GM Shakeup?

[batmansbuick]

GM shakeup or just smoke and mirrors?


Lutz, Cowger to give up North American duties; Wagoner takes over
DALE JEWETT | Automotive News
Posted Date: 4/4/05
DETROIT -- General Motors executives Robert Lutz and Gary Cowger are “relinquishing” their responsibilities for North America to focus on global duties, GM said Monday.

GM CEO Rick Wagoner, 52, will take over leadership of General Motors North America.

Lutz, 73, who had been chairman of General Motors North America, will focus on global product development. Cowger, 57, who had the title of president of General Motors North America, is to focus on global manufacturing and labor.

“Given the challenges we face in North America, it makes sense for me to assume control of General Motors North America’s day-to-day operations and shorten the lines of communication and decision-making,” Wagoner said in a statement.

In his statement, Wagoner said Lutz had asked to devote all his efforts on product development. “I’ll continue to value his business advice and support, but Bob’s legacy at GM will be in our future cars and trucks,” Wagoner said.

Cowger, Wagoner noted, will be changed with dealing with labor unions to try and find ways to cut costs, particularly in health care.

 

[NJTurbo]

Wagoner said Lutz had asked to devote all his efforts on product development.

You think, gee sounds like a plan Hope it is not to late

 

[evil_gn]

lutz needs to devote all of his efforts to figuring out why he ran gm into the ground.

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by batmansbuick

Lutz, 73, who had been chairman of General Motors North America, will focus on global product development. Cowger, 57, who had the title of president of General Motors North America, is to focus on global manufacturing and labor.

Let's see, take a guy that's already screwed things up, and promote him. Great thinking, no wander their losing market shares.

Instead of actually chaking things up, they're just following policies of the past. Yep, everything's fine, let's promote people.

A shakeup, would be firing a bunch of the clowns that have been making the billion dollar blunders, like the deal to buy FIAT. Who's brain dead idea was that one?. Now it's costing them a Billion dollars to get out of the deal.

 

[NJTurbo]

I agree they need to house clean from the top down. They need to hire some young blood that is aggressive and more concerned with building decent products verses where they are golfing and what is on the menu

 

[salvageV6]

Just from what you've posted it sounds like they are looking to Mexico or China for some cheap labor solutions.

Global Product Development is usually called outsourcing.

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by evil_gn
lutz needs to devote all of his efforts to figuring out why he ran gm into the ground.

Lutz isn't responsble for AssTek and other fiascos that were signed off on long before he got there AND is nearly solely responsible for GM embracing Rear Wheel drive again (about 10 years too late).

If it wasn't for Lutz, the "GTO" would be a supercharged front wheel drive V6 grand prix with 280 HP. You think that would be better?

Give the guy a break. It's not his fault he had so little to work with.