Bob Lutz: So Long, And Thanks For All The, Uh, Cash

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

We all knew it would happen. The Lutz does not die with a whimper. In a farewell interview, GM’s lame duck car czar gave The New York Times‘ Bill Vlasic the most maximum farewell quotes yet. “We are a country that hates its own industry,” roars Lutz in our general direction. What’s that again, Bob? “The auto industry may be partly at fault for its situation, but not entirely.” Oh. Good. How’s the retirement plan? But Maximum Bob did a maximum job. Given what Curly might call the coicumstances. “If this is just the beginning of a very catastrophic economic situation, then all bets are off for everybody, and that includes our most esteemed Japanese competitors,” quips Lutz. Yes, if. On the other hand, if things do get worse, it won’t be the esteemed Japanese competition that will be elbowing GM in the stimulus line. Or out of the stimulus line. Hint hint. But don’t worry. Everything is going to be just maximum. Specifically, Lutz is “convinced that when everyone is staring at the reality of the situation, and also staring at the alternative, that they will make the right decisions.” Yes, but how long do they have to stare?

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Ronnie Schreiber Ronnie Schreiber on Feb 11, 2009
    But again, so what? Robert Lutz was paid tens of millions of dollars to develop profitable automobiles. He failed to do so. The buck stops there. Robert, It takes 2 years minimum to make a new car. With so many brands and models, I don't think anyone could have revamped GM's entire line up in the seven years that Lutz has been there. There are just too many models to update or replace. Lutz has unarguably gotten GM more product focused and their most recent products reflect his influence, particularly interior improvements. Did he make mistakes? In the rush to get the Solstice to market the interior was shortchanged. Marketing an iconic American muscle car brand like the GTO slapped on an Australian import posed inherent problems, and the G8 should have been an Impala. None of those mistakes, though, were because the products were mediocre.
  • Demetri Demetri on Feb 11, 2009

    The irony is that a lot of the reason why I hate their industry is because they think that people should buy their cars simply because corporate HQ is in the US. The sense of entitlement and blaming of the consumer has turned me off of the D3 for a lifetime.

  • WhatTheHel WhatTheHel on Feb 11, 2009

    I'm no fan of MaxiBob but I still think 10 Lutzes would have done less damage to GM than Rick Wagonburner and GM's Bored Directors have done. You want to pass blame then go right to the top.

  • Thoots Thoots on Feb 11, 2009

    Screw 'em -- let 'em die. Heck, they've already outsourced a huge amount of their manufacturing to Mexico and Canada. If I have to explain it to you, THOSE AREN'T US JOBS. Yes, many people hate the US automakers. They just got tired of spending good money on unreliable crap that these monkeys have been spewing out for decades. I'm sorry, but to hell with them. Maybe they're not selling the absolutely worst, most unreliable pieces of crap on the market anymore, but you know what? I JUST DON'T TRUST THAT ANYTHING HAS CHANGED. Let some other poor schmuck give them their money. I won't. After the last forty years of their garbage, I just can't.

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