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News, Analysis and EditorialReworking
Reality: Does General Motors Put Lipstick on Pigs?
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Auto on Info May 2004 Reworking Reality: Does General Motors Put Lipstick on Pigs? A couple statements attributed to GM executives earlier this year appear to be a tad, or a lot more than a tad, disconnected from reality. In a March 18, 2004, Associated Press article entitled "GM Announces Recall of 4 Million 2000-04 Full-Size Pickups," it was reported that Kevin Williams, identified as a vice president of General Motors North America Quality, said, "Working with our internal feedback system and NHTSA [the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration], we were able to act quickly on this issue [of collapsing tailgates]."1 [Emphasis is site manager's.] However, per an earlier GM statement, the collapsing tailgates had already given rise to 61,000 warranty claims.2 In a March 28, 2004, Canadian Press article entitled "Big Three Automakers Look Offshore for Profitable Entry-Level Models," John Healy, identified as GM Canada's director of engineering, is reported to have said, in response to queries on the Chevywoos - the South Korean-made Aveo, Optra, and Epica - and GM's North American offerings, "So our strategy is at the bottom end to bring in import vehicles where North American costs make those kinds of vehicles unprofitable. And we take over where North America shines at the upper level of small car and on up."3 [Emphasis is site manager's.] However, no General Motors car is in Consumer Reports 2004 list of best cars at or under $25,0004 and of those North American-made GM cars whose upper price is less than $25,000 - the Buick Century5, Chevrolet Cavalier5, Chevrolet Malibu5, Pontiac Grand Am5, Pontiac Sunfire5, Saturn L-Series5, and Saturn Ion5, not one has an early 2000 Reliability Grade above an F.6 The Saturn Ion has no 2000 Reliability Grade; however, if it is treated as a descendant of the S-Series, its early 2000 Reliability Grade is an F.6 1"GM Announces Recall of 4 Million 2000-04 Full-Size Pickups," Associated Press, March 18, 2004, accessed from Yahoo! News 2"GM Recalls 4 Million Pickups," Reuters, March 18, 2004, accessed from Yahoo! News 3"Big Three Automakers Look Offshore for Profitable Entry-Level Models," Canadian Press, March 28, 2004, accessed from Yahoo! News 4"Best Vehicles for $25,000 or Less," Consumer Reports, April 2004, p. 7 5"Vehicle Profiles: A User's Guide," Consumer Reports, April 2004, pp. 36, 39, 40, 66, 67, 68, and 68, respectively |
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