GM’s Lutz: Toyota Scored a Major Coup with Hybrids

prius04 · 03-24-2005, 07:16 PM

March 24, 2005
GM’s Lutz: Toyota Scored a Major Coup with Hybrids

During a session at the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive Conference in New York, Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, Product Development, and Chairman, GM North America, gave his take on the importance of a number of technologies in the auto industry.

Hybrids, he noted, are of growing importance:

Whether the market becomes giant for them or whether it flattens out to, say 300,000 units per year— which in the context of the entire American market is a pittance—BUT it has become

Full Article here, no subscription

bookrats · 03-24-2005, 07:27 PM

Lutz says:

Quote:

I will say that Toyota scored a major coup by going ahead with hybrids even though they didn’t have a business case.

We call that "vision", Bob.

Bill60546 · 03-24-2005, 07:47 PM

Hey Bob, you can do it.

Not having a business case for the Corvette never stopped GM. Can you say Mustang? Minivan? Product quality (Acura, Lexus)? 6 Sigma? Supplier integration?

So the business case for SUVs with $6,000 worth of incentives that get 13MPG is what again?

Come on Bob, you can do it! Think diesel hybrid Tahoe that gets 30MPG; aerodynamic, quiet, functional, adaptable and in demand. Sounds good doesn't it?

Ron Dupuy · 03-24-2005, 10:35 PM

It seems absolutely amazing that GM would cut production of the middle market to INCREASE production of the Mountain of Metal genre. Get a grip guys, those Behemoths are going down the terlet!

KTPhil · 03-25-2005, 12:20 AM

Will GM lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way? I know what I'm betting on...

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-25-2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lutz+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lutz)</div>

Quote:

If you have hybrids, you’re OK, if you don’t have hybrids, you’re not.[/b]

<!--QuoteBegin-Article
GM has scrapped plans for an upcoming new line of rear-wheel drive mid-market sedans, and is applying the freed-up manufacturing and engineering resources to speed up the launch of its new full-size SUVs (Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade). The hope is that brining the high-margin vehicles out even a few months early will significantly help GM’s financial situation.

The company will then focus on mid-size SUVs and crossover vehicles.

[mood=sarcasm][mood=mockery]
Hybrids are good. Full-sized SUVs are better.
[/mood][/mood]

03-24-2005, 07:16 PM	#1
prius04 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NorthEast USA Posts: 1,155 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	GM’s Lutz: Toyota Scored a Major Coup with Hybrids March 24, 2005 GM’s Lutz: Toyota Scored a Major Coup with Hybrids During a session at the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive Conference in New York, Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, Product Development, and Chairman, GM North America, gave his take on the importance of a number of technologies in the auto industry. Hybrids, he noted, are of growing importance: Whether the market becomes giant for them or whether it flattens out to, say 300,000 units per year— which in the context of the entire American market is a pittance—BUT it has become Full Article here, no subscription

03-24-2005, 07:47 PM	#3
Bill60546 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 338 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: GM’s Lutz: Toyota Scored a Major Coup with Hybrids Hey Bob, you can do it. Not having a business case for the Corvette never stopped GM. Can you say Mustang? Minivan? Product quality (Acura, Lexus)? 6 Sigma? Supplier integration? So the business case for SUVs with $6,000 worth of incentives that get 13MPG is what again? Come on Bob, you can do it! Think diesel hybrid Tahoe that gets 30MPG; aerodynamic, quiet, functional, adaptable and in demand. Sounds good doesn't it?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
"Major" Announcement about Toyota's fuel cell program coming at the Los Angeles Auto Show	Danny	Prius and Hybrid News	10	11-04-2007 11:59 PM
Toyota President seeks growth without major quality problems	cwerdna	Other Cars	0	12-23-2006 03:01 AM
GM's Bob Lutz Does About-Face on Hybrids	thorn	Other Cars	0	04-13-2005 04:31 PM
Lutz Shoots the Messenger	Tideland Prius	Fred's House of Pancakes	8	04-11-2005 07:10 PM
A few choice Lutz quotes	tag	Other Cars	11	01-13-2005 08:51 PM

03-24-2005, 10:35 PM	#4
Ron Dupuy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fortuna, CA Posts: 101 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It seems absolutely amazing that GM would cut production of the middle market to INCREASE production of the Mountain of Metal genre. Get a grip guys, those Behemoths are going down the terlet!

03-25-2005, 12:20 AM	#5
KTPhil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,213 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Will GM lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way? I know what I'm betting on...