Alan Mulally will be driving a Ford Escape hybrid, and GM's Rick Wagoner will be driving a Chevy Malibu hybrid to Washington for Round Two of their epic sales pitch to drum up resources from Congress. No word yet on how Chrysler's Bob Nardelli or the UAW's Ron Gettelfinger will be arriving.
Full story here and here.
On a related note, GM is canceling their corporate jet service as of the first of the year.
Here's Inside Line's take: GM Boss Plans Road Trip for Next Washington, D.C., Visit
Here's AutoObserver's take: GM Ends Airport Operations, Grounds Jets and Ford, Rivals Stress New Parsimony to Congress
So... what do you think the chances are of Wagoner or Mulally getting a speeding ticket on this road trip?
estreka says:
03:11 PM, 12/ 2/08
The statements made by the CEOs should be reviewed. In addition to their $1 annual salary, will they be given millions in bonuses, dividends, and massive fringe benefits? $1 can still be a lot of money.
Steve Jobs earns a measely $1 per annum and is worth $5.7B.
I think it'd be hillarious if one of their cars broke down.
cwc1 says:
04:56 PM, 12/ 2/08
This is nothing more than an even bigger cave-in to the know-it-all Congressional and bureaucratic idiocy that has been trying to run the auto industry for decades, although they know little about it and haven't produced much of value -- they just take it from those who have and wastefully spend it.
I'd love to hear the Big Three execs tell the Congress fat cats that it's their incessant meddling and over regulation that has led their industry to much of the trouble they're in now (not all of it, but a big part of it). Of course I know that will never happen. Not just because they'd never get the money, but because those blowhards in Congress have the power of the legislative pen and the power of the state behind them, and can legislate them out of business -- just like they've already been helping with.
carlisimo says:
06:42 PM, 12/ 2/08
Driving? Just fly business class or something! No one would bat an eye at that; maybe not even first class.
pc123456 says:
09:31 PM, 12/ 2/08
they should be forced to drive an Aveo and a Fiesta, respectively.
brn says:
05:33 AM, 12/ 3/08
I'm with carlismo. They shouldn't be cowering to these media whores. Fly. First class is fine. It makes more financial sense then having these guys sit in cars.
m6vx says:
08:04 AM, 12/ 3/08
And nowhere between Detroit and Washington will you see that speed limit sign!
ateixeira says:
08:57 AM, 12/ 3/08
I think it's a good idea that they drive, even if only for symbolic purposes.
Still, they could have car pooled. LOL
viper74 says:
12:45 PM, 12/ 3/08
I agree with carpooling. If not, then they should each drive a car from their own respective product lines. This way they can see what Joe Sixpack is stuck with driving everyday.
estreka says:
04:35 PM, 12/ 3/08
Looks like a great deal of wasted gas.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081204/ap_on_go_co/congress_autos