The LA Auto Show

Well, I made it. After complaining about the auto show in my hometown, I had the opportunity to attend the LA Auto Show. International and national vehicles debuted at the Los Angeles Convention Center. There is an air of imitation as I can see that this is the best balance in a new breed of sedans masquerading as coupes found in the Mercedes-Benz CLS, BMW 550i Gran Turismo, and yes, the other four-door Porsche, the Panamera. And you know? The offspring of the 928GT didn't look as awkward in person as it had on the printed page. An ugly duckling of sorts, maybe. But would I buy one? A used one? Probably. I was also impressed by Audi's products but a little disappointed in BMW. The X6 M looked eerily like a Pontiac Aztek! Could it be that Pontiac was the true visionary, ahead of its time, and sadly, just a few years too early to save itself from bankruptcy? Well, it was a GM product, and they would have found a way to ruin that success, so probably not.


There were a buzz in the air that wasn't weather induced. Known for its smog, LA actually experienced inclement weather during Friday's show. Was I impressed? Let me say this, my enthusiasm for some exhibits forced me to tour particular manufacturer's offerings more than once. Much love for the Audi R8 convertible and the whole wing dedicated to Porsche. The Panamera is big. Big and Tall. Like a plus man's shop with all the clothing and accessories that one could muster. There is an elegance to this heft, however. Maybe it was the color. Maybe it was the vibe (no not the Pontiac Vibe). Or maybe it was the fact that I just wanted to love the car. Well, it is a Porsche after all. Sat in the front, sat the back, had a photo taken. I was impressed, probably more so by the fact that a child's car seat fits squarely in the back without crushing any limbs (yours or a child's). And yes, an adult fits back there, too.

GM Reorganization That Does Not Involve the Container Store

After last Tuesday's removal of Fritz Henderson as GM's CEO, Robert Lutz, GM's marketing and product guru, does not have a place or the staff to call home. While GM said Lutz will serve in an advisory role, there is no such indication of what advice will be dispensed from the 77 year-old former Ford employee. Ed Whitacre, acting CEO, is looking to freshen the face of GM by placing some youngsters in charge of strategic operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. With an infusion of new blood, the hope is to revitalize the brand and promote fresh ideas from all of the ranks, not just executive management. It should also be noted that the new management team publicized its first official meeting today.

What does this mean for GM? That there is some serious consideration being made about its place in the automotive world, its reputation, and how it will compete in the "May the best car win" race. I have to commend Whitacre for working with GM's board and making such a powerful and decisive move. Am I impressed? Absolutely. Let's see just how much turbulence the system can tolerate during the course of this shake up. In this survival race, it was a necessary strategy for GM to muse over and execute. Next stop, paying the Fed those billions of dollars back!

Throw a TARP on it! How we never meant to pay back the government bailout monies!

Color me amazed at GM and their announcement of unbelievable profits! Well, profits may be too generous a term, but hey, they didn't lose as much money as they thought! Fritz Henderson shared today that a $1.2B loss was better than expected. Huh...what was that!?!? Were they on target for a $4B loss? Why not round up, way up...

In the advent of such a bold announcement regarding profits, it was nice to discover that by enacting TARP (the Troubled Asset Relief Program), the government never really expected to get repaid. The Department of the Treasury shared that bailout recipients like Chrysler and GM would have to be more profitable than at any other time in each company's respective history. Theses two automakers owe an estimated $65B in total (GM at $50B and Chrysler at $15B). Water under the bridge, as American consumers are left wondering where they can purchase a Pontiac, Saturn, or Hummer.

In retrospect, it is nice to know that the one-time members of Detroit's Big Three have a plan to pay back the moolah. Well, use of the term "plan" can be substituted for a line in a Popeye cartoon, "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Of course, any "profits" are coming from those emerging Asian markets as Americans may not be falling for Ed Whitacre's "May the Best Car Win" campaign. Hmm..the best car...well it sounds Korean and looks a lot like a Hyundai.