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Lutz: 35 mpg CAFÉ will bring huge change to future GM product plans
According to GM’s Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz, GM’s future product plans may face a massive change if the 35 mpg CAFÉ fleet average favored by Congress is enacted.

“The minute we have confirmation of the 35 mpg rule, that is the point where we go through all of our forward product plans and probably introduce, frankly, massive restructuring of the product plan,” said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. “A 35 mpg fleet mix means there is a bunch of stuff out there that is going to have to... Read Article
Lutz: 35 mpg CAFÉ will bring huge change to future GM product plans



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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 12/7/2007 3:41:22 PM
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It doenst look to pass the Senate, so it may be moot.

However, I am concerned that Lutz believes he has to dramatically shake up his future line-up to meet these goals. These goals are the weaker version of what had been argued in the House. If GM does not have fuel efficient vehicle as a KEY part of their lineup over the next decade, then they deserve to fail. CAFE or not, the future of the industry cannot be sustained at today's rate of consumption. High mpg cars should already be far along in the works, GM should not be waiting for the government to tell it to make them.

Toyota is publicly on record embracing this new standard. My guess is that they have many vehicles and engines scheduled to launch in the next few years that will make them compliant. How's everyone else doin??? Hopefully not like GM.

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SpectatorSpectator - 12/7/2007 4:41:35 PM
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I agree with your top statment entirly, however that second paragraph on Toyota is a bit suspect.

I don't see toyota launching a whole bunch of new vehicles and engines in the next few years. I have a feeling they will be banking on Prius sales and their high MPG (especially these 100mpg plug-ins everyone seems to be talking about)to offset their 2mpg SUV's as well as their there standard 25-30mpg cars.

The reason GM is concerned is that it has a much broader ranging fleet through their sub companies (cadillac, Chevy, etc.), so they don't have the benifit of one super efficient car covering their entire product line like Toyota does.

This will definatly hurt GM more so than it will hurt any other company (save Chyrsler who will be in real big trouble due to Dodge). This won't hurt Ford as much, as they might not be around, or even if they were, it would be with an extremly diminised product line.


Besides...I think Lutz is overreacting anyway. No American car company has met that years CAFE standards... EVER. Even the new Hybrid Yukons and GMC's don't come close to meeting weight and in class regulations let alone help the entire car company's fleet comply with CAFE standards. And they are all still in business.

So I think it will be the same old same old from the car manufacturer's. Sure the cars and trucks they make in the future might be more fuel efficient, but it will never come close to complying to a 35mpg fleet requested by Congress within the next 15years...which is about the same time congress will pass a 50mpg fleet requiment.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 12/8/2007 12:14:41 AM
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thoughtful response to my comment, but I think you underestimate Toyota. The next gen hybrid synergy drive will power several vehicles, making the whole lineup more efficient. Plus a new 2.4L 4 cylinder is on the way, the 4.7L V8 is likely to soon be replaced as the 5.7 is currently more efficient. New models may include a dedicated Lexus hybrid and the micro car IQ. I could go on. These are clearly what are on Toyota's mind as it endorses these standards.

Now I'm no GM expert, but what do they have in the pipeline. The new hybrid trucks are good, but are brand new. There will be no update in efficiency for a long time. The Volt is still a pipe dream. They cant build a small car that makes them money. They should be worried.

GM and other domestics will rely on diesels, if they can get them to meet stringent air standards (good luck) and E85, as long as the feds allow that crazy loophole to exist.

These are interesting times.


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 12/7/2007 3:52:14 PM
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BigShow50BigShow50 - 12/7/2007 10:39:19 PM
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Bobby Boy "No Clue" Lutz, is saying in the nicest way..."We do not have the brains/talent to engineer such a fuel efficent vehicle"..."besides GM is broke, so really do not have a set budget for R&D"....Funny things is...this is where GM will rush into creating something efficent, but will lead to poor quality and failure....

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