Mac - so much for GM

[Bill Hamilton]

Mac - WTF -US giant General Motors will invest $540 million to produce two low-emission motors in central Mexico, the company announced here Thursday, accompanied by President Felipe Calderon......Hey, How about taking some of the Bailout $ and investing it in THIS COUNTRY? Is this true senor Mac? :angry:

 

[Jim in VA]

Bill - Won't comment on GM since there are plenty of news articles that will confirm what you noted above.



As for investing in this country, I have to proudly put in a plug for Tesla Motors (my employer) in that we will be creating over 500 new assembly jobs by end of 2012 to build the Model S sedan - a premium all electric vehicle that will have up to 300 miles of range. A base model can be purchased for $57,400 - and yes that's out of the reach for quite a few, but then again, so were flat screen TV's less than a decade ago (and blu-ray disc players less than five years ago). Starting as early as 2015, we'll have EVs available in the mid-30's with 100% of components built in the United States. Oh, did I mention the SUV version coming in 2014? :lol: By 2020, our projections show that we will be employing nearly 5,000 workers in the United States. Not bad for a bunch of guys that were (and still are) getting flak about putting "laptop" batteries in cars . . .



Exciting stuff happening - and I'm off to California tonight for a week of meetings, etc. with state regulators. If you're around M-day weekend, let's get together for some fishing. Heck, I may try to get a demo Roadster for the weekend too!!



Jim

 

[TrepMan]

Jim - DUDE, you do know that China is the largest and fastest growing auto market in the WORLD! How cool would it be for Tesla to have its # 1 teenage fan (Noah) being driven around Shenzhen in a Model S sedan rolling up to the stoplight next to the ever expanding numbers of Buicks, Caddy's, Maserati GTs, Porsche Panamera, Mercedes S classes and the like. DUDE what a great marketing message, and i'll be HAPPY to set up the deal!!!



Trep

 

[Bill McElroy]

Bill,....I have ZEERO say in how and where the honcho's spend their money. ZEEERO!!

I don't like it anymore than most other people.....but if you're so inclined, (and I'd recommend that you DO)...you can also find PLENTY of news out there where GM is also spending BILLIONS HERE in country on re-tooling, adding shifts, R&D,..calling back THOUSANDS of layed-off workes and HIRING HUNDREDS back that have been laid off for month's if not years,....Engineers and plant worker's alike,..you name it, and GM is doing it!! Now,..and IN COUNTRY!! Don't get upset about a $540 Million dollar investment in Mexico,....that's chump change compared to what they have invested in MICHIGAN and the USA in the past year and into next year. I will repeat that again,.....CHUMP CHANGE compared to what GM has spent in the US and Michigan in the past 12 mos and going forward into the next 5 years,....HERE in the USA!!



WHAT???....you mean you haven't heard THAT???? Find a new News station!! :angry: As for Tesla,...good for them,..when/if they ever become a game changer or competitor,..we will have already beaten them.

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Spend a lil' of that dough here at the Moraine plant and put some people back to work is what they need to do. The execs are too worried about not getting THEIR millions is why they don't.

Remember the days when the U.S actually made something?:angry:

 

[Bill McElroy]

How come no whining about Ford and Chrysler spending MILLIONS and MILLIONS in Mexico??

 

[Marty Klein]

Because Ford is good, GM is evil ....

 

[TOMMY RICH]

:blink:

Oh no he didn't:lol:



They ALL are doing it but, doesn't make it right.

 

[Bill McElroy]

LOL @ Marty...

 

[JR F]

Ha HA Marty...Ford yea, mine Is great did cost more than the Camero though..should of seen that coming...Mac LOL When I worked for GM I also thought It was evil,8 hours a day.. LOL

 

[Bill McElroy]

It's a HELLUVA LOT different now JR,....the NEW GM is light years better than the old. Better management, WAYYY better products,...much faster, much leaner, profit's waay up (3.2B first Qtr 2011) and they shed a TON of beaurocratic, red tape, no value added BS from all of the process and procedures. Anybody who still thinks this is the "same old GM" is sadly mistaken,...and quite frankly, extremely un-informed!!



Carry on..

 

[Jim in VA]

@ Mac - "if and when Tesla becomes a competitor . . ." ???



Dude - I believe it was Tesla that inspired GM to reinvest in electric vehicles. Wasn't it Bob Lutz that directly credited Tesla with revitalizing GM's efforts (see Newsweek 2007)? A program that was DEAD because GM engineers said it couldn't be done! Where was GM's leadership then?



Don't deride what you don't know. We're doing what NO ONE ELSE was doing at a time when everyone else gave up and in the US to boot. We're investing 100% in US manufacturing. Is GM reinvesting as much proportionally back to this country? I won't mention our BUYING the old GM facility in Fremont to build cars and bring jobs back home (oh wait, I just did!).



Don't take this the wrong way, but before you slam Tesla, take a look at what we've done and what we are doing.



One last thing. Raced a ZR1 a couple of weeks ago while in a Roadster. Blew by him in a straight run up the ramp to the freeway :lol:

 

[Bill McElroy]

Jim,...all of those old managers are gone.....

Tesla is not even a blip on GM's radar......

We sell old unused factories all the time....

LOT's of people who drive ZR1's don't race them....(but I bet you'd be sweating bullet's if it was a 100 mile road race,.....up an entrance ramp?? c'mon!)



How are Tesla's earning?? Any profit's yet in the history of the company??



BTW,..the gov't loans and stipulations/requirements (i.e. Obama's Green policies) had a helluva lot more to do with GM reinvesting in electric cars than Tesla's past actions. GEEEZ,..c'mon..give me a break people!



I'm not bothering to reply to any more GM bashing or Tesla Co. horn blowing....frankly I don't care...I'm sick of it.....say what you want, and believe what you want..Bill asked about GM investment in Mexico and I replied....you brought up the Tesla, not me! When Tesla EVER starts taking market share from GM, then I'm sure the Bd. of Directors will have an answer.......until then....you have Letterman to speak for you....oh wait..he wants a Volt now!!...Oh well...maybe Micheal Moore will buy a Roadster!!:wub:

 

[Jim in VA]

Mac - you may be sick of the GM bashing, but if you scroll up, you'll notice I didn't say word one about GM until you started bashing Tesla. So don't push this one back on me.



Bill asked about GM's investing in MEXICO versus the U.S. I replied with how an AMERICAN company (Tesla) was investing back into the United States. Yes, I am VERY PROUD of what we're doing in terms of innovation, investment back into the U.S. economy, reducing dependence on FOREIGN oil and the disruptive effect our product has had on the established auto industry. The Roadster was just the start. When (not if) Model S comes out, it will be another industry game-changer.



Hate it all you want, it won't change the fact that a small fledgling company started by a bunch of U.S. engineers had to show established car companies - like GM - how it can be done. And, if we fail (I'm betting we won't based on the work I've seen internally), we won't be looking for a government bailout.

 

[Bill McElroy]

So,...by saying "When and if Tesla becomes a competitor" (to GM) is bashing Tesla??? uuuhhmmm....don't think so dude!! GM does NOT consider Tesla's $109,000 roadster "competition". Tesla sold 937 Roadsters in 18 countries in 2009,...then they also recalled @ 785 of them in 2 different safety recalls...if that's showing established car companies "how it can be done" maybe Toyota's watching,...'cuz around HERE, if that happened heads would roll and people would lose their jobs!! Nobody would be tootin' any horns about innovation!! (BTW,...GM sold 14,000 corvette's in the same time frame)



Relax Jim,...keep your eyes on the prize,(growing YOUR market share, fixing problems, avoiding recalls, spending MORE on R&D and getting your costs DOWN)...your revenue is up but your operating income and net income is way down. Fixing THAT should be your management's TOP priority,...or they'll need another $465M in loans to keep "competing". Tesla's management is faced with a multitude of lawsuits and additional recalls, so there's plenty to be concerned with and about. Trying to beat GM in the $100K car sales category is NOT one of them!!! Now get back to work...I have to do the same!!

 

[Jim in VA]

Mac - I won't bother replying to every point because frankly, I don't think you are willing to hear it. I would caution you to stop slinging mud about "recalls." If "heads roll" at GM over recalls, I guess this list should be a problem for the "new" GM?



150,000 2011 Chevy Cruze (improper steering shaft installation)

1.5 million 2006-2009 pick up trucks, SUVs and passenger cars (windshield fluid heater fires)

26,00 2011 SUVs (rear axle lock up)

1.3 million 2005-2010 Chevy and Pontiac passenger cars (power steering failure)



I'd also give you back some of your own advice about your balance sheet. Unless GM likes the moniker "Government Motors"?

 

[Bill McElroy]

All "voluntary" on GM's behalf...none mandated,..customer satisfaction is our TOP priority! BTW,...let's keep this comparison to $100K vehicles,..Tesla recalled 84% of their 2009 production....was that voluntary or mandated?? Corvette "safety recalls" in that same time frame?? None that I'm aware of. Yes,..I'm sure there are a few chief's around here sweating bullet's right now over their vehicle line issues as they should be!!....Any recall, voluntary or otherwise is not looked upon with admiration...people are now held accountable in one form or another, but when ya build and sell MILLIONS per year, (as opposed to hundreds),..chit happens!



ALL gov't loans have been paid back in FULL and GM has the most cash and lowest debt in it's history..our "balance sheet" is exceptional!!....any "unrecovered funds by the treasury" is a result of the UST selling their stock prior to making a profit. Not GM's fault......take it up w/Geitner and/or Obama.



Oh...and you've been in the outer fringes of the auto industry now for how long?? 6-12mos??? You're still on your honeymoon dude, and you have NO idea how this industry and market really work,..NONE. When you've been around the block a few times, your enfatuation will turn to reality and you'll become experienced! (it's already starting to happen now with the cancelation of the Roadster and the still NOT in production "S" model,..how can Tesla even stay viable, much less expect to make a profit w/nothing to sell??) Until then,..I've gotta do my part to make another $3.2Billion PROFIT in the 2nd Qtr,..experience and global SALES demand it!



Good luck w/your sales this year!

 

[Jim in VA]

Mac - again, speaking before you know. FYI, I have been in the auto industry for 20 years working for large OEMs, suppliers and truck manufacturers. I am in deeper with inner workings of this industry (and its executives) than you will ever know or comprehend. 'Nuff said, I'm done trying to educate someone who has a one dimension view of the universe.



ps: FYI, we're have a RECORD sales year . . . thank you very much!

 

[Bill McElroy]

Oh,...you mean you sold one,.....awesome,........congrat's