| 777 | Date: Thursday, 28 Oct 2010, 16.53 | Message # 1 |
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User ID: 777
Joined: 18 Oct 2010
Messages: 1035
| Dennis Tang over at GQ has a quick but interesting interview with GM President Mark Reuss. The Chevy Cruze is the jump-off point, though Reuss makes some interesting points covering a wider range of topics, including a possible resurgence of Oldsmobile and Pontiac, American's love -- or lack thereof -- for smaller cars, and the direction of GM. You can read the whole piece here; it's short, but for those looking to get out the door early and enjoy their holiday weekend, here's a rundown of some of Reuss' more interesting observations.
Despite Reuss' assertion that GM needs to focus on the new base of core brands Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC, he notes that the models in Pontiac's and Saturn's stables at the time of their shuttering -- Saturn's especially -- were the cars that should have been produced all along.
On that note, he also says that "nothing is forever" and that things could be different -- i.e., brands could be resurrected -- when GM is again profitable and public. Hardly a ringing endorsement of that possible direction, though.
GQ takes the stance that the Volt is more of a public relations stunt than a viable car, and Reuss concedes that the extended-range electric is definitely "not a savior for the company" but is a symbol of what GM is capable of and helps push the idea that GM is working with the best engineers and the best technology. You have to start somewhere, in other words.
Americans don't love or hate small cars -- they're just very specific about the types of vehicles they want, and manufacturers will have to know how best to take advantage of product fragmentation.
On the future of GM: "Our mission statement now is to design, build and sell the world's best vehicles. That doesn't just mean going in and finding the lowest structural cost, which is a pretty big change from the past."
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