My Thoughts Now

Well it's been a while since I left General Motors, or should I say when General Motors left me. In that time I've worked for BMW and now VW/Porsche based out of Herndon, Virginia USA, which is right next-door to Washington, D.C., the Nation's Capital. So I'm right in the middle of where car manufacturers mix with politics. I'm sure I'll have more to say on that but I digress, back to General Motors aka: GM. In 2017 GM has decided to sell it's European arm Opel and to close manufacturing down at GM Holden in Australia and home of the venerable V8. It seems that every year that goes by, I recognize the General Motors that I grew up in and loved, less and less. I see a future where GM will have to team up with the likes of PSA or FCA just to survive. This saddens me greatly, especially since I own some of their greatest muscle cars ever built by Pontiac and Holden. All I can do now is hope GM finds its way in the future to come, and thank them for the great memories ...

Pontiac You Are Missed!

I was 10 years old when I saw my first 1967 Pontiac GTO at the US Embassy in Bonn, Germany, where I fell head over heels in love with the Pontiac Motor Division and to a lesser degree General Motors.

I watched in horror through the 80’s and 90’s as GM mismanaged my favorite brand  (Remember Ron Zarrella), yes by that time there was no longer a Pontiac Motor Division just the brand, Pontiac.

I had hope for Pontiac again in 2001 when Bob Lutz returned to GM; he was determined to see Pontiac become what it once had been, and I cheered his return, for me it was like Liberation Day in Paris. Bob Lutz brought interesting cars like the GTO, Solstice, and G8 into the Pontiac lineup. Bob Lutz did his best to brighten Pontiac’s future.

But then came April 27, 2009, when GM officially announced that Pontiac would be dropped and all its remaining models would be phased out by the end of 2010. I could not believe what I was hearing, and I felt betrayed by GM and still do to this very day when it comes to Pontiac.

In my mind, it should have been Buick that was dropped in North America, not Pontiac. Buick could have soldiered on in China to appease the Chinese buyers, but in North America, it should have been Pontiac that survived General Motors’ axe.

Have you noticed that when I was at GM, I rarely mentioned Buick in any way, shape, or form? To me the very name Buick carries the (Old Person’s) stigma and always will, I’d never be seen in one. I have to be honest with myself here, if GM didn’t have the 5^th Generation Camaro in its lineup, I most likely would have bought BMW. Why BMW? Well from my perspective BMWs share a lot of design traits with Pontiac, the twin kidney grille for instance and a sporty image. Plus as a boy growing up in Germany, I admired BMW as much as I did Pontiac.

So was Pontiac’s demise the only reason I left GM for BMW? God no, but it was a big part of it, I drank the GM Kool-Aid when it came to Pontiac and now like Pontiac itself the Kool-Aid was gone, and my eyes were finally wide open to the possibilities that BMW offered me.

The automotive world is a little less bright without Pontiac in it, and that saddens me, but I will do my best to make sure that never ever happens to BMW.

Now Here Is An Interesting Auto Logo

It's Pretty Huh? I Wonder What It means? :)

Can You Say BMW

As some of you know I've left GM to start work with BMW. My primary function is working in the FIZ bringing new and innovative vehicles and products to BMW and its customers.

I look forward to the challenges this new position and opportunity brings to me, and also to the smiles that I hope to bring to current and future BMW customers and fans.


Börger

Some Information On GM do Brasil

Brazil is the third-largest market for GM globally and the second largest for the Chevrolet brand.


GM is on track to complete $3 billion of investment in Brazil between 2008 and 2012.


GM has increased sales in Brazil by 50,000 vehicles per year over the past five years and posted record sales of 657,724 vehicles in 2010.


The São Caetano do Sul plant was GM’s first Brazilian plant, beginning production in October 1928. After implementing the third shift, the plant will be able to assemble 250,000 vehicles per year compared with 200,000 on two shifts currently.


GM has manufactured and sold vehicles under the Chevrolet brand for 85 years in Brazil.   GM do Brasil has three vehicle manufacturing plants, in São Caetano do Sul, São José dos Campos (both in the State of São Paulo), and Gravataí (State of Rio Grande do Sul). GM facilities in Brazil include a stamping plant in Mogi das Cruzes; a logistics center and warehouse in Sorocaba; proving grounds in Indaiatuba; a technical center in São Caetano do Sul (all in São Paulo) and a logistic hub at the SUAPE port (in Pernambuco). GM is building a new powertrain plant in Joinville, to be inaugurated in late 2012. GM do Brasil is one of the five GM global product development centers.

The Best Email I Ever Received AT GM - November 2001

Ron Zarrella has left General Motors and returns to Bausch & Lomb as their CEO ...

Leonard Nimoy (Spock) And His 1964 Buick Riviera

A lot of you know I am a big Star Trek fan. I have been since I first laid eyes on TV, so imagine how excited I was to find the following pictures of Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock on Star Trek) with his 1964 Buick Riviera. Hey Buick, how about a few Buick commercials featuring the famed actor in a Buick or two?


I hope you enjoy the pics, click on them to make them bigger ...