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In Case You Haven’t Heard, Lutz is Retiring…again

Dan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:06:21 +0000

Via Autocar – Celebrated General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz will retire on 1 May, ending a 47-year career in the car industry.

Lutz, 78, has worked at GM, BMW, Chrysler, and Ford. He previously retired from GM last February, but was tempted back following its government-backed restructuring.

Lutz said: “I can confidently say that the job I came here to do more than nine years ago is now complete. The team I have been fortunate to lead has far exceeded my expectations.

“Our product line-up is as strong as it has been in GM’s history. The perception of our products and brands is beginning to catch up with reality.

“And most importantly, the absolute commitment to being a product-driven company is ingrained throughout the organisation – from the top down – and I am confident that, under Ed Whitacre’s leadership, the straightforward, singular focus on product will endure.”

Lutz has long been known as one of the car industry’s more colourful characters. Perhaps his most notorious quote occurred in 2008 when he was quoted as describing global warming as “a crock of shit”.

He defended his comments, saying, “My thoughts on what has or hasn’t been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors.”

Bob Lutz is Back – Vince McMahon Style

Dan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:06:25 +0000

General Motors is starting to remind me of the WWE – high ranking chairmen leave only to return weeks later under new titles. All Bob Lutz needs is some spandex and jock strap. Soon Jerry Lawler will be in charge of Buick – wait that sounds like an awesome idea! But seriously folks, wrestling is real and so is Lutz. In a recent Detroit Bureau piece, Lutzy was quoted in his presence as new Marketing director, and stated “Direct, provocative comparative product advertising is coming.” In other words it’s time to cut the BS for GM.

Bob Lutz wants to “shock” the public into believing General Motors produces quality products – shock & y’all. “Lutz is predicting a much more aggressive approach to communications and above industry-average spending for advertising in the days ahead.” According to the article this promise has been made before. We’ll have to see what steps Lutz & gang at GM will take in order to really get Americans back in American made automobiles. Why do I get th feeling Kate Walsh will be driving her next Cadillac in a Victoria Secret outfit? With last month (Spet. 2009) seeing a 45% decline in sales from this time last year, GM needs all the help they can get.

Bob Lutz Leaving GM by Year’s End

Dan — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:46:19 +0000

From DETROIT FREE PRESS -

Famed auto executive Bob Lutz, General Motors Corp. vice chairman of global product development, will retire at the end of 2009, the automaker announced this morning.

Lutz, 76, will transition into a new role effective April 1 as vice chairman and senior adviser, providing strategic input into the automaker’s global design and key product initiatives until his retirement.

Tom Stephens, currently executive vice president of global powertrain and global quality, will become vice chairman of global product development effective April 1.

Lutz is credited with breathing new life into GM’s vehicle design, championing such projects as the Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS. He also has been big behind GM’s Chevrolet Volt, an electric-drive vehicle that’s slated to hit the market late next year.

Lutz joined GM in 2001. He had already made a name for himself at Chrysler Corp., where he worked from 1986 to 1998, reaching the role of vice chairman. He also had served as president and chief operating officer responsible for Chrysler’s car and truck operations. He also spent 12 years at Ford Motor Co.

“Bob Lutz was already a legendary automotive product guy when he rejoined GM in 2001 and he’s added to that by leading the creation of a string of award-winning vehicles for GM during his time here,” Rick Wagoner, company chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

He’s enraged environmentalists with his public comments, saying as recent as last year that global warming a “total crock of” (expletive).

“My thoughts on what has or hasn’t been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors,” Lutz later wrote on GM’s FastLane blog last February in defense of himself.

“The point is not why and how did we get where we are, it’s what are we going to do to get where we’re going. And I think that many of the people who’ve been spewing their virtual vitriol in my direction in the past week are guilty of taking the easy way out.”

Bob Lutz on The Colbert Report

Dan — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:13:17 +0000

General Motors VP Bob Lutz comes on The Colbert Report and explains everything you ever wanted to know about how the new Chevy Volt Hybrid Electric works. Surprisingly, he’s kind of witty (except for his offensive generalization of environmentally friendly women at about 4 min 55 sec in.)