Wither GM? (And Ford? And Chrysler?)
Mar. 3rd, 2006 02:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poltr1A couple of weeks ago, GM rolled out their Live Green, Go Yellow" campaign, which touted their FlexFuel vehicle line. These vehicles can run on either gasoline or E85 (85% ethanol). I see this as too little, too late. Ford has had their Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) line for a few years, although it hasn't been publicized heavily.
The problem is there aren't very many E85 fueling stations nearby. According to one website, there are only 7 E85 stations in Ohio, and 2 of them are in restricted locations and closed to the public.
And, as many of you already know, Ford now has a hybrid vehicle, joining the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, and the Honda Civic. Where's GM's hybrid vehicle? Still on the drawing board? Still on the test track?
And now, the April issue of Consumer Reports -- their car issue -- doesn't feature any of the Big Three automobiles in their Top Ten list this year. Why is that? Is there an unspoken bias that Consumers Union has against American cars? (And if there is one, they'd vehemently deny it.) Or are the American automakers too stubborn to listen to them and to their customers, both current and past?
How long is the development lifecycle at GM? Five years? How long does it take to go from concept to production vehicle? Is this too long? A couple of years ago, GM pickup trucks were selling well. Then gas prices went up as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and sales nosedived.
What's it going to take to turn the traditional American car companies around? This is an old question; it's been around for years. If you were the CEO of GM, what would you do?
Here's what I'd do: First, I'd listen to consumer organizations like Consumers Union, and work on building better, more reliable cars. Second, I'd work on changing the perception of GM cars. Third, I'd go back to "The Saturn Way" and implement it across the entire product line. I'd work on beating the Japanese automakers at their own game. (I should point out that I know that Honda and Toyota have plants in the US, so the label of "Japanese automaker" may not necessarily apply anymore.) Fourth, I'd work with the UAW and other unions to create a win-win.
The alternative is that GM continues to falter and eventually go bankrupt. Should that happen, the US would likely go from recession to depression.
The problem is there aren't very many E85 fueling stations nearby. According to one website, there are only 7 E85 stations in Ohio, and 2 of them are in restricted locations and closed to the public.
And, as many of you already know, Ford now has a hybrid vehicle, joining the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, and the Honda Civic. Where's GM's hybrid vehicle? Still on the drawing board? Still on the test track?
And now, the April issue of Consumer Reports -- their car issue -- doesn't feature any of the Big Three automobiles in their Top Ten list this year. Why is that? Is there an unspoken bias that Consumers Union has against American cars? (And if there is one, they'd vehemently deny it.) Or are the American automakers too stubborn to listen to them and to their customers, both current and past?
How long is the development lifecycle at GM? Five years? How long does it take to go from concept to production vehicle? Is this too long? A couple of years ago, GM pickup trucks were selling well. Then gas prices went up as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and sales nosedived.
What's it going to take to turn the traditional American car companies around? This is an old question; it's been around for years. If you were the CEO of GM, what would you do?
Here's what I'd do: First, I'd listen to consumer organizations like Consumers Union, and work on building better, more reliable cars. Second, I'd work on changing the perception of GM cars. Third, I'd go back to "The Saturn Way" and implement it across the entire product line. I'd work on beating the Japanese automakers at their own game. (I should point out that I know that Honda and Toyota have plants in the US, so the label of "Japanese automaker" may not necessarily apply anymore.) Fourth, I'd work with the UAW and other unions to create a win-win.
The alternative is that GM continues to falter and eventually go bankrupt. Should that happen, the US would likely go from recession to depression.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 07:39 pm (UTC)I remember your experiences with your mom's Ion. And I'm now thinking, "What about the GM service experience?" Sure, Goodwrench denotes technical competence, but what about integrity? There's a negative stereotype I still carry about auto mechanics that I'd like to shake or dispel.
Right now, Charles Kettering's old company -- Delco, now split off and renamed Delphi -- has financial woes of its own. It's big news here, since Dayton is home to a few Delphi plants. There's been talk about renegotiating the contract to cut back on retiree benefits. Meanwhile, people in the upper level of management are getting golden parachutes, in order to provide them an incentive to stay aboard and not jump ship. Grr.
In the interest of full disclosure: There's also an emotional component to this LJ entry, as my dad is a GM retiree.