Barra: Oil Prices Have No Effect On Product Plans

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Despite the ongoing drop in oil prices, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said her company would stay the course as far as fuel efficiency is concerned.

Per The Detroit Bureau, Barra was interviewed onstage by Automotive News editor-in-chief Keith Crane about her time as GM’s CEO thus far during the 2015 Automotive News World Congress held during this year’s Detroit Auto Show. While she said falling prices weren’t going to alter product plans, she didn’t know what the end result of the situation would end up being.

Barra also addressed the recall parade that took up the majority of 2014, proclaiming that GM has learned its lessons from the recalls, and vowing that “this sort of thing” will never occur in the future. She maintains, however, that she, senior management and top engineers had no clue about the ignition problems that kicked off the parade until it came to light via pre-trial testimony.

As far as GM being a large corporation weighed down by bureaucracy is concerned, Barra said such a view is inaccurate today, from how it conducts conferences, to how it evaluates employees and listens to its customer base.

Finally, she said she keeps an eye on the various subsidiaries GM has around the world, praising the strength of Opel in particular.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • RHD RHD on Jan 17, 2015

    I'm not The Professor, but I'll take a stab at translating Woman Auto Executive Speak into English. Despite the ongoing drop in oil prices, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said her company would stay the course as far as fuel efficiency is concerned. "We were completely unprepared for the unexpected 50% drop on gas prices, so at this point, GM will do nothing." While she said falling prices weren’t going to alter product plans, she didn’t know what the end result of the situation would end up being. "We aren't going to do, like, anything, and I have NO IDEA what will happen next!" ...GM has learned its lessons from the recalls, and vowing that “this sort of thing” will never occur in the future. She maintains, however, that she, senior management and top engineers had no clue about the ignition problems that kicked off the parade until it came to light via pre-trial testimony. "This sort of thing [crosses fingers behind her back] will NEVER occur in the future, because, like, I can't predict oil futures prices or GM product planning strategies, but I SO know what all the GM engineers, quality-control guys, accountants and assembly-line monkeys will do, totally!" As far as GM being a large corporation weighed down by bureaucracy is concerned, Barra said such a view is inaccurate today, from how it conducts conferences, to how it evaluates employees and listens to its customer base. "Um, ah, I read my cue card, just like I practiced!" Finally, she said she keeps an eye on the various subsidiaries GM has around the world, praising the strength of Opel in particular. "This job is totally bitchin', you give me so much ATTENTION and the guys in the suits can do whatever they want while you keep looking at ME... I like diamonds, and pearls, and I didn't even know we made Opals!"

    • Lie2me Lie2me on Jan 17, 2015

      I see you crossing your fingers in my nifty back-up camera

  • Don1967 Don1967 on Jan 17, 2015

    And so GM remains stuck in reactive mode. In 2010 they released the Volt, as a reaction to the 2007 peak oil hysteria. Now that the last traces of that bubble are finally disappearing, GM is waiting for consumers to tell them that MPG is no longer an obsession. By the time that happens they will once again be 3 to 5 years behind the curve.

    • See 4 previous
    • Don1967 Don1967 on Jan 20, 2015

      @Pch101 " Automakers have no business being in the oil speculation business — they should be prepared for high and low oil prices, not bet the farm on oil being cheap." ... or expensive. (To complete the logical argument)

  • Hybridkiller Hybridkiller on Jan 17, 2015

    Hasn't the reality of steadily rising CAFE standards already made this decision for them? No seriously, I'm asking...

    • Hummer Hummer on Jan 17, 2015

      Yea it seems like she's just talking to reassure people she's still alive. imo, such a comment is ridiculous, no different than saying "Fuel prices are going up, but they'll probably go back down so we're going to continue only using Big block engines in our vehicles"; to actually come out and say your going to purposely ignore the direction of the market is Old GM at its finest.

  • Mikehgl Mikehgl on Jan 18, 2015

    GM's product portfolio is partially (mostly?) dictated by cafe standards. It's not oil prices that changes the course of the GM monolith, it's government regulation. That makes this entire thread somewhat pointless, but still interesting. Yeah, she's a looker too.

    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Jan 19, 2015

      mikehgl, the thread isn't pointless. I believe Ms Barra to be the best thing that ever happened to GM, pre and post bailout and nationalization, but that does not make me want to buy another GM product ever. She is doing for GM what no others before her have done -- recognizing, acknowledging, recalling and fixing the crap that is GM. She should be commended for that. In addition to making the GM buyers whole again by fixing what is wrong with the GM products, I fully expect Ms Barra to put out a survey that will pose the question to the market place and potential buyers, "I would buy a GM product if only GM would......" with the potential buyer completing that sentence.

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