GM got rid of oldsmobile and now look at them. the whole place fell apart. maybe oldsmobile was holding them together.

just rambeling

 

That statement may ring truer than than you think. Oldsmobile was making money for GM at least thru the 1980s, but instead of reinvesting it into R&D for Oldsmobile, the idiots in charge were hemorrhaging it thru Cadillac trying to save them from what GM had done to them.

Then when Olds sales didn't live up to the million/year they'd had in the 70s, and dropped back to their customary 400,000 or so, the parent said "Oldsmobile isn't performing!" and went stupid in an all out assault to scrap the Division.

Until....

someone realised Oldsmobile would be the first American carmaker to hit 100 years of production, and if they axed them, FORD would get that distinction. The end came anyway, thanks to stupid management.

In all honesty, I have no sympathy for GM. They got themselves into this predicament and all the MBAs in the world couldn't extricate them now. 'Course, MBAs are part of what put them where they are. Some people have no business holding such a degree.

 

I think GM was on top of the world until the (so called) gas crisis and foreign competition changed the game. Instead of turning their expertise to well engineered small cars like a Toyota, they foisted crap like the Vega on the public. When the history of GM is written, I'm certain there will be pages devoted to their corporate arrogance and desire for a quick profit over lasting value. I went to a Chevy dealership the other day and they were handing out bumper stickers that read 'One Less Import'.
My, how the mighty have fallen!

 

I was listening to a program on talk radio some time ago, so am fuzzy on the details anymore, but the general thought was...( They used the roman era bridges as an example) the world was being run by grade C people and doing well. Once the world was "taken over" by grad A people, their over intellectualizing and analyzing ruined us. In a way it correlates to what is happening to GM right now. They hired people who were more interested in their fancy degrees, images, and HUGE profits short term than they were in building a great product. They bean counted, plotted, and corner cut themselves to death. Obviously there is more to the destruction of GM than just this, but I would say from the management end it was a huge part, though it's easy to sit back and be a Monday QB or reff. I'm not sure exactly how that one goes. Poor labor policies and practice helped immensely as well, so there is plenty of blame to smear around for these guys. I just wish it had'nt happened.

 

I think that GM was shortsighted but this was due in part to the demand for the big American auto by the public. GM was ultimately interested in profit and while big SUV's were selling there was no need to cut back production of these vehicles , as a matter of fact they made SUV's in more models including Caddilac. A lot of this was also in part due to the cheaper prices for gas , remember that the U.S. enjoy's cheaper fuel prices than any western country and only now that there is a risk of high fuel costs did the car companies start looking at vehicles with better fuel ecomony on par with other European companies and Asian companies , so they are behind the competition. What the bankruptcies are forcing GM and Chrysler to do is invest in more fuel efficient cars and trucks , something Ford was ahead in , at least in the American auto industry. It will be a long process but in the end it will help the American auto industry to survive. north Americans can help out by looking at the new lineups and buying American if they feel it is important for the industry to survive.

 

GM is in dire straights that is for sure. Maybe they should have focused more on the long term instead of making a quick buck. I know I am never going to buy a new domestic car. This whole fiasco has really snubbed me on domestic vehicles.

 

I think GM is done for a while...they came out with an awesome looking concept car, the Volt, then butchered it so bad that now it looks like a Prius. And then they dither and fiddle away so it takes 3 years to make it. Then they make a new camaro which I have been waiting for and you cant even put a set of golf clubs in the trunk.

Ford on the other hand quietly goes about their business and bangs off a couple of great Hybrids in the Fusion and Escape in no time flat.

We cant wait any longer...test drove a Fusion yesterday and the wife is probably going to by the Escape Hybrid next week...kinda sad...been a GM man forever...