GM's Hunt For The Blue October

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt
  • “Perhaps no story will get more play than the third-quarter earnings report General Motors has now scheduled for October 31, less than a week before the election. Could this prove to be the sort of October Surprise that has sank or resurrected so many presidential bids in the past?”
  • “GM executives are pushing Opel for a definitive agreement to close Opel’s Bochum plant. According to the Wall Street Journal, GM “would like to be able to announce the plan before or along with its third-quarter earnings, which are expected to be disclosed Oct. 31.”
  • “GM said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission it aimed to sign agreements with Peugeot on product- development, vehicle-supply and powertrain-supply plans by the end of October.
  • “Kevin Wale, 57, who has led the Asian operations since 2005, will step down October 31, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. He’ll be replaced by Bob Socia, 58, who is now head of global purchasing for GM. Socia will start work in China on October 1.”
  • “New Delhi: General Motors India Pvt. Ltd will raise the prices of all its models from 1 October.
  • “This October’s events include employee- and dealership-sponsored fund-raising walks; a Chevrolet Certified Service matching rebate contribution program; appearances by a specially themed pink Camaro SS pace car and USAC National Midget Car; and test-drive contributions at selected Southern Women’s Shows. Additional Chevrolet activities will be announced in October.”

And what’s your October surprise?


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Keith_93 Keith_93 on Sep 28, 2012

    Raising the price of a Chevy in India and fund-raising walk participation is just the kind of heavy voter influence that could threaten our nation. Fear not, however. This swings both ways. I have heard from a solid source that Victor Muller will endorse Mitt Romney Nov 1st.

  • LBJs Love Child LBJs Love Child on Sep 28, 2012

    I understand that if Romney wins in November, he will have General Motors renamed "American Motors."

    • See 1 previous
    • LBJs Love Child LBJs Love Child on Sep 28, 2012

      @geeber That would be AWESOME, geeber!

  • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Sep 28, 2012

    I doubt the GM issue will sway many votes. The dems smartly framed the issue such that anyone wanting not to save GM was evil. The idea that saving the way they did it is going to spread the disease to more families and generations just doesn't sell well.

    • Geeber Geeber on Sep 28, 2012

      Unless GM shows a horrendous loss, it will be a non-issue. It will not matter to the average voter that GM didn't make as much money as analysts had expected it to make.

  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Sep 29, 2012

    Obama win in November is a foregone conclusion. He is leading in most states. There is no chance for Romney to win. As it was said before more than half of population depends on or wants Government support. I do not know how GM's report matters in this environment.

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