GM CEO Dan Akerson wants to intensify firm’s focus on leading technologies

The latest management changes installed by CEO Dan Akerson reflect his aim to intensify GM's focus on leading technologies. Akerson went against convention with his choice of a new product chief. Tom Stephens, 62, who replaced retired product chief Bob Lutz in 2009, was named GM's first global chief technology officer. Notably, Akerson has been focusing on this area since he became CEO last September. Meanwhile, Mary Barra, 49 years old, a former global head of manufacturing engineering and currently GM's human resources chief, will take over from Stephens as GM's product development boss.
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Steve - 1/28/2011 4:41:57 PM

+2 Boost

As a guy who is SO not into GM cars, I offer the following suggestion:
- Make it absolutely gorgeous (the working classes don't want to think of themselves as poor, or having to settle for what they can get)
- Make it reasonably free of defects. And make it "lasting" so it's still a good car in 5 years.
- Make it handle respectably (you don't have to match the M3, but crisp steering feel and tracking is always welcome)
- Give it reasonable fuel economy and reasonable power.

Now I'm NOT asserting that GM is falling short in all these areas, but I am definitely saying if your cars were just "pretty good" all around, except they looked stunning, you'd be selling them like hot cakes. Just my two cents. And yes, I am noticing that every now and then, GM turns out a car that makes me stop and say, "well done guys!" But I'm still a sucker for gorgeous, and I think others are, too :-)

So GM, how do *you* set yourself apart from the rest? A long list of features and a low price tag, like the GM of yester-year? Or some other way?

internationalmanofmystery - 1/31/2011 9:43:40 AM

+1 Boost

What Steve said and...

Keep the Volt, improve the looks of the Corvette (steal from Ferrari if you have to) give us a 30 MPG city from the Escalade, for starters, and you can get all the stock options you WANT on the back end!!

pennfootball - 1/31/2011 3:12:52 PM

+1 Boost

Lieutenant DAN....will you be my First mate if I ever get a shrimpin boat...er car company? "Sure will Bobby"