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Automotive News & Views What if you were in charge of GM?
874 messages, Last post on Oct 28, 2009 at 10:20 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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I would seriously consider closing all U.S. based plants and manufacture Chevy, Cadillac and Saturn brands overseas. Both GM and Ford are profitable outside the U.S. As a matter of fact Ford just spent billions of dollars to build a state of art plant in Brazil, where they produce cars with non-union labor. For years GM has been canibalizing its North American operations to finance plants in China and Europe. I think they should continue in that direction and along the way sell the relics and robots to India or the Russians. One more point, I would focus all future R&D on a non-combustion engine. To do this in a big and comprehensive way I would spend $1 billion to engage all high school and college physics students around the world to work on a global replacement or solution for the combustion engine. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 1:56 pm) Recessions are defined by certain traditional metrics, and using those standards, we are definitely in recession. If we don't want to use those metrics then sure we can argue anecdotally that we aren't in one, or we can choose our own metrics.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 8:20 pm) I think the country is flush with vehicles. Buying new right now is not that smart unless you get one heck of a deal and you have cash to spend. Borrowing is fine if you get a 2% or less loan. I would not sign for anymore than that.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 6:58 am) I believe he was the one with all the answers to the ECONOMY during the election. So now it's going to be his. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 9:17 pm) The Big Three obviously have an image problem. Even when they have a decent product, they can't win. How does a new CEO turn around public perception? Wow, seems like an enormous task. And this public image might not be just about the products, but the management as well. (excerpt from CNNMoney.com) " "A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll of nearly 1,100 Americans conducted earlier this week found 61% oppose a bailout, while only 36% support it. Even in the Midwest, home to most of the automakers' remaining plants, 53% of those polled opposed federal help. That was a stunning reversal of polls taken before the CEOs last trip to Capitol Hill. A poll Nov. 11 and 12 conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found 55% supported federal assistance for automakers at that time, and only 30% who believed they should not get federal help."
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2008 8:37 am) How many supported bailing out the greedy scheming manipulative banks? And yet here we are, with untold trillions that will eventually be spent. And the people have absolutely no recourse, when it comes down to it. I'd like to see a big overpaid suit 2.5 address the image problem, and not simply dismiss it as some grand liberal elitist media conspiracy. |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2008 8:37 am) That is the biggest understatement tonight! A few DECENT PRODUCTS. They also have devastating timing. Haven't they always? The economic downturn was the final straw to a system doomed for years. Like I said,the buck stops with the C.E.O. Your job is well compensated to allow immediate severance upon failure. When it continues for years, something is really wrong with your industry, let alone your particular company. I assume that's why these guys are bullet proof because of the massive web of confusion. Regards, OW
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Replying to: circlew (Dec 04, 2008 6:29 pm) That is a MOST astute statement. These big corporate boards are so intertwined that it is impossible to penetrate inside unless you are born in or groomed in. Fintail has mentioned this more than once. The corporate web in America is tied to the Congress and we are just the masses waiting to see what happens next. While I would not want Wagoner's job. I think he is way past his chance to make GM a viable company. I believe he has systematically sold off the cream of GM and was probably compensated in ways we will never know. Right now it is a worthless shell and the stock price is about right. If all the parts get sold off it will be lucky to pay the creditors. That leaves a big problem for the tax payers. How much do the retirees get from those that were not part of the debacle? The Enron employees got ZERO.... Life has tough lessons.
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 04, 2008 9:25 pm) I used to think, when I was in college, that large corporations were like a large line of railroad cars. The engineer, the leader, was in the massive diesel engine, hand confindently on the throttle; behind him, in the first passenger car, his Board, passing and receiving messages to and fro the long line of cars, which were filled with other employees, precious goods, etc. Then, as I got a bit older, I thought well maybe it's not *quite* so orderly. Maybe there is an occasional struggle for the throttle in that big front diesel locomotive, and the "best man wins" and takes confident control every now and then. Now, as I gaze on the goings on in Detroit and Washington, apparently (if I am wrong, someone open mine eyes) I see that the only thing in the massive diesel locomotive is a thin piece of twine rope tied around the throttle, wide open and consuming fuel, with no one in the compartment, while a party was going on in the cars behind.
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