PT Cruiser Designer to Head Cadillac, Report to [New] Marketing Maven Maximum Bob Lutz

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

It’s all change at New GM—in the sense that the same old management is shuffling the same old players to re-consolidate their power within the post-Chapter-11 automaker’s moribund corporate culture. To wit: Automotive News [AN, sub] reports that New GM’s old North American Design Chief, Bryan Nesbitt, has been named New GM’s chief of Cadillac. “Chief.” I like that! As AN points out, Nesbitt penned the PT Cruiser for Chrysler—before jumping ship from one bankruptcy-bound American automaker for another. Again, Nesbitt is now, effectively, Cadillac’s brand manager; replacing “interim” Cadillac general managers Steve Hill and Steve Shannon, who will be rebadged and reassigned.

Strangely, AN says Nesbitt will report directly to Bob Lutz. As far as anyone knows (including Maximum Bob himself), Lutz is New GM’s new head (chief?) of marketing. Inside baseball players note: Lutz replaced Mark LaNeve in that role, who ascended into the ranks of overpaid executives as Cadillac’s brand manager. Anyway, this move is about as radical as a chapter meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution—and I don’t mean the daughters of Chevy’s execs.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Njoneer Njoneer on Jul 23, 2009

    This is a prime example of the Old GM culture. Nesbitt is not in the new Cadillac job because he is the right person to run Cadillac. He got the job because Lutz likes him.

  • Ninjalectual Ninjalectual on Jul 23, 2009

    I must disagree with anyone defending the PT Cruiser. I sold Chryslers for a few years, a few years ago, and I would argue the PT is ugly, unsafe, underpowered, gets piss-poor gas mileage, and is the opposite of a joy to drive. It is truly the worst and dumbest car ever made. God help you if it's all you can afford.

  • Tauronmaikar Tauronmaikar on Jul 23, 2009

    "I must disagree with anyone defending the PT Cruiser. I sold Chryslers for a few years, a few years ago, and I would argue the PT is ugly, unsafe, underpowered, gets piss-poor gas mileage, and is the opposite of a joy to drive. It is truly the worst and dumbest car ever made. God help you if it’s all you can afford." If the only thing I could afford was a used PT Cruiser, I would buy a bike instead.

  • Quasimondo Quasimondo on Jul 23, 2009
    I must disagree with anyone defending the PT Cruiser. I sold Chryslers for a few years, a few years ago, and I would argue the PT is ugly, unsafe, underpowered, gets piss-poor gas mileage, and is the opposite of a joy to drive. It is truly the worst and dumbest car ever made. God help you if it’s all you can afford. No, that title would go to the Aztek, and I'd take this over the Aztek any day of the week. If you're really concerned about power, they did make a turbocharged version. Same engine as the Neon SRT-4 if I remember correctly
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