted a small jet flying at low altitude, believing that the aircraft was going down. Officials didn't find anything, but said that they discovered that a "retired gentleman" had been previously flying his personal aircraft in the area.

No one is officially saying whether or not it was Lutz who was spending the afternoon reenacting his favorite Top Gun scenes, but we have a hard time ~~imaging~~ imagining how many other auto exec retirees would be buzzing church towers with a decommissioned jet in rural Michigan. By all accounts, the pilot landed safely without incident, and since neither the plane nor the pilot were positively identified, no one is being charged for the search and rescue operation. Hit the jump for a quick video of the search effort.

[Source: Livingston Daily via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Bob Lutz in presumptive plane crash? [w/video]

Bob Lutz in presumptive plane crash? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Self-proclaimed "irritant" Bob Lutz honored by GM

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM

Bob Lutz is now officially into the swing of being retired. The former General Motors Vice Chairman has been living the life of leisure since the end of April, but the company he helped steer through Chapter 11 took some time to honor the living automotive legend in a number of receptions held yesterday. Lutz took the occasion to hand out a little wisdom to his fellow workers by telling them not to be afraid to be an irritant or point out deficiencies in the company, saying the philosophy worked for him throughout his career.

Lutz received a number of keepsakes during the celebration, including a set of aluminum versions of the cars he helped bring to market while at GM, including the Chevrolet Volt, Malibu and the Pontiac Solstice, as well as a small diecast engine. He spent his time signing autographs and shaking hands between speeches. Lutz also spoke to the theme of his next book - a tome that he's been working on since walking away from the automaker last month.

The text will focus mainly on the troubles that riddled GM before the meltdown and what the company can do to avoid falling into the same pitfalls in the future. His advice? Don't abandon common sense, and don't try to outthink the industry. It isn't one that requires "a huge intellect."

[Sources: Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News | Image: AP Photo/Seth Wenig/Getty]

Self-proclaimed "irritant" Bob Lutz honored by GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The DetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein

Paul Eisenstein — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM, Celebrities

Where have all the mavericks gone?

When he hands in his office keys a few days from now, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will begin an oft-delayed retirement that was originally set to begin shortly after the ill-fated "merger of equals" between Daimler and Chrysler.

His decision to rejoin the automotive workforce a few years later wasn't all that much of a surprise to those who knew the former Marine pilot and what quite literally could be called his driving ambition. That leads many to suspect we'll continue to hear from Lutz, even though he bluntly wonders, "Who would hire a senior executive who's nearly 80 years old?"

Finally, it seems, this old soldier really may fade away, taking on a book assignment and a board seat or two. And, in the process, Lutz's departure will bring with it a different sort of change in the auto industry, the departure of the last classic automotive maverick.

Pull out a pen and jot down the names of the best-known auto industry executives. Your list might include Billy Ford or Alan Mulally, Ed Whitacre or even Carlos Ghosn, if you're taking the global view. Despite their prominence, even their willingness to take risks, these aren't exactly the sort of mavericks and eccentrics the industry was long known for.

That goes for Sergio Marchionne, the head of both Fiat and Chrysler. True, he's not your typical gray-flannel executive - he buys his trademark black sweaters "by the dozen," he jokes - and is clearly playing a high-risk poker game in his effort to turn around a desperately ill American automaker. But in the end, if someone eventually writes the Harvard Business Review analysis of the Canadian-educated executive, he'll still turn out to be another by-the-books strategist.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading The DetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein

The DetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #175 - Bob Lutz joins in

Dan Roth — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Podcasts, Etc., Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Subaru, Earnings/Financials, Celebrities, Design/Style

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth are joined by the car executive we all wish we could be when we grow up, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. After an hour of peppering Bob with questions about his career, we come away better informed as to where the man stands on the industry's future, how GM will fare, his favorite concept cars, what he plans to do in his retirement, and - pivotally - how to get your wife to let you buy a MiG fighter jet. It's a hour and thirteen minutes of class lecture from Mr. Lutz. Enjoy!

Autoblog Podcast #175: Bob Lutz!

In the Autoblog Garage:

Long-term Subaru Legacy 2.5GT
Chevrolet Camaro V6 6MT
Buick Enclave
Mini John Cooper Works Cabrio

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guest:

Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of General Motors

Runtime: 1:13:46

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #175 - Bob Lutz joins in originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Lutz, 78, open to future career opportunities

Chris Paukert — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM

General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz might be set to retire at the end of the month, but don't expect him to go quietly into that good night - or take up the usual trappings that a man of his age and accomplishment might normally seek out. "I don't play golf, never have never will. And secondly, I have no desire to go to Hilton Head, or Naples, Florida, or any place like that."

Fair enough. So what's in store for the auto industry icon? Well, he's working on new business book, and there will be a supporting tour to follow its publication. Beyond that, he tells Autoblog that he's going to be embarking on the lecture circuit with the Leigh Speakers Bureau and he might just be open to helping run another company - automotive or otherwise:

"I have had several approaches for board memberships of various companies and I'm going to be meeting with a headhunter who is a specialist in finding board members. He wants to see me, so we'll see what comes up there. As far as GM is concerned, I have had numerous requests to continue to be available for advice and counsel and occasionally review design properties and stuff like that, so I'll find a way to stay engaged."

What about going to work for another carmaker? "Now, no other automobile company has yet approached me and said 'Here's a huge wad of money, come and work for us.'" We couldn't resist a followup: "Is that an open invitation for that to happen?" Lutz laughed his trademark hoarse laugh and said wryly, "It depends on the size of the wad of money."

Interested in hearing more Lutz gems? Check out the newest installment of the Autoblog Podcast, where the good chairman sits in with us for an hour-long career retrospective. We'll have the complete show up for download or online listening available later this afternoon.

Bob Lutz, 78, open to future career opportunities originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM beginning to backpedal on Lutz' G8-turning-Caprice comments?

Chris Shunk — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac, Australia

2009 Chevy Caprice SS (Middle East) - Click above for high-res photo gallery

When General Motors' Bob Lutz talks, we listen. The reason, of course, is that he always gives us something good to write. Over the weekend, we told you about an interview Lutz had with Automobile Magazine where the Maximum One said that the G8 will live on as a Chevrolet Caprice. Lutz's comments looked like a sure thing to us, as it's hard to misinterpret these words.

"The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet. It is kind of too good to waste."

Just a few days later, Blogger Bob sounded a bit less certain about the future of the G8 as Chevrolet. On the company's Fast Lane Blog, Lutz simply said "we're studying the feasibility of bringing (the G8) in as a Caprice for both law enforcement and the public." That doesn't sound nearly as certain as the Automobile interview.

Kicking Tires reportedly received a similar statement from GM brass, saying "As part of its reinvention, General Motors is exploring every opportunity of effectively utilizing its global portfolio of vehicles, facilities and talent. While this exploration includes the possibility of extending imports of Holden vehicles (such as the recent Pontiac G8) to North America, no decision has been made at this time."

We're hoping this is corporate speak for 'We're going to do what Bob says, but we just don't want to promise anything just yet.' Turning the G8 into a Chevrolet model looks to us like the cheapest possible way to keep a terrific vehicle available in the States, and with the Bowtie's significantly larger dealer network, maybe GM can finally figure out how to turn a profit with with the awesome Aussie.

Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Caprice (Middle East)

[Sources: Automobile Magazine; Kicking Tires; Auto Observer]

GM beginning to backpedal on Lutz' G8-turning-Caprice comments? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Lutz: Auto exec, fighter pilot, Marine... master thespian?!

Chris Paukert — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM, Celebrities

Admittedly, we've always known that Bob Lutz has a flair for the dramatic. The from-the-gut talkin', hard-drivin', fast-flyin,' General Motors vice chairman has always been good for a juicy quote, and although he is retiring soon, that doesn't mean Lutz is stepping out of the limelight completely.

As the story goes, the whiskey-tinged vocals of Lutz will soon grace the stage of Detroit's Jazz Café at Music Hall for a star turn in A.R. Gurney's family comedy "Ancestral Voices." The play is centered around a three-generation Buffalo family, and is set between 1935 and 1942. Lutz is reportedly taking the stage for the first time since high school, and he'll be a full-fledged member of the cast, right alongside Tony and Emmy award winners Edward Hermann and Elaine Stritch.

While it doesn't look like The Golden Gut is pursuing a new career, who knows, if things go well with his charity performance (he's donating his time to the production), perhaps the ex-Marine will find himself with a new hobby.

If you're interested in seeing Lutz's off-off-off Broadway premiere, check out JazzCafeDetroit.com for tickets to the April 17 and 18 performances, but be prepared to shell out $175 per person. For that sum, you'll not only see the show, you'll also be fed at a strolling play-themed dinner, and you'll get the chance to chat up Lutz & Co. at the cast question-and-answer session.

[Sources: TheGMSource; Chicago Tribune]

Bob Lutz: Auto exec, fighter pilot, Marine... master thespian?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Bob Lutz on the Colbert Report

Noah Joseph — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:11:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, GM

Click above to watch the video

Apple pie, baseball and Bob Lutz. It doesn't get much more American than that. So why did it take this long for Maximum Bob to appear on the Colbert Report, the most Lincolnishly patriotic show on television? Well the GM vice-chairman pulled up onto the set for last night's episode of the Comedy Central mainstay to talk about the new Chevy Volt.

Of course we wouldn't want to spoil the surprise any more than we already have, but if you missed Colbert last night, then just follow the jump to see Lutz actually at a loss for words (!) while he tries to explain why you can't drive a plug-in hybrid while it's actually plugged in.

[Source: Colbert Nation]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bob Lutz on the Colbert Report

VIDEO: Bob Lutz on the Colbert Report originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping the Enclave on boil - GM keeps a lid on production

Dan Roth — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:42:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Buick, GM

click above image to see more of the increasingly exclusive Buick Enclave

General Motors has a hit on its hands with the big, beautiful Enclave CUV. People all over the country are trying to get their hands on Buick's luxurious iteration of the Lambda Ute. Rather than follow the time-dishonored practice of running as many copies of a hot model out the door as possible, GM's keeping production on the Enclave under strict control. In fact, even though some dealers have sold out of their Enclave inventory, GM will be reducing shifts at the Lansing plant that builds the Enclave. Bob Lutz explained the restrictions thusly: "We want to keep [the Enclave] hot... Nothing destroys the value of a new product faster than over producing." That's it in a nutshell, right there. The practice of tying production to demand is what Toyota and Honda tend to do. Take the Fit, for example. Part of the allure of that vehicle is that buyers often have to wait to get one. The same kind of "best kept secret" mystique surrounds the Enclave - you don't see them everywhere, and they're rather opulent once you finally get a chance to check one out. Exclusivity can also spur customers into paying full price, where before a glut of product would mean heavy discounts. Of course, GM can't afford moves such as restricted production and labor layoffs at every plant and on every model, but we hope this new tack pays off in boosting the General's image as well as its bottom line.

[Source: WSJ]

Gallery: 2008 Buick Enclave

Keeping the Enclave on boil - GM keeps a lid on production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Lutz on Rover, Toyota, the Chinese market, and the world's best sports car...

Eric Bryant — Wed, 24 May 2006 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, China, Etc., Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, GM, Earnings/Financials

The UK's Channel 4 had the opportunity to sit down with Bob Lutz - General Motors' head of product development, for those living in seclusion - and started the interview by comparing him to Jeremy Clarkson. WTF, you say? It's the dominating physical presence and bountiful opinions of both men that causes the interviewer to draw a line between the two (we're guessing that the views of each on the Buick Lucerne would still serve as a useful means to distinguish them).

Being a Brit-centric outfit, one of the first questions asked by Channel 4 is that of Rover's future. Despite Lutz's prior ownership of several MGs, he doesn't seem interested in dragging his current employer into a bail-out of the failed British automaker. But the big guy does seem to have some sympathy for Rover's plight, stating that he "sheds a tear" for the brand and says that it was the British car for "non-poseurs".

GM's product - that which is built in both the US and in Europe - matches up to Toyota in a variety of attributes that are properly lumped together under the heading of "build quality", according to Lutz. Bob says that nothing in Toyota's line-up "excites me as a car guy", and claims that the same is true for Lexus as well.

Check out the rest of our play-by-play after the jump...

Continue reading Bob Lutz on Rover, Toyota, the Chinese market, and the world's best sports car...

Bob Lutz on Rover, Toyota, the Chinese market, and the world's best sports car... originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 May 2006 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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