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Lutz's last hurrah; Former Chrysler product leader hired to salvage GM's fortunes.(General Motors Corp. hires Robert A. Lutz as vice chairman of product development)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
If product is king, General Motors just hired the crown prince.
The three-year deal that makes Robert A. Lutz GM's vice chairman of product development is either a harbinger of a turnaround in priorities, or the desperate act of a deeply troubled company. Hint to his new co-workers: When Lutz refers to street performance, he's not talking Wall Street.
The 69-year-old former vice chairman of Chrysler says he expects good things based on what he's seen of Cadillac's CTS (Cover Story, page 18) and GM's light truck lineup. ``I don't expect I'll be finding any disasters,'' says Lutz, whose leadership at Chrysler was the stuff of legend. The company banged out hit after hit on his watch: Ram trucks, Viper, Stealth, Prowler, cab-forward LH cars, and concepts that included the precursor to the PT Cruiser. Working hand-in-hand with design chief Tom Gale and engineering guru Francois Castaing, Lutz's string of successes was such that, even as he headed out the door in mid-1998 just before the merger with Daimler, few expected he would be gone long from the automotive industry.
Retirement gave him more time to fly high-performance aircraft, but he was also serving as chairman and CEO of battery-maker Exide Technologies. He is also the primary investor in Cunningham Motor Co., a firm hoping to build a $200,000 American-made luxury touring car, and he has dabbled in motorcycles along the way.
Lutz says it's too early to tell whether any of GM's future products need significant altering, but he expects to have a handle on the situation by the time he's officially on board Sept. 1. Four months or so after that, GM vice president of product development Tom Davis retires. If Lutz finds something he feels is a ``terrible mistake,'' he says he'll work out a solution with GM president and CEO Rick Wagoner, North America president Ron Zarrella, and Davis.
Recent developments at GM, like the 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engines powering midsize SUVs and Quadrasteer all-wheel steering for full-size trucks, are encouraging signs, Lutz says. What Lutz might influence for the future-especially in passenger cars-carries promise. It's too late for changes in ...
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...inmates are running the asylum under Lutz, GM's 74-year-old vice chairman...This place is so switched on," Lutz says of GM's design team. "There's a...design-driven company." Before Lutz joined GM five years ago, product planners...
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- Magazine article from: Automotive News Sherefkin, Robert September 23, 2002 700+ words
...does not contain allegations of any wrongful conduct by GM or Mr. Lutz. GM does not believe that the claims against it and Mr...vigorously.'' Threat to fund raising The suit against GM, Lutz, Cunningham Motor CEO Jack McCor-mack, who declined...
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- Magazine article from: Automotive News Stein, Jason September 20, 2004 700+ words
...Vice Chairman Robert Lutz says the automaker...replace Mark Hogan, GM's former group vice...move for us now.'' GM's global development process has helped, Lutz says. Increasingly...a scenario he says GM is ready to accept. Lutz says a final decision...
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- Magazine article from: Automotive News Europe Guilford, Dave March 22, 2004 700+ words
...consultant's report for the next three months," said Lutz, GM's vice chairman for product. "I would hope...to respond to dealer concerns. CAPTION(S): GM's Bob Lutz, left, will ready GM Europe for Fritz Henderson.
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- Magazine article from: Automotive News Guilford, Dave August 4, 2003 700+ words
...year. But they are waiting for the Lutz factor to emerge. Vice Chairman Robert Lutz, GM's product guru, has streamlined...tweaks. The big model year for the Lutz factor is expected to be 2006. Meanwhile, GM's launches include eight new or...
- Lutz: GM product is better; now it must erase "reputational deficit'; Vice...
- Magazine article from: Advertising Age Halliday, Jean June 1, 2009 700+ words
...The outspoken Mr. Lutz poked fun at GM products of the...nine years. While GM has erased product...economy deficits, Mr. Lutz said, the toughest...Advertising Age how well GM's Total Confidence...moving the metal, Mr. Lutz said sales have been...
- BOB LUTZ MOVES TO SENIOR ADVISOR ROLE AT GM.
- News wire article from: AsiaPulse News February 10, 2009 700+ words
...announced that Robert A. Lutz, GM Vice Chairman - Global...and Senior Advisor. Lutz, 76, will provide strategic input into GM's global design and...executing outstanding GM cars and trucks. Note: Biographies of Lutz and Stephens are available...
- GM invests $2 million in Lutz car project.(Brief Article)
- Magazine article from: Automotive News Sherefkin, Robert December 24, 2001 700+ words
...Car Co., a project of Robert Lutz, GM's vice chairman of product development...launched their effort last year before Lutz was hired by GM. The duo unveiled a concept of...invested $750,000 in the company. Lutz and GM are minority partners without an...