Monday, January 7, 2008

Science Fiction gets to GM (WSJ)

GM has a project to invent an automatic self driving car. Rick Wagoner, GM CEO, will give a key note speech at the Consumer ELECTRONICS show (Las Vegas). Wagoner is convinced that being the first with game changing innovations is the solution to one of GM's fundamental problems, its battered image.
Sell your GM stock ASAP.
Letting a micro processor drive in Rt 128 rush hour traffic would scare the hell out of me. I don't care how cool it is, or how much testing it passed, no micro processor is going to be as reassuring as my two hands on the wheel, and my foot on the gas. Plus decent engine power, strong brakes and good handling. Like my Deville gives me.
GM's problem isn't battered image. It's problem is crummy product. The only thing GM makes that anyone wants to buy is Corvette. The rest of their cars & trucks are so plain and boring they make the blandness of Toyota and Honda look exciting. GM's problem is a management of bean counters (Wagoner is an ex bean counter) rather than real car guys, engineers and salesmen. Only a bean counter would think you could sell an automatic drives-itself car.
Sell your GM stock. The company is doomed as long as this bunch of suits are running it.

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