DID YOU KNOW? Bob Lutz Brought In Journalists To Help Save GM

When Bob Lutz ran General Motors' product development efforts, he did something that no other car company has done in the history of making cars. He hired four automotive journalists to assess all of GM's new vehicles before they were OK'd for production. And their word was law. Everything had to be developed to their satisfaction.

That didn't go down well with GM's traditional engineering staff, at least not at first. They didn't like the fact that four outsiders, four media critics with no product development experience, could force them to make changes on a new-car program. But because the journos reported to Lutz, they had all the protection they needed.


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richard112360 - 1/25/2011 1:24:56 PM

+1 Boost

Good for him! I really like this guy Lutz. Now can someone please tell me why he was allowed to leave GM.

Agent009 - 1/25/2011 2:38:25 PM

0 Boost

The point is he knew at that point someone had to listen to the outside world, and he actually did something.

Not too many leaders would leave themselves open to such unbridled criticism.

macbjg - 1/25/2011 1:57:44 PM

+1 Boost

Jean Jennings would have told them what's what.

LauderdaleDriver - 1/28/2011 1:59:02 PM

+1 Boost

Jean Jennings has written so much about Bob Lutz that it became odd. Describing his attendance at her wedding, I came to wonder if he was granted "droits de seigneur....."

tango - 1/26/2011 2:58:10 AM

+1 Boost

I watched the interview that Lutz gave McElroy on his show "Autoline After Hours" a few weeks ago. It's one of those interviews that should be compulsory viewing for car enthusiasts. Like him or not, Bob Lutz KNOWS car and he LOVES cars. That's a recipe that MUST bring great cars to market. Bob Lutz and John McElroy are two of my favourite car guys.

uaw_lax - 1/26/2011 4:15:21 AM

+1 Boost

Great car car, poor company spokesman.

LauderdaleDriver - 1/28/2011 2:53:14 PM

0 Boost

The current crop of "desireable" GM cars, the Malibu, CTS, LaCrosse (and the late, lamented Kappa twins) show Lutz' influence. It was a good thing to have him around, and he will be missed.