Did Lutz Nail It By Saying The Japanese Have Lost It - VW And Hyundai Are The REAL Competition?

It is strange when you talk to the big manufacturers in Japan then they are worried by benchmarking Volkswagen and Hyundai. GM never comes up. When you talk to Bob Lutz, who has been re-hired as a part-time consultant to GM executives, then he is worried by benchmarking Volkswagen and Hyundai. Toyota never comes up. Bob Lutz thinks the Japanese have lost it.

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g2ok - 9/30/2011 2:53:53 PM

+2 Boost

Yes and No, the Americans have lost it - in science, engineering, and manufacturing. The Japanese know what they want, but not what the rest of the world needs.

The new markets are in Asia (China and India), so I would not discount the Toyota and Honda as they are still working within their neighborhood. Also, he didn't talk about Ford, which has sales on fire in India lately.

dlin - 9/30/2011 3:51:07 PM

+3 Boost

Nail what? Himself? It's GM that has lost it so the crappy VW and Korean are now also in the game, while Japanese's still the 'Goto'.

Sigh.......

thetruth01 - 9/30/2011 4:11:00 PM

+3 Boost

Hasn't Putz counted out Toyota and Japan before? Oh yeah, look how well that turned out.

PLAY - 9/30/2011 8:20:31 PM

+2 Boost

I think it is still too early to determine whether the Japanese automakers are in decline. However, there is little question that Hyundai and Volkswagen are serious contenders for market share.

Maulvader - 9/30/2011 10:09:11 PM

+4 Boost

Pay attention to him. He knows all about losing it. He was top management at GM.

grenouille - 10/1/2011 12:09:20 AM

+3 Boost

Way to go Lutz , now is your chance to sink them for good...

PlanB - 10/1/2011 12:28:25 AM

+2 Boost

His book was a good read. And I'm certain GM would be far worse off if he didn't join them when he did a decade ago. He makes good observations but I don't think Japan has lost it, there competition has just caught up and are making better decisions at the moment.

jimmythepimp - 10/1/2011 10:27:40 AM

0 Boost

YES, Lutz is great. The Japaneses have always sucked and the Koreans aren't much better.

TheGenius - 10/2/2011 10:10:09 PM

+2 Boost

No he did not. This is diarrhea of the mouth! He comes across as a very smart guy and is known as a "car guy"..has worked everywhere from Chrysler, and GM to BMW, but I'm yet to see what value he has added to the car industry? Yes..The VW group is best positioned to dominated the whole spectrum of the car market and yes Hyundai is the firm to watch, but the Japanese car makers are nowhere near dead and while GM is on the move..I can't say they have really changed for good. Another arrogant exec counting their chickens before they are hatched. Short term thinking not talent is what is destroying American corporations..don't see that changing iin a hurry!!