Filed under: GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show, At Witz End
Attending the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, my first as a journalist in 15 years, I was stunned by the excitement and optimism of the people involved and the depth and breadth of the product on display. “This is the Golden Age of the Automobile,” I thought.
That atmosphere prevailed until 2009, when the economy, the auto market and (many feared) the entire U.S. industry seemed to be crashing down around everyone’s ears. The product was there, but the trappings were sparse and the aura decidedly glum. Now we’ve seen the 2010 Detroit show, which was subdued but cautiously optimistic. There was a strong emphasis on “green” - small-car introductions, hybrid and EV concepts, a plethora of neighborhood EVs on “Electric Avenue” and a lushly wooded drive course for volt-powered vehicles - plus the usual new family, luxury, utility and performance-car debuts.
The night before press days, ageless, outspoken, oft-controversial General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told a Society of Automotive Analysts meeting that GM is well on its way to recovery. While fleet sales were (intentionally) way down, December retail sales were up 13 percent with four brands vs. eight the year before, its fourth-quarter retail market share was up a full two points from the previous quarter, and its newest products - the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, Buick LaCrosse, GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX - were, he said, “smash hits.” Read more after the jump.
Continue reading At Witz’ End - Detroit 2010: Detroit recovers, Lutz pontificates
At Witz’ End - Detroit 2010: Detroit recovers, Lutz pontificates originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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