Comments on: Turnaround Momentum Drives GM in the Right Direction

By: Allan D. Wellhausen Sr.

Allan D. Wellhausen Sr. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:07:54 +0000

With all due respect to Mr. Wagoner, While so many feel Mr. Wagoner has done a good job, I would say those people are the ones with jobs or with retirements Mr. Wagoner, can’t use his budget ax on, that are saying it.

There was a time when people who worked for GM could afford to buy what they help produce. Now they can’t even be sure of keeping a job long enough to make the final payment, let alone a retirement. This would include both blue-collar and white-collar workers.

The handwriting has been on the wall for years about going green and building Electric cars, yet Mr. Wagoner can only come up with a concept car that may be ready by 2010, mean while he putting 1,000s out of work, when he could be putting 10,000’s to work building green.

I think the only economy Mr. Wagoner is worried about is his own. He has taken the shortsighted approach that seems to be the norm for Detroit That’s ‘what are the earning for today and this quarter?’ and to hell with five or ten years down the line. In fact I fairly sure Mr. Wagoner will not even be with GM in five years, So I can understand his rather short term interests. I’m fairly sure the stockholders are in for the long term not the short term.

I think it is time for GM to look for someone that has long term GM goals in mind, not his own financial out look. You can be sure that no matter how well or poorly GM does Mr. Wagoner will get his, no matter if he earns it or not!

By: Norman Conquest

Norman Conquest — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:59:59 +0000

Good thoughts Jeff.

GM could also do the following:

1. Make the Volt’s rear seat removable and offer the option of buying (or leasing) an extra battery pack to put in the rear seat hole augmenting the car’s power supply.

2. Offer a “long-range” battery pack mounted on a two-wheel trailer that could be pulled behind a Volt. Someone going on a longish trip could go to their local GM dealer and rent the trailer-mounted battery pack for the trip. (The trailer-mounted battery could also be a third-party, after-market item if GM would provide the socket at the rear in which to plug the auxiliary battery.)

By: Jeff Coulter

Jeff Coulter — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:59:00 +0000

One more comment on the EO/ICRE vehicle. Consider a TDI engine for the removable power pack. I think it would be most efficient for the extended range operation/highway operation.

Unless I’m not considering something the power pack w/ about 13 gallons of fuel would weigh about 500 lbs. I think a vehicle weighing 1500 lb in EO mode and 2000 lb in IRCE mode could be very efficient and flexible.

Jeff Coulter

By: Jeff Coulter

Jeff Coulter — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:32:54 +0000

Here’s an idea. Maybe this submission will get to a GM engineer somehow. To maximize the efficiency of a Chevy Volt type hybrid why not make the internal combustion/range extender power pack removable? This weight saving measure would give the user the option of configuring their vehicle to operate in the EO (electric only) mode or the unlimited range ICRE (internal combustion range extender) mode. The removable power pack would include the fuel tank to maximize the weight savings in EO mode and could be placed in a space that occupies storage in the EO mode. Extra storage in ICRE mode could be achieved via integrated roof rack/storage pod to allow further flexible configuration by the user. Obviously your engineering hurdles include ease of power pack removal/replacement and those pesky safety concerns.

I’m just a guy out here thinking. Again, hopefully some engineer will see this.

Jeff Coulter

By: Vickie

Vickie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:48:03 +0000

Well, trying to turn around now is a good thing; it is just too bad GM didn’t think ahead before it stopped production of the EV1. Your Electric Vehicles could have been on the road for over a decade now and you could have been working on ways to implement the technology in larger vehicles. Instead your company wasted time:
1) researching hydrogen which needs a huge infrastructure;
2) making vehicles that get worse mileage every year;
3) pandering to the oil companies and pushing the macho image in your advertising;
4) ignoring your customers that desired practical, non-fossil fuel vehicles.

We come from a GM family and we own 2 GM vehicles now but I wish I not bought the last one, a van, and had bought a non-GM hybrid 4-passenger car instead. What I really wish is that I had the opportunity to buy an electric vehicle from GM.

My suggestion…why don’t you put my MI relatives back to work mass producing the EV1 and similiar cars.

By: Mark Lay

Mark Lay — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:01:56 +0000

Look I am happy the company
is on the way back up, however
G.M. needs to get back to the street and out of the tower. I almost cryed when Oldsmobile shut down…ya I know what some of you are thinking but that does not make me feel better, MR.Wagoner Please lets breath some life back into Buick. Lets go back to what really works, Alfred P.Sloan.remember him ? hell maybe somebody should resurrect Harley Earl. I drive a Cadillac and have for years because I love the Brand thank god Cadillac is moving into some great moments again. Bring back Whats good for General Motors is good for America. and make that the official Slogan, and Cadillac has to remember they are the standard of the world ! dont let the people down. thanks Mark

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:11:53 +0000

Wrong direction …

There is an immediate need in the U.S. for fuel-efficient vehicles, especially cars that are bio-diesel capable or fully electric. The technology exists, and is getting cheaper.

Will GM can be a leader, or follow Toyota & Honda years after these two Japanese companies have already these offered vehicles and have become #1 & #2 selling cards in the US (similar to what happened in the early 80s).

There’s a lot of room at the bottom, and I see GM, Ford and Chrysler there (at the bottom) in the next 10 years.

By: travis hunt

travis hunt — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:29:41 +0000

rick,

you gotta bring back t he trans am the way it really was in the late 70’s. that was the trans am people loved. not some retro thing theat looks like a camero with a body kit. you need the real trans am. with the 6.6 shaker and screaming chicken and everything that was great about the old models

TRAVIS

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:24:24 +0000

This is completely off the subject but how about GM bring back the Nova? A great looking and affordable RWD car, also make the powertrains interchangeable with the camaro.

By: ap

ap — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 20:48:19 +0000

Mr Wagoner,
I bleed GM blue, and I am very disappointed that GM is second to Toyota. Can’t you and other GM members “connect the dots” ??? Every great idea, and product GM introduces, etc. the EV1 that would have allowed GM to be the “world of transportation” leader is Canned !! All the time and dollars being spent on hydrogen technology, GM could now have, without a doubt, a hybrid product that would surpass the toyota prius hybrid many times over. The EV1 was well on it’s way of doing that, instead you crush, and dismantle them, and sell the much improved second generation battery of the EV1, to an Oil Company ?? I feel the public that supports GM, along with providing your salary, be given an total explanation as to ” Just what is going on “. Someone needs to provide GM with the leadership to again be number 1. Truly AP