Kazuo Okamoto never made statements about the Volt calling it “completely wacky”. Bob “the Putz” … I mean Lutz has really gone off his rocker this time. He should retire ASAP before he makes a total fool of himself.

First he disses Camry buyers and import customers, now he’s directly attacking a Toyota engineer?

And the auto industry has “tapped out” on obtaining fuel efficiency benefits on conventional technology? Sounds more like GM is simply giving up. There are plenty of conventional technologies that GM is not utilizing that would increase fuel efficiency.

Unfortunately for GM, the competition is using these. This includes infinitely variable valve lift, which both Toyota (in Japan) and Nissan have on the market already and with Honda due to release their system in the next 2 years. Then there is the electronically controlled variable valve timing (VVT-iE) that Toyota is using. Variable valve lift alone can improve fuel efficiency by about 10%.

Showing feasability with a prototype is one thing; proving feasability in the real world with a production model is something else. Assuming GM makes a feasable prototype, that’s still not a production model. Fact is far too many questions remain with the Volt. Will the vehicle itself be feasable for production? Will the price be feasable?

This interview is disturbing. It reveals GM as deeply insecure of itself and unsure about how to survive in the future.

Why is he complaining the Japanese are husbanding Lithium batteries? Maybe GM regrets they’ve outsourced such a critical technology?
Wasn’t he supposed to use the miracle batteries of A123? Are they worried A123 can’t supply in high volume and cheaply?
Why is he ranting against the CAFE law if he’s going to have that wonderful Volt?
Why does he say fuel efficiency benefits are tapped out? Is he longing back to the days of V8 pushrods?
Why is it a problem to pay a few thousand more for a vehicle if it saves you a lot on gas?

GM really hasn’t embraced the future yet and that’s going to be a problem for them.

When the dust settles his heirs will enjoy any cash left over from his overpaid career and the GM factory workers will continue to get laid off, assuming there are any left by then.

I can find no direct reference to Mr Okamoto ever making that comment. However, here’s what the article cited in the blog entry said:

The most direct attack was levied at Toyota. Lutz referred to comments made by his counterpart at Toyota, Kazuo Okamoto, executive vice president of R&D and product development. … According to Lutz, Okamoto accused GM of using the Volt concept as a marketing ruse, and characterized the lithium battery-powered Volt as “completely wacky” and “nonsense.”

The “completely wacky” comment seems to be Lutz’ paraphrase of some other comment Mr Okamoto made. They’ve been swapping comments on each other’s hybrid technology for months.

I think we need a new installment of the well played out Grumpy Old Men movie. This time with GM Management and BOD. We can even get Kirk Kevorkian to moonlight as a love interest for Wagoneer and Lutz.

He’s gradually turning into a crazy old coot.

Is there an article anywhere that can substantiate this claim? This does not sound like something Toyota would do. If I’m wrong, I’d be interested in reading other statements of this nature made by the Aisian automakers.

Does anyone know exactly what Maximum Bob has been smoking the last week or two, because I’m starting to think he is getting dimentia or something.

btw, china accounts for 50% of global Li-ion production and growing. they are squeezing out Japan as the premier Li-ion battery exporter.

if japan is hiding secret technology, they need to get it out fast otherwise they’ll lose even more marketshare