Bailout Watch 483: Bye American?

by Robert Farago

Published: April 5th, 2009

GREGORY: Do you expect and would you like to see President Obama encourage the country to buy American cars?

HENDERSON: No, actually. I — I think the consumer should buy exactly what kind of car they think meets their needs and that excites them. And as I look at it, it’s our job to make sure we provide that, not necessarily have it mandated or otherwise encouraged. I think we have fantastic cars and trucks. We’re going to win in the marketplace and not necessarily because — just because we’re a U.S. company.

Robert Farago

More by Robert Farago

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 28 comments

GoHuskers on Apr 06, 2009

I am amazed that there are so few comments on TTAC regarding the “Meet the Press” interview of Fritz Henderson. My money says he is not qualified to be CEO of anything, and heaven help GM. For a man “on the job” for 25 years all he seems to have mastered is corporate doublespeak, non-answers, and rehearsed, but empty, words. He came across as a pre-programmed bot, whose best “skill” was in not answering the questions. Too bad David Gregory let him get away with his not so transparent evasions. Henderson is about as uninspiring a CEO as I have ever seen….sadly. RF – you should weigh in on that interview. Surprised you haven’t.

Like Reply
Tommy Jefferson on Apr 06, 2009

> It now has 44,300 miles and has litterally never saw the inside of a shop yet. Let's compare your 2006 Impala with a 2006 Accord after they both rack up 144,300 miles of service. One will be worn out and falling apart. The other will not.

Like Reply
Wsn on Apr 06, 2009
roar : April 5th, 2009 at 9:00 pm The UAW workers do not make $78 per hour, that includes pensions and healthcare, when are people going to understand that the imports do not have to pay for pensions and healthcare for most of their workers. Billion of dollars per year difference for domestics vs. imports. Free trade is never free. ----------------------------------------------- That's a big lie. 1) UAW members don't make $78/hour salary, but they make $78/hour overall pay. 2) Japanese car makers do pay for pensions and health care, in the form of cooperate tax and personal income tax of their employees. Japanese retirees do not end up on the streets. As a matter of fact, Japanese, on average, receive better pension and health care than Americans. 3) If GM or UAW so envy the Japanese way and want to put the burden on the federal government, guess what? To emulate the Japanese system, GM will have to pay more taxes and UAW members will have to pay more taxes. Be careful what you wish for.

Like Reply
Wsn on Apr 06, 2009
roar : April 6th, 2009 at 6:23 am Most of you have missed the point, the $78 includes the legacy cost for past employees. ------------------------------------------------ No, we didn't miss the point. The past employees were UAW members as well. So, it's entirely correct to say that UAW workers, as a whole, received $78/hour. Our point is invalid only if part of that $78 went to pay the expense of non-UAW members. But that is not the case.

Like Reply