GM Europe head 'quits following Opel U-turn'

[jaywestfall]

Well then, I am sure Magna has a place already carved out for him.

Never did understand why it was necessary to divest Opel/Vauxhall in the first place. Economics 101 pretty much dictates prudent investors don't sell off assets when values are in the trash can. With the looming restructuring, will this company be profitable? Based on the tenor of the article, I assume government assistance will be required or asked for, correct?

[Hoboken Tim]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

There's a good book that may never be written in this whole Opel deal.

I was shocked that they were going to split it off in the first place, even if GME has always wanted to break free.

GM masterfully played for time. Next up: announcing that Pontiac isn't really going away, after all.

Boy, would I like to see Pontiac return as a niche performance brand.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

A few comments:

1) Forster was ALWAYS at odds with GMNA management. He (and some of his colleagues) very much supported Opel leaving GM in any way possible.

2) Judging by what Fritz said, the writing was on the wall anyway. Forster is better to resign than get demoted or fired.

3) Good riddance... One reason GM went down in flames was because of corporate in fighting. Forster anda few others at GME need to be shown the door.

[rsbaker]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

GM masterfully played for time. Next up: announcing that Pontiac isn't really going away, after all.

When pigs or perhaps Oldsmobiles fly! I certainly wouldn't complain though.

[YupYupYup]

Originally Posted by K-1

Did Forster have a back-room deal with Magna? I mean, without Opel, GM Europe is rather flat. Unless he had a particular disdain for Opel, it seems getting rid of it would do little to help him. You'd think he'd be happy not having his "house" sold out from under him.

Forster thought he would be taken care of by Magna...I am pretty sure Magna would have softened him up wining and dining him. Temper tantrum? Saving face in German?

I am sure the nationalist German unions want to control Opel. At the end the day they need to realize that U.S.-based GM created Opel, gave them the jobs and needs to keep Opel for the future.

I have always said GM never intended to sell Opel...Smoke and mirrors for the Auto Task Force...

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by FUTURE_OF_GM

A few comments:

1) Forster was ALWAYS at odds with GMNA management. He (and some of his colleagues) very much supported Opel leaving GM in any way possible.

2) Judging by what Fritz said, the writing was on the wall anyway. Forster is better to resign than get demoted or fired.

3) Good riddance... One reason GM went down in flames was because of corporate in fighting. Forster anda few others at GME need to be shown the door.

The problem is, Opel knew they had superior engineering that GM. And they're right. Especially when it was combined and integrated with Saab engineering.

GMNA had a problem with that.

Problem is, if Opel and Saab used the American version of the Epsilon, their cars would be hopelessly outclassed in Europe.
GMNA didn't understand that.
Ironically enough, the North American Epsilon was outclassed in the US as well.

So who was in the right?

GMNA has a point. Political infighting has got to stop. But Opel has the superior design and engineering. So why use an inferior version, when everyone wins with the better version?

Both were right. Both are wrong.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

The problem is, Opel knew they had superior engineering that GM. And they're right. Especially when it was combined and integrated with Saab engineering.

GMNA had a problem with that.

Problem is, if Opel and Saab used the American version of the Epsilon, their cars would be hopelessly outclassed in Europe.
GMNA didn't understand that.
Ironically enough, the North American Epsilon was outclassed in the US as well.

So who was in the right?

GMNA has a point. Political infighting has got to stop. But Opel has the superior design and engineering. So why use an inferior version, when everyone wins with the better version?

Both were right. Both are wrong.

It does not matter who is a better engineer, this guy was not a royal employee, its good he left. Opel is a GM asset, and that is that.

Their Engineering belongs to GM.

[GMJoe]

Read about the workers walkout yesterday.

Russians called GM "arrogant". Germans called them" turbo-capatalists".Unions demanded GM turn Opel over to them and Germany, despite the fact GM has OWNED Opel for YEARS.

Talk about arrogance,how about the attitude of these radical gingoistic unions! Did you see our Chrysler workers walk out on Fiat and demand Chrysler remain under American control?


Let them push too hard ,and GM could pull the bankruptsy card on them and they all will be out of work ,not just a few thousand. They better get their heads screwed on staright and rationally work out things with GM management.

GM can survive as a company without Opel, but Opel can't survive without GM.

[Tony_the_Tiger]

They just sent Max Bob over to be boss until they can find a new leader. This should be fun......

[ZvetteGuy]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

When pigs or perhaps Oldsmobiles fly! I certainly wouldn't complain though.

News Flash!!! Swine Flu = Swine Flew... there is your pigs flying!!

[eaton53]

Originally Posted by Tony_the_Tiger

They just sent Max Bob over to be boss until they can find a new leader. This should be fun......

Lutz already is a member of the Opel supervisory board.
Now he'll be chairman.

[tombalas]

Originally Posted by YupYupYup

I am sure the nationalist German unions want to control Opel. At the end the day they need to realize that U.S.-based GM created Opel, gave them the jobs and needs to keep Opel for the future.

Actually, GM bought the Adam Opel company in 1929. Not sure if Opel was making cars at that time - I do know they started off in the 19th century making sewing machines.

And why continue making cars in high cost Germany when Eastern Europe is where all the new car assembly plants are being located?

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by GMJoe

Read about the workers walkout yesterday.

Russians called GM "arrogant". Germans called them" turbo-capatalists".Unions demanded GM turn Opel over to them and Germany, despite the fact GM has OWNED Opel for YEARS.

Talk about arrogance,how about the attitude of these radical gingoistic unions! Did you see our Chrysler workers walk out on Fiat and demand Chrysler remain under American control?


Let them push too hard ,and GM could pull the bankruptsy card on them and they all will be out of work ,not just a few thousand. They better get their heads screwed on staright and rationally work out things with GM management.

GM can survive as a company without Opel, but Opel can't survive without GM.

Excellent post.

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by tombalas

Actually, GM bought the Adam Opel company in 1929. Not sure if Opel was making cars at that time - I do know they started off in the 19th century making sewing machines.

And why continue making cars in high cost Germany when Eastern Europe is where all the new car assembly plants are being located?

Excellent point about the history of Opel, I was going to mention it if someone else didn't.

As for the other, why build cars in the U.S. when the new plants seem to end up in low wage countries like Mexico? Answer that one and you'll understand why.

[dracleath]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

The problem is, Opel knew they had superior engineering that GM. And they're right. Especially when it was combined and integrated with Saab engineering.

GMNA had a problem with that.

Problem is, if Opel and Saab used the American version of the Epsilon, their cars would be hopelessly outclassed in Europe.
GMNA didn't understand that.
Ironically enough, the North American Epsilon was outclassed in the US as well.

So who was in the right?

GMNA has a point. Political infighting has got to stop. But Opel has the superior design and engineering. So why use an inferior version, when everyone wins with the better version?

Both were right. Both are wrong.

Not sure what your point really is here. The NA epsilon 1 is for all intents and purposes the European epsilon 1 just stretched a bit. The Vectra and its descendants were an absolute joke in Europe. It was a joke when it was the G6 in the US. It wasn't until Saturn and Chevrolet modified the platform, redid the interiors, etc that it was competitive at all.

It wasn't until the Insignia and Epsilon 2 that Epsilon was a critical success or competitive in Europe.