GM CEO blames "the car guys"

[Jesda]

Editor Peter De Lorenzo writes in Autoextremist.com:

Detroit - So GM CEO Dan Akerson, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal's Alan Murray, was responding to a question about how he had promoted Mary Barra, when this exchange took place:

MR. MURRAY: You got some criticism for that appointment.

MR. AKERSON: Yeah. I was surprised, quite frankly. I mean, because I wasn't a car guy. But I almost think that being a car guy right now isn't the best thing, because the car guys drove it over the edge.

All together now: "Because the car guys drove it over the edge." Oh really?

But let me clear about one very important thing: It wasn't the "car guys" that drove GM "… over the edge" as Akerson put it. No, time and time again it was the car guys and girls that kept GM even remotely in the game. It was GM's True Believers in Product Engineering and Design who managed to make sure that some outstanding products made it to market despite the hindrances, bone-headed tail-chasing and flat-out obstacles put up by the financial types who overran GM in the 90s and early 2000s.

And it was these MBA for MBA's-sake minions who drove GM "over the edge."

Memo to Mr. Akerson and his legions of financial troops: I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but you will never be the reason for GM's success, now, or in the future. It will be the True Believers, the men and women of General Motors who are actively engaged in the business of making great cars and trucks, who will get it done.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2012 ... z1zUnllIy0

[MinisterofDOOM]

What a douche. And this just proves I've between saying about Akerson from the start: his understanding of the auto industry is nonexistent.

Go back to telecom you presumptuous a$$. The car guys never asked for your opinion in the first place.

[themadscientist]

I think what he went to say was "thanks for the bailout America."

[Mr1der]

It's like he's saying "thanks for the business b****!"

Car guys are running rampant at Ford. You can now buy a 200mph Mustang because of this.

Even the Fusion has a more enthusiast centered trim level.

Car guys should run car companies. Men and women who turn wrenches and know what a car needs to be that much better.

Yeah, Mulally was an airplane guy before taking over Ford...I imagine that's an even more special breed of insane than the guys at SVT though.