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Tense, Bob, tense. Repeat after me, “we have failed to survive . . . “
18 Comments on “Lutz On Letterman: “We Can’t Survive Doing $100K Cars”...”
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Is Dave desperate for guests or something? I do like how he asked Bob if there will be any showrooms left in 2011 to put the Volt in.
Wasn’t the volt supposed to be available in early 2010 at one point, or did I make that up? It’ll be interesting to see what happens by June 1st.
The most surprising assertion Lutz made last night was that America was in a transition to wage parity with China, India, and such. Quite possibly true, but some harsh medecine nonetheless.
Also a bit insensitive to point out that Americans need to get used to living on much less and then talk about the jet planes he owns…
I don’t understand the GM vision that we’ll commute one way, recharge, and commute back. How many employers are going to offer rows of outlets in the parking lot?
“Hey boss, I just commuted 30 miles to work. I need to charge my car so I can drive back. It’s only 8 Kwh. You don’t mind if I plug it in over here, do you…?”
In this economy, you’re lucky to still get free coffee at work, much less all-you-can eat electricity.
Not that this is likely to happen anyway…everyone was excited when the car looked like this. No one was excited when we found out it would look like a Cobalt.
afabbro> Perhaps in the far future the electricity will be tax deductible as a commuting expense. If not, perhaps the employer can make it part of a compensation package @ expense of salary.
When he says “hit the showrooms”, if there are any left by the time the Volt allegedly launches, is it going to be a Malibu launch redux where they have a few here and there, but nothing in real quantities?
Yet another area that GM lost the plot – how to maintain excitement during a product launch by ensuring people can actually buy it! Also, what about dealer markup, Lutz? Are we going to see $10k “market premiums” on this vaporware?
Didn’t Letterman BASH the volt when the Tesla guy was on?
Wasn’t the volt supposed to be available in early 2010 at one point, or did I make that up? It’ll be interesting to see what happens by June 1st.
I’m pretty sure it was supposed to be 2010 originally.
I watched this live, and I couldn’t help notice how nervous Lutz seemed. And I loved the “Detroit made bad cars in the 1970s, 1980s, and EARLY 1990s”. Really? I guess 1998 was early in the decade based on my wife’s Buick POS.
John
@ afabbro
Well, for now, the concept is a series hybrid, so that hopefully you can go at least one way on your commute without using gasoline. This will effectively half your gasoline usage if most of your travel is to/from work.
Maybe in the future, but unlikely. I don’t see any incentive for an employer to set up their parking lots with outlets… especially considering most business parking lots are just vast areas of paved surfaces, no sun protection or weather protection of any kind – or anywhere to mount a basic electrical infrastructure.
Plus, with the whole “charge your car at night” thing to keep the grid balanced, it wouldn’t make much sense to have people charging their cars in the middle of the day while people’s ACs and computers are running.
I don’t particularly care for Letterman’s humor, and I really don’t agree with his politics. I thought his bit with Tesla was biased and ignorant.
However, I gotta give Letterman credit for stepping up and giving GM a fair shake.
I also don’t quite understand why absolutely everything Lutz says about the Volt is treated with 100% disdain. Some of the observations in the comments above are not very deep.
One way or the other, there will be GM dealerships in 2011, and I hope GM becomes profitable enough to pay back the loans and rid itself of government ownership.
Yes, the odds are against GM recovering, but I hope they pull it off.
Some of you need a clue!!!! When the power is out it will run on gas clueless Toyota trolls!!!!! Why would you have to ask a boss anything about charging….plus who drive more than 30 miles a day to work? Not many trust me. Even if they did it is still not an issue because the gas will just kick in. Trolls!
Driving 30+ miles one way to work is quite common (I do) and those that do are obviously more likely to buy something like the Volt (but not me).
If my workplace was only 10 miles from my house why would I want a Volt, in that case MPG would be pretty far down on my list of priorities in buying a car.
I am perfectly willing to give Lutz and the Volt a chance (Despite GM’s track record). However I could not help but notice how nervous Lutz was when Letterman kept asking when it would be on sale. He was also nervous about the cost of the car. He said $40,000 but his hesitation makes me wonder. If this car is his baby he should know all of this. I like Letterman at times but I wonder what would have happened had this been a real journalist. I think they would have pounded Lutz on a few things. Lutz was in control of the interview yet he looked weak and ill prepared to me. He was only in control because Letterman was so passive.
Lutz brings the Lulz
BillySeward :
Some good points.
El kaBob can sound absolutely positive about something that is patently impossible-if he sounds doubtful on a subject he endorses I feel it is safe to assume that even he finds it very difficult to believe.
That would make the Volts launch date and price projections somewhere on the far, dark side of impossible…
Perhaps I wrong the man but given his track record todate…
Cheerio,
Bunter
FARCE.
One style point for the spray tan
one style point for not saying “crock of shit”
two style points for the beautiful models
-3 points for saying he’s the oldest man to pilot military tactical jets. I believe Chuck Yeager beat Maximum Bob by a number of years. Chuck has more of the right stuff in his little finger than Maximum Bob has in his whole body. In fact, Chuck Norris is a third generation clone of Chuck Yeager.
The most surprising assertion Lutz made last night was that America was in a transition to wage parity with China, India, and such. Quite possibly true, but some harsh medecine nonetheless.
It’s not so much wage parity as it is wage stratification. The US is way, way ahead of other western nations in approaching a spread and median that mirrors that of developing nation.
Forget $100K cars. Destroy the middle class and you won’t be selling many cars at $10K.
As for the “We can’t survive selling $100K cars” admission, well, that’s funny coming from a man who seemed to spend his whole career avoiding commodity transit like the plague. Lutz would have been a good choice to run Pontiac or Cadillac, but as a car czar he’s a bad choice for a mainstream marque because he’s truly not interested in mainstream cars.
Conslaw:”In fact, Chuck Norris is a third generation clone of Chuck Yeager.”
I hadn’t heard that before!
Courtesy of http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/
Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.
There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.
When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
Chuck Norris’ hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.
Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
etc…
Though, Chuck never said that “Global Warming is a Crock of Shit”
Gotta hand that to Max Bob.