What GM Can Learn From Toyota's Humility

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June 1, 2012 marked the day that GM announced their plan to reduce their pension liability by an expected 26 billion dollars. New changes have been outlined in a guide at the following website: http://www.gm-pension-buyout.com. Some of the plan changes include an option for select salaried U.S. retirees to receive a lump-sum offer, while other qualified retirees have the option to continue receiving monthly pension benefit payments. It is strongly recommended that affected retirees and surviving beneficiaries seek advice from a qualified financial advisor before making any final decisions.

Farnandas of AZ 2:44AM June 16, 2012

My issue with comments made about Toyota is the fact that the defective parts were not made by Toyota. The cars were made in North America and the Parts came from a local supplier. It also came out later that the same parts were used in GM and Ford vehicles and they also had to issue a recall. It was not as big and not as public. We have found since, that trying to purchase a new car from a company without recalls is impossible. There is no such thing as a perfect track record, and I commend the auto industry for having such a process, and that it is fairly quick. Unfortunately we do not seem to have as adequate a process for food and other items on the market.
If Toyota had stuck to their 3 p's (production, preparation and process) and kept manufacturing on home ground I think they would never have faced this issue.
But because they are known for great cars that go and go and go, it was inevitable that they would have to expand to meet demand.
I would still purchase a Toyota, Honda, or Hyundai over a North American vehicle anyday. They are built smarter, their accessories and layouts of the interiors are better, definitely more user friendly. And on average they still outlast an American car with just basic maintainence. My husband is still driving an 80' civic that runs perfectly while my parents have finally after 30 some years given up on GM and purchased a Toyota Sienna; they were sick of their GM vehicles conking out at 100,000 km.

Pat 5:12PM November 04, 2010

Has anyone driven through Detroit lately? Probably not unless you're purchasing drugs or getting the hell out of there. Well America, what do you think of your f*n unions now? The high cost of manufacturing goods in this country (because of the F'N UNIONS!) has driven all manufacturing jobs overseas. Both Democrats and Republicans are at fault here, for sure. Just let them leave the shores without so much as a wave goodbye. The fact that other countries manipulate their currencies to favor themselves (we cannot because the Federal Reserve is independent, remember?) When other countires slap a VAT tax (Value added tax) on all American goods coming into their country and then give that tax to their own countries (competitor of American companies, ie tax GM and give to BMW), rendering equal value American goods too expensive for other countries to purchase our exports while their imports pack great value for the dollar. The Chinese are forced to prop up America now, (otherwise their investment dollars would become useless). A VAT tax or currency equivalizer tax on chinese imports would even hurt American companies - in the short term - but ultimately bring jobs back home, where they belong, on our shores, fighting fairly, instead of blindly. America is not the economic engine anymore, we will be regulated to former a former economic 'bully as China and India compete for more of the worlds resources in the coming decades. China has not fought in a (major) war in decades, same as Russia, (since Afghanistan), saving those countries untold TRILLIONS! I wish our government would 'get it' and pull troops out of all countries now, pour the savings back into America. Fight all 'world wars' as they are being fought now more and more (and that is economically). Regardless of the outcome the world will benefit, from the innovation, the competition, and the prosperity.

edgy of FL 11:18PM November 14, 2009

GM can not learn anything from Toyota. The opposite is true as Toyota Motors and their dealers are as arrogant or more so, that GM was from the 50's to just a couple of years ago (“What is good for America is good for General Motors, and vice versa”).
I was a Plant Engineer at GM for almost 6 years in the late 70's and early 80's and the attitude of the majority of the supervisors and department superintendents (mostly GM Institute graduates) was one of total disregard for quality issues and it was all about production numbers, without regard for quality. (I gather they learned it from higher-up).
After leaving GM, I owned a 1986 Merkur XR4Ti, 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, various Suzuki’s (one Samurai and two Sidekicks, all of which went over a 150,000 miles with only regular maintenance).
In 2003, I purchased a VW Jetta 1.8T, which was totally problem free (built in Mexico on a Monday). In 2005 I purchased a Mazda Tribute, AWD V6 (built by Ford); again this vehicle was absolutely trouble free.
Fast forward to December 2008; when I decided to replace the Mazda Tribute (need for more towing capacity). After extensive research I decided on a 2009 AWD Honda Pilot, and found a local dealer in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area which had the vehicle with the options and spec’s that I was looking for at a reasonable price (remember $4.00 gallon gas price, SUV and Pickup not selling), however after agreeing on a price (internet), he attempted to take back the money by offering a ridiculous low trade in for the Mazda. I continued my search and decided on the then brand new 2009 AWD Chevrolet Traverse LT1 (I also tried to locate a similarly equipped Buick Enclave or GMC Acadia). After extensive internet search thru out Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma and not able to find the vehicle that I wanted or finding a dealer willing to locate or order the vehicle that I wanted, I extended my search to Kansas, where I found a dealer that had the vehicle in stock and was willing to sell it at a reasonable price, however after making a decision and having my Credit Union approve the loan, I changed my mind because of GM indecision regarding their financial situation. I then started searching for a Highlander Sport AWD with towing package and dealing with Texas dealers was total frustration. Finally was able to locate one in Kansas, agree on a price, flew to Kansas City (Southwest Airlines $69.00 fare), closed the deal and drove home to the DFW area.
After driving over 7000 miles and one visit to the local dealer, my only positive thing to say about the Highlander is the highway mileage (21 to 24 true MPG), city mileage is a consistently low 13.8 to 15.8 while driving very conservative.
Service department personnel attitude of my local dealer including the assistant manager is just as bad if not worst than GM’s has being over the last 40 years.
Watch out Toyota the Koreans (Hyundai/Kia – Santa Fe, Sonata, Azera, Genesis…) are here, and getting better each day.

J I Ram of TX 2:28PM November 05, 2009

This article is pure BS. So all the Asian comapanies need to do is apologize and we give them a free pass?? What a bunch of Whooie.... Give me a break. They got too big trying to rule the world, they over capacitiezed at the worst possible time and they have a string of so-so products. And what about the crap fuel economy of all the big trucks they are now building just when fuel proces go up. They are not geniuses and the American people better take the rose colered glasses off and call a spade a spade. An apology won't help the people who died in the recent floor matt scandel. Yikes America wake up already and stop propigating the myth that Toyota is infalable. They aren't and I for one am tired of hearing about them as if they were gods.

RIck of NY 4:44PM October 08, 2009

The long-term trend in US auto sales is clear - Asian automakers (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia) increasing market share at the expense of Detroit. Ford seems to be doing 'okay'; GM is trying to stabilise itself; Chrysler seems to be headed for disaster with uninspiring vehicles. Would be interesting to see what happens when Chinese automakers improve the quality of their vehicles and start exporting to the US.

nsf 1:24PM October 08, 2009

Well Macker, thats a contradiction of terms. Consider Airbus; which fly apart in mid air, or perhaps the car you drive, a Yugo isn't it? True we have overly ample asses! Which are inflated with the wind of borish European egos. Don't write off the U.S just yet, we learn from our mistakes, and come back even more adavncments in technology. BTW Macker has your country landed on the moon lately? Didn't think so.

TioWedo of CA 10:23AM October 05, 2009

Poor American saps, wouldn't know quality if it bit you on your over ample asses.

Macker 3:01AM October 05, 2009

GM mirrors the nation--on the wrong track, but still paralyzed with bureaucratic inertia and unable to change. Many of us saw this coming 40 years ago, and still Detroit failed to react to the challenges.

Larry Trimler of IN 1:39AM October 05, 2009

GM actually beat Toyota to the apology bandwagon back in 2008 - and in 2003! And Toyota apologized in 2007 for quality problems and recalls.
What these carmakers need to make is not apologies - it's better cars. Both GM and Toyota, despite their contrite words, have not addressed the issues that created the need for apologies.
If you want to see automakers acting to correct their problems, look at Ford and Kia/Hyundai. Both have made dramatic improvements in product quality, customer satisfaction and overall appeal. And, not coincidentally, they showed the best sales performance in the last month. Ford showed just a small decrease, and Kia and Hyundai both posted gains!
It's better to avoid the "Toyota rules, Big 3 suck" mindset and look at actual performance.

David Fabish of IL 5:29PM October 04, 2009