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•  
  • Ellen Lux
  • 1 Comment

  Nov 28 12:35 PM
  I read your article on G.E. 11/17/08. If what I read is true, how can anyone keep that stock? How can we the tax payers afford bailing them out in the future?

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•  
  • SCovert
  • 13 Comments

  Nov 28 01:46 PM
  How does one tell, especially in the face of an unusual volume spike in a particular option, how many contracts were bought and how many were written?
  
  Is there any simple summary of such information in a single place, on the web, even if only for the most popularly traded options?

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•  
  • Joey
  • 33 Comments

  Nov 28 04:41 PM
  How to Fix GM – Plan One
  1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River). That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250 people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000 each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent, equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million. Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each) another $15 million.
  3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another $3 million in office space.
  4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again, a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million in savings.
  5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings of around $18 million with benefits.
  6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two Cadillac models.
  7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April, and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM around $1.4 billion.
  8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings of $200 million dollars.
  Plan Two on Fixing GM
  How to save GM
  1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of at least two Cadillac models.
  2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn, and Cadillac
  3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field
  6) The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million
  10) Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  14) No parties for auto shows
  15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost for a total savings of $200 million).
  
  

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • Joey
  • 33 Comments

  Nov 28 04:42 PM
  How to Fix GM – Plan One
  1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River). That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250 people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000 each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent, equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million. Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each) another $15 million.
  3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another $3 million in office space.
  4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again, a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million in savings.
  5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings of around $18 million with benefits.
  6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two Cadillac models.
  7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April, and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM around $1.4 billion.
  8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings of $200 million dollars.
  Plan Two on Fixing GM
  How to save GM
  1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of at least two Cadillac models.
  2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn, and Cadillac
  3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field
  6) The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million
  10) Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  14) No parties for auto shows
  15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost for a total savings of $200 million).
  
  

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•  
  • briacal
  • 30 Comments

  Nov 28 11:46 PM
  maybe ford will survive well

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • thannagan
  • 53 Comments

  Nov 29 01:41 AM
  Joey - Good stuff. What about labor costs? How about a Federal bailout appraoch that is a 50/50 match to whatever GM and Ford can get in the open market and on the same exact terms?

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • long_on_oil
  • 102 Comments

  Nov 29 09:07 AM
  You have some good ideas but overall your suggestions would lead to bankruptcy. Toyota and Honda would eat GM's lunch if they implemented your plan of reducing models and cutting advertising and dealerships.
  What about pickup trucks? Country boys demand their Chevy and Ford trucks.
  It is clear by watching the hearings that it is the management of these companies that needs to be overhauled. With the exception of Ford, I wouldn't hire any of them to run a hot dog stand, let alone a car company.
  The failure of any company is always tied to the management of the company and these companies are doomed without replacing the management.
  I was impressed with the head of Ford, other than him, fire the rest.
  You can blame the Unions but it was management that gave into their demands. The Unions are like a spoiled child, they cry and pout until they get their way. I would be like Reagan, present the Unions with a decent contract that will insure the survival of the company and if they refused it, fire them all or relocate the plant.
  So my solution is:
  1. Replace management
  2. Make a product that customers demand including quality and style.
  3. Take care of the employees without giving them a contract that will make the company non competitive.
  

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • springman08
  • 3 Comments

  Nov 29 01:03 PM
  Joey - You're spot on w/ a lot of these thoughts but I'm not too hopeful that current management structures at GM or any of the Big 3 are that adaptable. Over the last 30+ years they've become addicted to limited vision, lack of innovation and working without any business blueprints grounded in reality. Yes, one could cite the success of the minivan, the SUV and pickup product spectrum but is that all there is for the past 3 decades from the Big 3 as competition from several points on the globe increased?
  
  I agree ad budgets could be drastically cut (this is another area they've been slow on the uptake - the value of social media). Dealer support however needs be augmented not cut. Te critical area is brand realignment – they need to distill down the models, and make GM or GMC the front facing brand - not the hidden overlord. The consolidation would eliminate the unhealthy cross-pollination of the offerings, facilitate brand recognition as opposed to brand confusion, integrate a brand management structure that could be actionable as opposed to their archaic top-heavy, slow-to-respond methodology and cut "too many to currently count" redundant management, sales, marketing positions, and assembly lines.
  
  I, we, could go on.
  
  Unfortunately however, I think intervention will only be a provision that allows current management time to figure out their safe exit as none of them have displayed any competence, much less courage, needed to stabilize then grow out from the current situation
  
  On Nov 28 04:42 PM Joey wrote:
  
  > How to Fix GM – Plan One
  > 1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  > 2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east
  > of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River).
  > That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250
  > people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000
  > each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent,
  > equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million.
  > Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each)
  > another $15 million.
  > 3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices
  > in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another
  > $3 million in office space.
  > 4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone
  > Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They
  > make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again,
  > a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million
  > in savings.
  > 5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings
  > of around $18 million with benefits.
  > 6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac
  > to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one
  > (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This
  > will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two
  > Cadillac models.
  > 7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April,
  > and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three
  > week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM
  > around $1.4 billion.
  > 8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales
  > and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings
  > of $200 million dollars.
  > Plan Two on Fixing GM
  > How to save GM
  > 1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they
  > could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get
  > rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra
  > and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab
  > all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of
  > at least two Cadillac models.
  > 2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best
  > distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn,
  > and Cadillac
  > 3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  > 4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  >
  > 5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field
  
  >
  > 6) The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  >
  > 7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  > 8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  > 9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million
  
  >
  > 10) Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  >
  > 11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  > 12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  > 13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  >
  > 14) No parties for auto shows
  > 15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  > 16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the
  > cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  > 17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient
  > standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  > 18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings
  > from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost
  > for a total savings of $200 million).
  >

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • springman08
  • 3 Comments

  Nov 29 01:06 PM
  Joey - You're spot on w/ a lot of these thoughts but I'm not too hopeful that current management structures at GM or any of the Big 3 are that adaptable. Over the last 30+ years they've become addicted to limited vision, lack of innovation and working without any business blueprints grounded in reality. Yes, one could cite the success of the minivan, the SUV and pickup product spectrum but is that all there is for the past 3 decades from the Big 3 as competition from several points on the globe increased?
  
  I agree ad budgets could be drastically cut (this is another area they've been slow on the uptake - the value of social media). Dealer support however needs be augmented not cut. The critical area is brand realignment – they need to distill down the models, and make GM or GMC the front facing brand - not the hidden overlord. The consolidation would eliminate the unhealthy cross-pollination of the offerings, facilitate brand recognition as opposed to brand confusion, integrate a brand management structure that could be actionable as opposed to their archaic top-heavy, slow-to-respond methodology and cut "too many to currently count" redundant management, sales, marketing positions, and assembly lines.
  
  I, we, could go on.
  
  Unfortunately however, I think intervention will only be a provision that allows current management time to figure out their safe exit as none of them have displayed any competence, much less courage, needed to stabilize then grow out from the current situation
  
  On Nov 28 04:42 PM Joey wrote:
  
  > How to Fix GM – Plan One
  > 1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  > 2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east
  > of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River).
  > That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250
  > people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000
  > each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent,
  > equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million.
  > Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each)
  > another $15 million.
  > 3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices
  > in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another
  > $3 million in office space.
  > 4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone
  > Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They
  > make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again,
  > a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million
  > in savings.
  > 5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings
  > of around $18 million with benefits.
  > 6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac
  > to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one
  > (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This
  > will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two
  > Cadillac models.
  > 7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April,
  > and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three
  > week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM
  > around $1.4 billion.
  > 8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales
  > and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings
  > of $200 million dollars.
  > Plan Two on Fixing GM
  > How to save GM
  > 1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they
  > could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get
  > rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra
  > and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab
  > all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of
  > at least two Cadillac models.
  > 2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best
  > distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn,
  > and Cadillac
  > 3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  > 4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  >
  > 5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field
  
  >
  > 6) The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  >
  > 7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  > 8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  > 9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million
  
  >
  > 10) Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  >
  > 11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  > 12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  > 13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  >
  > 14) No parties for auto shows
  > 15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  > 16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the
  > cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  > 17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient
  > standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  > 18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings
  > from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost
  > for a total savings of $200 million).
  >

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • User 118015
  • 303 Comments

  Nov 29 01:55 PM
  Its a new car game out there for sure. Actually the Toyota business model should make a lot of sense...limited number of models but each one of high quality and high milage. Where are the GM Hybrids to compete with Toyota????...its seems that this is what the public now wants...high quality, high milage and minimum maintenance.

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • Roy M.
  • 355 Comments

  Nov 29 03:27 PM
  Think that the 2 Generals are on the same boat.
  They are both in various troubles.
  Talking about GE & GM.
  Anyone think so ?

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • ZgartZ
  • 10 Comments
  • My Website

  Nov 29 04:10 PM
  Good analysis but too complicated. Try this.
  Government takes over legacy liabilities.
  GM declares bankruptcy.
  Union contracts are kaput. Suppliers get paid under bankruptcy. Golden parachutes don't open.
  All senior executives get pink slips. Some are rehired at "main street" wages.
  The company has 2 years to return to profitability using GAAP rules.
  I drive a Pontiac Montana. It's a good vehicle.
  
  
  
  On Nov 28 04:41 PM Joey wrote:
  
  > How to Fix GM – Plan One
  > 1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  > 2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east
  > of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River).
  > That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250
  > people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000
  > each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent,
  > equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million.
  > Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each)
  > another $15 million.
  > 3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices
  > in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another
  > $3 million in office space.
  > 4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone
  > Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They
  > make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again,
  > a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million
  > in savings.
  > 5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings
  > of around $18 million with benefits.
  > 6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac
  > to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one
  > (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This
  > will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two
  > Cadillac models.
  > 7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April,
  > and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three
  > week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM
  > around $1.4 billion.
  > 8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales
  > and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings
  > of $200 million dollars.
  > Plan Two on Fixing GM
  > How to save GM
  > 1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they
  > could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get
  > rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra
  > and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab
  > all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of
  > at least two Cadillac models.
  > 2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best
  > distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn,
  > and Cadillac
  > 3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  > 4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  >
  > 5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field <br/>6)
  > The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  >
  > 7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  > 8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  > 9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million <br/>10)
  > Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  >
  > 11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  > 12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  > 13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  >
  > 14) No parties for auto shows
  > 15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  > 16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the
  > cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  > 17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient
  > standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  > 18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings
  > from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost
  > for a total savings of $200 million).
  >

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • maine whiz
  • 4 Comments
  • My Website

  Nov 29 04:56 PM
  whew... We have some readers who can save the auto industry
  in USA. The unions and management have to start over
  
  Please buy lobsters when you can.

  Reply | Link to Comment
•  
  • roger.wan
  • 2 Comments

  Nov 29 05:11 PM
  Joey:
  I am a reporter. I have strong interest to talk with you.
  Rogerwang2046@gmail.co...
  
  
  On Nov 28 04:41 PM Joey wrote:
  
  > How to Fix GM – Plan One
  > 1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  > 2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east
  > of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River).
  > That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250
  > people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000
  > each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent,
  > equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million.
  > Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each)
  > another $15 million.
  > 3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices
  > in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another
  > $3 million in office space.
  > 4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone
  > Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They
  > make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again,
  > a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million
  > in savings.
  > 5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings
  > of around $18 million with benefits.
  > 6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac
  > to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one
  > (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This
  > will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two
  > Cadillac models.
  > 7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April,
  > and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three
  > week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM
  > around $1.4 billion.
  > 8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales
  > and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings
  > of $200 million dollars.
  > Plan Two on Fixing GM
  > How to save GM
  > 1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they
  > could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get
  > rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra
  > and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab
  > all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of
  > at least two Cadillac models.
  > 2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best
  > distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn,
  > and Cadillac
  > 3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  > 4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  >
  > 5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field <br/>6)
  > The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  >
  > 7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  > 8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  > 9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million <br/>10)
  > Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  >
  > 11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  > 12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  > 13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  >
  > 14) No parties for auto shows
  > 15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  > 16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the
  > cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  > 17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient
  > standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  > 18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings
  > from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost
  > for a total savings of $200 million).
  >

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•  
  • Cole Bene'
  • 16 Comments
  • My Website

  Nov 29 09:11 PM
  Joey,
  Your right on, forward your planto congress or Obomas public affairs web site
  Cole Bene'

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•  
  • Cole Bene'
  • 16 Comments
  • My Website

  Nov 29 09:12 PM
  Forward

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•  
  • The King of the World
  • 1 Comment

  Nov 29 11:04 PM
  You are all wrong people. What the Big 3 needs to do is focus more on advertising and catchy jingles! It's not about fuel economy. It's about staying trendy. Hire Will Ferrell, Rihanna, and Brett Favre for ad campaigns. Paste your product on every billboard from here to Timbuktu proclaiming your product superiority. Create trendy websites and viral videos that everyone will be talking about for years to come. People are sheep. When you start associating American automobiles as the "It" thing to have again, then it will be so, regardless if it is true or not. That is all.

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•  
  • Roy M.
  • 355 Comments

  Nov 30 09:53 AM
  King,
  Still quality counts.
  Trendy sure help this days.

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•  
  • long_on_oil
  • 102 Comments

  Nov 30 10:21 AM
  Honda and Toyota succeeded based on one word... Quality...quality quality. Deming, the American quality genius, is the person that single handedly gave the Japanese car companies the edge over the Big 3, the rest is history.
  You can call it mismanagement, poor design or whatever you want but the bottom line was the quality of the product. One thing is for sure the foreign cars did not have the looks of the American made but they did have better quality and as a result the owners did not have to spend valuable time at dealerships waiting for their cars to be repaired.

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•  
  • sumosama
  • 237 Comments

  Dec 01 03:46 PM
  Well thought out! Huzzah!
  
  
  On Nov 28 04:42 PM Joey wrote:
  
  > How to Fix GM – Plan One
  > 1) Sell All of GMAC and the Insurance Business (Ditech)
  > 2) Cut down from five regional offices to two. One in Atlanta (east
  > of the Mississippi River)and one in LA (west of Mississippi River).
  > That means Chicago, New York, and Dallas are closed. With about 250
  > people working in each location (750 total) at an average of $100,000
  > each, that is a yearly savings of $75 million. Operation cost (rent,
  > equipment, etc.) at the three locations will save another $1.8 million.
  > Benefits for the 750 employees will save another (at $20,000 each)
  > another $15 million.
  > 3) Next, there is an average of three offices per state (local offices
  > in cities across the country), if we close them, that is another
  > $3 million in office space.
  > 4) Next, the District Managers work out of their house and the Zone
  > Managers (or whatever term is given to them), could be let go. They
  > make around $150,000 a year and there are about 75 of them. Again,
  > a savings of $11.25 million. With benefits, a total of $12.75 million
  > in savings.
  > 5) Next, cut around 150 jobs at the Detroit GM Headquarters. A savings
  > of around $18 million with benefits.
  > 6) Next, cut Buick down to two cars (Enclave and Lucerne), cut Pontiac
  > to one (G6), cut GMC to two (Yukon and Sierra), cut Saturn to one
  > (Vue) – and put all cars to a new umbrella called “United GM”. This
  > will save GM billions. Also cut back on two Chevy models and two
  > Cadillac models.
  > 7) Next, cut advertising in December, January, February, March, April,
  > and May (with the exception of auto show advertising for a three
  > week period during the show and its incentives). This will save GM
  > around $1.4 billion.
  > 8) Sell all five planes. This will save GM $100 million in sales
  > and another $100 million in yearly travel expenses for a total savings
  > of $200 million dollars.
  > Plan Two on Fixing GM
  > How to save GM
  > 1) GM needs to cut their total car models to 25 (from 60). What they
  > could do is get rid of all Buicks expect Lucerne and Enclave; get
  > rid of all Pontiacs except G6; get rid of all GMCs except Sierra
  > and Yukon; get rid of all Saturns except the Vue; get rid of Saab
  > all together; get rid of at least three Chevy models; get rid of
  > at least two Cadillac models.
  > 2) Get rid of half the dealerships. Chevy seems to have the best
  > distribution so change the Chevy dealerships to Chevy, BPG, Saturn,
  > and Cadillac
  > 3) Close at least three of the five regional offices
  > 4) Close all Zone offices and have employees work out of their homes
  >
  > 5) Get rid of 50% or more of white collar workers in the field <br/>6)
  > The factories will close based upon which models will be discontinued
  >
  > 7) Have upper management take a 35% pay cut
  > 8) Have middle management take a 20% pay cut
  > 9) Cut advertising from $2.3 billion per year to $750 million <br/>10)
  > Get rid of advertising groups and have national advertising only
  >
  > 11) Get rid of co-op advertising dollars
  > 12) Get rid of all promotional advertising
  > 13) Cut all regional and national meetings that cost more than $100,000
  >
  > 14) No parties for auto shows
  > 15) Have special cash incentives for cash only purchases
  > 16) Once the Volt battery is discovered, convert at least half the
  > cars and trucks left after the cut to Hybrid
  > 17) Move 1/2 the engineers to be used to discover more fuel efficient
  > standards and more alternative fuel / hybrid cars
  > 18) Sell all five planes and travel coach (a $100 million savings
  > from cost of planes and a $100 million savings in yearly air cost
  > for a total savings of $200 million).
  >

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•  
  • netskinner
  • 2 Comments

  Dec 09 08:25 PM
  Bankruptcy is better than management by Congress. No matter how dire, Congress management of the auto industry will be much worse. You want to buy a car with big earmarks all over it? Ugly! Expensive!
  
  Bankruptcy is tough, yes. That is where they belong.
  
  Congress does not have a better place to put them. The auto makers themselves spent like fools and have negative value.
  
  Chysler? Wow, they are begging for $7 billion, which is 100% of their purchase price from the Germans. A bailout loan of 100% puts new meaning to zero risk investing. Why heck, anyone that knows how to beg can now be in the auto business.

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