DETROIT — While still remaining close-mouthed on such critical details as the production and rollout schedule for the electric Chevrolet Volt, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz on Tuesday reported that the automaker is "committed to seeing the program through."
In a posting on the GMFastLane blog, Lutz expounded on how, in his view, GM was "beaten to the punch" on hybrids and how that is not going to happen again with electric vehicles. The posting was enlightening because it gave readers an inside look at how General Motors considered competing against the hybrid Toyota Prius.
"GM had the technology to do hybrids back when Toyota was launching the first Prius," Lutz wrote. "But we opted not to ask the board to approve a product program that'd be destined to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. In the end, it cost us much more than that; it cost us our reputation for technology leadership and innovation. We made that mistake once. We won't make it again. I think the whole company has learned when you step out and do bold things, you win, and when you're cautious and let other people do the bold things, you lose."
He added: "Many great ideas die every day because we value the safety of the tried-and-true over the risk that true innovation requires. This is not going to be the case with Volt; we are going for the brass ring."
Lutz was skimpy on specifics about the Volt, however, only saying that "the team continues to make progress."
What this means to you: Despite the April 1 date on the posting, let's not hope this is Lutz's idea of an April Fools' Day prank and that the Volt is still on track. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
In a posting on the GMFastLane blog, Lutz expounded on how, in his view, GM was "beaten to the punch" on hybrids and how that is not going to happen again with electric vehicles. The posting was enlightening because it gave readers an inside look at how General Motors considered competing against the hybrid Toyota Prius.
"GM had the technology to do hybrids back when Toyota was launching the first Prius," Lutz wrote. "But we opted not to ask the board to approve a product program that'd be destined to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. In the end, it cost us much more than that; it cost us our reputation for technology leadership and innovation. We made that mistake once. We won't make it again. I think the whole company has learned when you step out and do bold things, you win, and when you're cautious and let other people do the bold things, you lose."
He added: "Many great ideas die every day because we value the safety of the tried-and-true over the risk that true innovation requires. This is not going to be the case with Volt; we are going for the brass ring."
Lutz was skimpy on specifics about the Volt, however, only saying that "the team continues to make progress."
What this means to you: Despite the April 1 date on the posting, let's not hope this is Lutz's idea of an April Fools' Day prank and that the Volt is still on track. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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