Lets be fair for one minute, the executives that run General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have very busy schedules and time is money in the world of big business. To fly commercial to Washington from Detroit and New York (where GM and Chrysler hang out) on there private corporate jets saves them time most certainly, have you seen the lines at JFK and Laguardia in the morning.
But as I have said for years, the PR machines for these companies is atrocious, starting with the notion that they do not make fuel efficient vehicles, that the quality of the vehicles are poor and the list goes on. The facts are they make more fuel efficient vehicles than the imports especially GM, the quality is on par if not better in many categories (does anyone check the recalls for Toyota and Nissan with NHTSA), these types of misstatements, myths and public opinion should have been dealt with long before this latest fiasco.
Who runs the PR machines for these people! GM produces a Internet commercial to address the misinformation that is circulating about it's need for money, yet the same advertising or PR firm can't say hey let's show up in Washington DC driving our new technology, can anyone say Chevy VOLT.
How about Ford or Chrysler's' Public Relations staff saying let's roll out the full array of our vehicles and demonstrate that we are innovative and have vehicles that will meet the needs of the driving population now and into the future including electric and hybrid, it could have been the biggest publicity campaign they could have waged in years probably ever.
Can you imagine a parade of vehicles headed to the steps of Congress, that's PR bigger than the L.A., New York and Detroit auto Shows combined, the whole world would have been watching and the parade would have been the lead story on every major network and hometown paper in the world.
So fly into Virginia or Maryland or from New York (even better) and drive to Washington DC next time, Mr. Wagoner, Mr. Mulally and Mr. Nardelli. I guarantee that you'll get some favorable press that will save your tales from the Chapter 11 heap.
Oh, and another thing, you guys showed up without a business plan on how you were going to use the money, you expect more from a mid-level manager or your dealer network. What would you expect congress to do except send you back home and come back when you are better prepared and can demonstrate that you guys will be good stewards of the taxpayers money.
So here you go guys I have served up the greatest event that you could ever do for your image and assistance in making a powerful statement to Congress and to the taxpayers. Drive your full fleet of vehicles, which includes your new technologies and make an event of it.
And another thing, get rid of your PR firms and get a group that can reshape your images.
Enjoy Today!
That Car Guy
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