Saab Stayin', Hummer Hangin'

GM had its annual shareholders meeting yesterday. It was chock full of goodness, too. With old white dudes, hillbillies, and nuns, a good time was had by all. Autoblog reports: GM Chairman upbeat in "State of the Business" address.

Tops on Wagoner's "to do" list going forward:

• maximizing the UAW employee buyout program
• the Delphi restructuring
• closing the sale of General Motors Acceptance Corp.
• new product launches (Saturn Aura, Outlook and Vue hybrid, GMC/Chevy full-size trucks, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave)
• ramping up E85 production

Ha! First things, first: can the help. We're pretty positive on the rest, however. The vehicles listed above are all quite good (as far as we can tell) and we are hopeful the Enclave looks a lot like the concept shown at the auto show—if it is, it'll rock.

The Detroit News reports: GM chief trumpets progress.

Wagoner delivered a largely upbeat message to shareholders after one of the toughest years in the company's history. He said he is still optimistic about negotiations with the United Auto Workers and Delphi Corp. over wage cuts for hourly workers. He also firmly denied GM would ever become a Toyota Motor Corp. subsidiary.

What's that last sentence? You know, back in Toyota City there was a scene like this:

Setting: steamroom
(TV is on, GM CEO Rick Wagoner is speaking)
Hiroshi Okuda: What did he just say?
Katsuaki Watanabe: I believe he said that they'd never be a part of Toyota.
HO: What does that mean?
KW: I think he is saying that if GM lost enough money, we'd consider buying them.
HO: Really?
KW: I think so.
HO: Really?
KW: That's what the man said, meng.
HO: Why would we buy a company losing money?
KW: I sure as hell wouldn't.
HO: Why would we buy a company that is losing money because people don't want their products?
KW: Look, H, we're on the same page here.
HO: Did you want to buy GM?
KW: Hells, no!
HO: Very good, Grasshopper.
KW: I told you, only the ladies can call me that. And don't say it in the steamroom. People will talk.
HO: Not that there's anything wrong with that.

We don't know if there are hills in Mississippi, but after a small vote, we voted that hillbilly was funnier than Mississippian.

Comments

[Terry Brown]

lol. nice one.