SocraticGadfly: ‘New’ GM sounds a lot like the ‘old’ GM

July 10, 2009

‘New’ GM sounds a lot like the ‘old’ GM

Per General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson’s news conference, the “new GM” sounds a lot like the old GM. Global warming denialist Bob Lutz “unretiring” to become a vice chairman responsible for creative elements of products, marketing and customer relationships? Yep, that’s got “change” and “creative” written all over it.

Henderson goes on to say this:
“If we don't get this right, nothing else is going to work,” Henderson said at GM's Downtown Detroit headquarters. “Business as usual is over at General Motors.”

Yeah, and your Internet customer interfacing sounds about 10 years out of date, too.

The New York Times has more on old vs. new GM, including things related to MY definition of GM coming fully out of bankruptcy, since the new GM is 61 percent government owned and is not expected to escape that until sometime next year — at earliest.

That then said, CNN has an explainer on what “remnant” GM will look like.

But, even it’s not entirely accurate. It still lists “old” GM’s Hummer division as a tentative sale when the Chinese government has pretty much put the kibosh on it.

Oh, and that touted plan to sell cars on eBay? The online auction site says it has no agreement with GM at this time. And, with Lutz specifically designed to head GM’s marketing department, what will we see on eBay even if there is a deal? Suburbans and Tahoes?

Things like that are another reason why I have a pessimistic personal answer on my poll.

I have yet more on old vs. new GM here.

Per my poll in the right-hand rail, and below, GM is not out of bankruptcy per my terms, as a taxpayer of the United States. Only when all of old GM is sold to private parties and the government of the United States is officially off the hook for any part of GM, “old” or “new,” does it cross the finish line I determined.


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