Bob Lutz may retire in 2010

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Philly

Philly

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I'm surprised nobody has posted this yet.

Autoblog
Sending the Chevrolet Volt into production might be the last effort of GM's Vice Chairman for Global Product Development, Bob Lutz. The 75-year-old executive has stated that he would like to retire from the automotive giant once they get a plug-in electric vehicle on the market (nevermind that they already had one with the EV1). While a precise date of retirement has not been set, it will possibly occur sometime in 2010. Since Lutz has been one of GM's main champions of the Volt, it is no surprise that he wants to be around for its release. The only worry on his part is the potential for health issues to arise or the chance that the board of directors could decide to move on to a younger team of executives.

[Source: Yahoo Finance]
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I find this quite shocking. He certainly has helped in turning the General around. I would hope GM can find a good replacement and continue their upward movement.

I guess he has made his bank and decided it was time to move on.
 
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Darth Vader
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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Bah, we knew it was coming. I think GM knows where it needs to go, and with young talent, can keep the momentum going after Lutz departs.
 
Maybe he can take Rick Wagnoer with him. I've always like Lutz and thought he did some good things for GM, I'll be curious to see who he's replaced with....I just hope they don't make a reality show out of it :lol:.
 
Joey D
....I'll be curious to see who he's replaced with....I just hope they don't make a reality show out of it :lol:.
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I think they would be wise to offer the position to somebody young. Maybe YSSMAN?

It's America. It's a big company. They are offering a big time position. It will probably be a reality show.
 
UH, LUTZ ISN'T RETIRING:

Automotive News
Jamie LaReau
Automotive News
December 12, 2007 - 3:41 pm EST

DETROIT -- So will Bob Lutz ever retire, or will they carry him out of his office?

The Associated Press released a story Tuesday, Dec. 11, suggesting that General Motors’ 75-year-old product chief might retire after the introduction of the Chevrolet Volt in 2010.

AP based its story on a Tuesday interview with Lutz, who mused about the Volt’s significance to GM. Not so fast, says Lutz. Contacted today, Lutz insists that he does not plan to retire anytime soon.

“Read my lips: I am not thinking retirement,” wrote Lutz in an e-mail to Automotive News this afternoon. “The job is better than ever, and so is GM!!!!”

Lutz confirmed that he told AP that he would not retire before GM launches its plug-in electric car. Today, he told Automotive News that he did not mean to imply that he would retire in 2010.
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Yay! Lutz shall stay!!!

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Oh, and if they were offering the position, I'd gladly take it. I don't see how his job could be that hard...
 
That makes me think three things are possible:

1) He is cool and doesn't retire when the Volt debuts and doesn't make plans for a very long time.
2) He just plays the words and retires soon after the volt debuts, but not immediately after.
3) He is a jerk and is just saying things and will retire quickly after.

You never really know about those big wigs that everybody likes. it seems like a lot of times they just say stuff to make people happy. However, Lutz seems like a pretty cool guy and I would believe his words.

Great news indeed!
 
YSSMAN
Oh, and if they were offering the position, I'd gladly take it. I don't see how his job could be that hard...
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Yeah, really. Just list all the obvious things that GM is missing out on, and tell them to do it. The list is long, so job security would assured. :D
 
Pretty much, I know I've got a lot of stuff I'd like to do there, and I know I'm not alone.

If Lutz really wants to go out with a bang, GM (under his direction) needs to continue their rather positive relationship with the GM Enthusiast community and allow fans to better help, and possibly dictate, the direction that the company goes in the coming years.
 
Bob is a fairly cool guy, I met him while I was part of my FIRST robotics team back in high school. He seemed genuinely interested in what us kids were doing and took the time to watch one of our practice matches.
 
YSSMAN
If Lutz really wants to go out with a bang, GM (under his direction) needs to continue their rather positive relationship with the GM Enthusiast community and allow fans to better help, and possibly dictate, the direction that the company goes in the coming years.
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GM: The first major corporation run by a bunch of 15 to 25 year olds from the internets!

I think some fans could really put GM in a good position. I think others could bring disaster. Not to mention rival companies might try to get in there as well.

If the fans are as smart and as passionate about the brand as YSSMAN, I would say that letting the fans have a say would be a good idea.
 
philly cheese
GM: The first major corporation run by a bunch of 15 to 25 year olds from the internets!

I think some fans could really put GM in a good position. I think others could bring disaster. Not to mention rival companies might try to get in there as well.

If the fans are as smart and as passionate about the brand as YSSMAN, I would say that letting the fans have a say would be a good idea.
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LEGO has done this for about five years now - they've gone from deep red numbers to record profits in those years. GM should listen and take notes. Seriously.

The basic idea is that the company appoints ambassadors from the fan-community (usually exceptional fans who contribute a notable ammount to the community) to communicate with them - the ambassadors collect ideas and survey-results, and on occasion send out, with the company's approval, inside information so that the fans knows what's going on. And at times fans might get chosen to participate in the development of a new product.

That's how it works, basically. And it works. GM should at the very least consider it.
 
GM has been listening to the fans with bringing the concept Camaro into production and by bringing cars over like the G8. I just hope it doesn't bite them in the as like the SSR did.
 
From what I've read on GMI (and I know Tophat can back me up) is that GM is very interested in what the fan community says rather often. They had an inverview with the lady who heads-up Saturn not too long ago, asking questions that were far more blunt that what you would see in any magazine, really staying to the topic at hand. Lutz has said before that he reads on GMI quite often, not to mention what he already does on the GM Fastlane Blog. Having the coporate folks in on the action really makes you feel like you're doing something right...

The thing is though, there are still pretty big splits in the GM community. There are folks like me who want to see the company grow while cutting models, others who want to see the company grow while still using regular standards for brands, and then there are still those ass-backwards folks who are still living in 1988. Complete concensus in the comunity is rare to say the least, but when we do all get it right (see the Camaro, CTS, G8, etc) it can turn out really well.

If there is one majorly important thing Lutz has done, its just being a car guy and letting the cars sell themselves. Without a good product first and foremost, you won't sell cars. Building what people want seems to be what Lutz wants to do, what he has done, and what he will do. We just have to keep that momentum rolling if/when he leaves in the future...
 
YSSMAN
If there is one majorly important thing Lutz has done, its just being a car guy and letting the cars sell themselves. Without a good product first and foremost, you won't sell cars. Building what people want seems to be what Lutz wants to do, what he has done, and what he will do. We just have to keep that momentum rolling if/when he leaves in the future...
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Winnah. This is the difference between today's GM and today's Ford and Chrysler. You have to know that Chrysler can't make a decent car just off of their lifetime power train gimmick. Although I think it still remains to be seen if Gm is doing a good job catering to the non-fans. We are all overjoyed and celebrating that they are bringing Opels and Holdens over while boosting every other car's quality. I still think GM's response to Toyota is too young to gauge. Are the mainstream Chevrolets going to be things that people want to buy? People who aren't fans of the company and just looking to buy a decent car?
 
So, Lutz is NOT leaving. Good.

I think Lee Iacocca said that the biggest mistake He made was leaving Chrysler to the guy he left it to. Good to know Lutz'll wait around awhile.
 
Quite right; But his mind is sharp and he has the tastes of a 20 year old. Hes probably the best think to happen to GM since DeLorean or Earl, without a doubt...
 

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