Report: GM CEO Akerson disses Lincoln as "over,"...

[Falc'man]

Report: GM CEO Akerson disses Lincoln as "over,"......
Autoblog
June 6, 2011
by Jeremy Korzeniewski

"They are trying like hell to resurrect Lincoln. Well, I might as well tell you, you might as well sprinkle holy water. It's over."

So says General Motors CEO Dan Akerson, speaking to reporters from The Detroit News. Fightin' words to be sure, though it seems the suits at Lincoln, Ford's luxury brand that competes with Cadillac here in the United States, have declined to comment on Akerson's statement.

The dismissal of the Lincoln brand seems especially interesting given Akerson's reported take on the current state of Cadillac. Akerson is said to believe that Cadillac isn't yet where it needs to be, saying the brand needs another 12 to 24 months of gestation. By that time, there ought to be bookends to the current CTS in place in the form of the ATS (smaller) and XTS (larger, replacing the STS and DTS).

Still, Akerson doesn't expect to "blow the doors off" Cadillac's competition, saying instead that "they will be very competitive." We'd think Caddy would be aiming squarely at something more like "class leading," but what do we know?



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Where was this guy when GM was in bankruptcy? No class whatsoever and quite arrogant.

Lincoln/Ford didn't respond and nor should they as he isn't worth it but I bet the engineers at Lincoln are sharpening their teeth at this one

[Road_Warrior]

Akerson = moron.

Lincoln is now where Ford was in 2007-2008 - on the precipice of taking off.

[mik]

heheh bit of a cheeky bugger, it would be nice to for lincon to kick the caddys *** and see him eat his words.

[Brazen]

he is right. He would know through supplier and engineering circles like the rest of us that Lincolns will be based on mass-market fwd Ford platforms for the next decade at least. Lincoln is done, no more than a Acura or Infiniti competitor under current managemant

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Brazen

he is right.

Even if he was, it's quite stupid to wake a sleeping elephant. Ford turned things around, GM didn't. The jokes on him (and his ilk).

Originally Posted by Brazen

He would know through supplier and engineering circles like the rest of us

This is where you're joking, right?

Originally Posted by Brazen

that Lincolns will be based on mass-market fwd Ford platforms for the next decade at least.

Assumption is the mother of all stuff ups.

Originally Posted by Brazen

Lincoln is done, no more than a Acura or Infiniti competitor under current managemant

What's wrong with Ford's current management?

[jpd80]

Several points:

1. There has never been a unique Lincoln platform for at least 50 years,
all Lincolns have been based on Ford donor vehicles. They are all built
in Ford factories.

2. GM spent close to $5 billion getting the Sigma RWD platform right for Cadillac only to find that the poor selling SRX could be replaced by a Captiva clone and the large DTS replaced by a large FWD/AWD vehicle.

3. Ford fixed the Ford brand first repositioning it at a level between Chevrolet and Buick, so in that respect, Ford achieves far more with its own brand that GM achieves with chevrolet, Buick or GMC.

4. At the moment, Lincoln does not really have a negative affect Ford's bottom line, all vehicles share with Ford originators and act as high series unique sheet metal versions. As such every one of them is profitable.



Sure the Lincolns may not sell in massive numbers but they owe Ford a whole lot less than Cadillac owes GM...

And if Akerson is so worried about the US national debt, he should help
by repaying all the losses the government is incurring by rescuing GM.

[ebxr8240]

U.S doesn't use diesel in light trucks too much...
I hired a camper and drove across U.S ..
It was a Ford V10 petrol engine !!!

Quote:

And if Akerson is so worried about the US national debt, he should help
by repaying all the losses the government is incurring by rescuing GM.

EXACTLY !!!

[Brazen]

Predictions:

1.Lincoln's main market will remain North America which will be overtaken by the Chinese market in the next ten years.

2.Lincoln will not get a RWD car.

3.Lincoln will not be sold in Europe and Oceania.

4. Next CEO will promise to move Lincoln upmarket to a world brand to compete more against Cadillac domestically and the Mercs, BMWs of the world.

5. Repeat predictions 1-4.

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Predictions:

1.Lincoln's main market will remain North America which will be overtaken by the Chinese market in the next ten years.

2.Lincoln will not get a RWD car.

3.Lincoln will not be sold in Europe and Oceania.

4. Next CEO will promise to move Lincoln upmarket to a world brand to compete more against Cadillac domestically and the Mercs, BMWs of the world.

5. Repeat predictions 1-4.

Prediction

1. GM will go bust again......

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Prediction

1. GM will go bust again......

I think Ford and GM are pretty well set up now, they have killed the liabilities they had under their old structures. Ford and GM are going gangbusters in China and they are starting to pick up US share. I wouldnt be suprised if one of the Japanese car makers get in trouble in the future.

[Gobes32]

I can't help but feel it was unethical how GM managed their turn around, especially considering the situation the US treasury finds itself in to this day. However, Americans are still voting with their wallest and making GM number one so what do I know.......