Who is the most deserving of the first annual Bob Lutz Award? We're looking for the automotive executive who said the most outrageous, politically incorrect or just plain dumb thing. Since this is the first time for the award, we've allowed nominees from the past; next time we'll limit it to the past calendar year. Click on the link below to cast your vote. The nominees are listed in alphabetical order along with an example of why each was nominated. (Yes, I know I said I'd list all the quotes that got them nominated on the ballot, but when I did one nominee had said so many different things the ballot went off the screen.) Only one vote per customer, please. Voting will close at 6PM EST Sunday, so don't procrastinate.
Voting has closed. The results will be posted today. Thank you for your participation.
Let’s just give the award to good ol’ Bob… He really deserves it!
Well, with some of Bob’s biggest doozers gone from the line-up he just fell out of the running. The “crock of sh*t” thing was just out of context really, though he’s had to spend some energy explaining what he meant.
I really miss this one, the visual alone is priceless:
“I believe strongly that this country has to get off oil,” he says, sitting beside a massive V-16 engine on display in his office. “The electrification of the automobile is inevitable.”
That left me with Selwa of Maserati (well, ex-Maserati) and Eberhard of Tesla, with the latter getting the nod.
“It’s within our reach, but not yet within our grasp” may actually become a saying that will be with us for a long, long time.
It may not do the trick as far as coughing up the advance for a Tesla product, but it’s definitely inspired nonsense.
“Mercedes owners don’t wear jeans.”
True. Some of them can’t even be bothered to put on underwear, much less jeans.
Stein X Leikanger
Well, with some of Bob’s biggest doozers gone from the line-up he just fell out of the running. The “crock of sh*t” thing was just out of context really,
Don’t forget that “political incorrectness” and “just plain dumb” are two of the criteria. There’s not a much dumber nor politically incorrect (both from a true political and a corporate political perspective) that someone who’s supposed to be championing hybrids, PHEVs and alternative fules could make. Sometimes it’s best to keep one’s personal opinions to oneself, especially when in a high visibility position where everything you say is picked up by the press (and sent around the world by bloggers).
I think it would be helpful if you added the date of each quote.
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Stein,
How was the “crock” comment “out of context?”
FW: When I did one nominee had said so many different things the ballot went off the screen.
Did you (actually, he) exceed 800 words?
I wanted to vote for Bob, and supplied some doozies. But Global Warming *is* a crock.
So I voted for Maertin Eberhard.
Zarba,
The Eberhard comment was very tempting. However, while Global Warming might be a crock (I doubt it), it’s people who believe AGW is a real threat who will be motivated to buy cars that run on electricity (and, therefore, wind, hydro, other clean sources as they’re introduced).
Pissing off your customers is not a good way to market your car.
Of course, he may actually know that the Volt will never be a reality and therefore feels free to piss off customers he’ll never get, anyway.
Bangle’s “axis of white power” pretty much has it all.
As all good quotes should be; it’s pithy and memorable. In a single sentence it captures a cultural tone-deafness of epic proportions.
…he’s got ample historic references (axis of white power)which shows a keen understanding and appreciation of the brand’s roots.
He’s channeled the whole Germanic arrogance thing in a subtle yet very effective way.
Could of used a dollop more of designer-speak but all in all, well done.
… Open mouth, insert jackboot.
You’re right, Frank. Crocking off your core coming customers is probably bad for business — and it does kind of neatly demonstrate Bobby’s ability to shoot from the hip before making certain he’s got a legitimate target up.
I’ve been hunting for a photograph from that interview in his office, though. Lutz next to a 16-cylinder engine spouting off on the inevitability of electricity.
Is there a requirement that car executives should leave their brains behind?
Nothing is more Lutzian than Chris Bangle’s famous quote.
Seriously people, even Lutz wouldn’t go there. He knows better.
I was also about to vote for Bangle, it is just so wrong and jacked up on so many levels, but I ultimately went with Jack Smith. I think his is pretty indicative of how GM got to where they are today.
I wonder, though, if Bangle’s quote had recieved any more publicity, how damaging it would be to BMW. Didn’t they make planes during The War?
So many great choices!
I went for the VW exec. The rest seemed either forced by circumstances created by the company (especially Eberhard’s) or like a kooky personal viewpoint.
However, for an executive of a major multinational to imply that a market should change to accept uncompetitive products because of the very things that make them uncompetitive is the height of arrogance and absurdity.
wow! you can actually vote for somebody else besides Obama, Clinton and McCain? I thought it is just these three plus `the other` candidate, who definitely has no chance. Even don`t check him, I told you, he has no chance. Zip! Zip it! No chance. So if it is Obama, press 1, if….. Wait a minute, wwwwwaaaaaaiit a minute. Bob Lutz? Are his quotes even electable? When is he going to run the third company, and drop out of Chrysler?
I don’t understand why Jack Smith’s quate is there. Why do any of us work? TO MAKE MONEY. There is not a corporation in the WORLD that does not exist to make money. Just because the company doesn’t make money doesn’t make the quote stupid. Afterall, GM made money under Smith. Now if you had included some of his quotes about vehilces I would buy.
starlightmica
FW: When I did one nominee had said so many different things the ballot went off the screen.
Did you (actually, he) exceed 800 words?
No. The only limit is about 250 characters per entry on the poll. But if I listed all the comments submitted, there would be 29 entries total. It would have run past the bottom of the screen, even on the high-res over-sized monitor I’m using. For simplicity’s sake I decided to go with one quote per nominee. As you probably guessed most of them were Lutzian in origin, but there were more than one submission for several others.
I’ve got to go with Bangle on this one. It is just so wrong on so many levels. Eberhard was a distant second.
that’s one glorious list of mindless automotive arrogance! it was really hard to choose …
Jack Smith’s quote is there because it is pretty much at the basis of GM’s situation today.
Of course every company is in business to make money, duh!
The arrogant stupidity lies in the fact that, short of printing your own $100 bills, one makes money by providing a product or service that people want.
GM needs to understand that it is in the business of making cars for crying out loud! What’s GM’s (and Detroit’s) problem today? Piss-poor product across the lineups, not to mention mangled brands. (FWIW, the whole ‘burdened by pensions’ thing is a red herring, IMO.)
The moment GM does get into the business of making cars, perhaps it will make money.
Jack Smith was there right in the meat of the period where the foundation for today’s domestic industry’s situation was being laid. With quotes like that.
I know this list is intended in good fun, but would an editor mind commenting on how Carlos Ghosn’s true statement about the costs of doing business in Tennessee relates to the rest of this list? It wasn’t an example of offending your customers, it wasn’t an example of denying reality, it wasn’t an example of resisting change. It was a statement of fact about a business decision that while you might not agree with, can’t really be disputed. It makes the list seem like you were reaching to fill empty spots.
For full disclosure, I am a Tennessean and happen to think that thanks to our low taxes overall and specifically our lack of an income tax we’re a great place to do business.
I voted for good ol’ Bob,
I bet he also believes that the holocaust never happened and that we never landed on the moon.
Good old ignorant people and their conspiracy theories..
Brandon D. Valentine
I know this list is intended in good fun, but would an editor mind commenting on how Carlos Ghosn’s true statement about the costs of doing business in Tennessee relates to the rest of this list?
From the original nomination post:
He might have wanted to check into how many of his core management team were willing to relocate. It turns out that the cost of replacing them is much higher than the cost of …
So many good candidates but I had to go with Bangle. I can’t really add anything to what TaurusGT500 said.
BTW isn’t the name of the ford VP Kuzak not Juzak?
Lutz should receive the award, but not for the Global Warming comment…
I went for Bricklin and the Chinese import quote. That one was the most striking to read.
Hybrids are a passing fad
It’s so rare that one’s name is a reflection of one’s ineptitude, and based on that alone, Bangle gets my vote. The only question that remains is, “Why is he still employed by BMW (as a designer)?”
I’m sure he’d do a fine job cleaning toilets or perhaps manning the company bowling alley from 1 to 7am.
Hey, I’m just trying to help the dumbass. I’m a giver.
I have to go for the “We’re not in the business of making cars…” quote. I mean, the sheer MAGNITUDE of ignorance that lays in that perception… is quite astounding. People like that gets me really afraid, I mean, they rule this world, and they haven’t a clue…
What’s all the fascination with the Bangle’s misspeak?
jkross22, he’s still employed cause his designs actually improved BMW’s sales numbers.
And that’s all that matters in the end.
unleashed: Bangle’s comment is getting votes because it’s a guy working for a German company talking about “an axis of white power”. I mean, if he worked for Ford, that would still be bad, but he works for the freakin’ Germans themselves.
The only pretty BMW under Bangle’s watch is the 3 series and maybe the X5. My biggest disappointment is the 6 series. I really think Pontiac could have done it better. The world economy has done more for BMW than Bangle. BTW I voted for Bangle.
Be careful with bashing Bangle! Bangle is a CEO general designer, and didn`t design latest bimmers, like the ducktail 7 series or coupe. It was done by Dutch Adrian van Hoidonk. blame Hoidonk for those silly 7 series trunk lids and stupid grey plastic a/C controls or kettle lids on steering wheels. Bangle was just stupid enough not stopping him.
KMAN
I stand by my comment. Might just as well have included a quote from Sloan or Durant.
But it is highly unlikely that that quote will get the award because there are so many better dumb sayings on the list.
@ Brandon D. Valentine
As the one to nominate this statement by Ghosn – though FW has already done some legwork for me.
I like Tennessee. Been there, went hunting and fishing and had a great time.
But the point is that Ghosn decided to relocate his HQ from CA to TN without asking his core management personnel first – and that Nissan suddenly discovered that it was pretty much a question of setting up from scratch as the organization wasn’t as ready to up sticks as the number crunchers thought, and as replacing those who wouldn’t go (with kids in school, spouses with work in other companies, social relationships, and so on) proved difficult to do without disrupting operations.
It seems likely the inaugural Lutzie will go to its namesake for his global warming is a crock of shit comment notwithstanding it is arguably correct.
I voted not for any one quote, but for the idiot who’s quotes over the last year or two would more than fill a page.
Bob Lutz is the laughing stock of the industry, and as such, he earned my vote.