As part one of a two-part media blitz today, General Motors put newly appointed President of North America, Mark Reuss and just-as-newly appointed Vice President of Sales, Service and Marketing Susan Docherty on an early-morning teleconference with journalists who were surely still in their P.J.s. 
Neither made any big news. Mostly they talked about curing GM of its addiction to incentives (or at least getting a handle on its incentive abuse) to boost sales and regaining the faith and good will of the American people. As Reuss himself pointed out, "We're going to make this happen. I'm not going to sit here and try to convince you on this phone call. It's not about words; it's about deeds." True enough.
Then in response to a question regarding fuel economy of future vehicles, Reuss said that there is, "...no peanut butter answer. Fuel prices are going to be..." 
Wait, wait, wait...peanut butter? What the hell? This is the third time in as many weeks we've heard a GM staffer talk of peanut butter. Coincidence? We had to later call a trusted source at General Motors to for the inside dope. "The metaphor means a single thing that could be spread, covering all," says our man. And apparently it has apparently been spread around the offices of GM's headquarters at the RenCen like, well, potted meat food product.
87bonnev says:
12:58 PM, 12/ 8/09
Full disclosure: I am a GM chassis engineer
Yes, your man is in general correct on how the expression "peanut butter approach" is used in GM.
A better example would be to use it in the context of recent downsizing/employee reductions. A "peanut butter approach" would be to reduce all staffs by the same amount (say 10% reduction everywhere, as in spread it around evenly) rather than have different allocations for different functions.
BTW, this is NOT how it was done. Product Engineering (where I am) had a smaller percentage reduction as compared to Sales & Manufacturing. (Obviously Manufacturing takes a big hit if you are closing plants.) This was with the full blessing of the Auto Task Force.
cwc1 says:
07:14 PM, 12/ 8/09
Potted meat. Ick. Sounds like parts is parts.
potted meat food product
cwc1 says:
07:15 PM, 12/ 8/09
^http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTzLVIc-O5E