It was a very bad day for Bob Lutz. Under pressure from industry analysts, he hinted that General Motors just might have to drop one or more of its "damaged" divisions - potentially bad news for Pontiac and Buick. It didn't get any easier when GM's vice chairman and "car czar" showed up at a press conference at the New York Auto Show. A clearly frustrated Lutz lashed out, berating reporters for their alleged import bias and suggesting that the media is to blame for many of GM's problems. How things have changed since the former Marine pilot joined the giant automaker in 2001. Back then, he was seen as the company's salvation. Now some are suggesting that Lutz has lost his edge and should think about leaving. The truth, as always, is likely somewhere between these extremes. Lutz really has made progress, but he alone never could fix GM. It takes teamwork to turn this battleship around, and it's still not clear that everyone is rowing in the same direction.
Well I guess if he tried to blame the workers like GM has historically done, he might get offed. Seriously Bob, as a former GMC Sierra owner, try this: Maybe stop trying to tell us what to drive by shoving SUV's and pickup trucks down our throats. Maybe admit you *really* dropped the ball by poo-poohing hybrid cars and hoping gas would drop down to 87 cents a gallon. Maybe admit despite receiving all that taxpayer money to build something comparable to the Prius, you royally screwed the pooch instead. Maybe admit that in the end you were outclassed by a company that hedged its bets on higher gasoline prices and offered consumers a car with great fuel economy and a roomy interior. Maybe admit you're just a boob? Hey it can't hurt!
