In his new book, "Overhaul" former head of President Obama's Auto Task Force and guy who fired Rick Wagoner, Steve Rattner, spills the beans on what it was like to deal with a failed / failing industry and an $85-billion band-aid.
While the book will be on sale Oct. 14, The Detroit News, Washington Post and Huffington Post all received advanced copies and came up with some jewels:
- Rahm Emanuel (Chief of Staff) doesn't respect the UAW.
- Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told UAW boss Ron Gettlefinger that they (the UAW) needs to "embrace a culture of poverty, not a culture of entitlement," and recommended retiree health-care be chopped.
- Fritz Henderson wanted to move GM out of Detroit to the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, to reduce costs and keep executives hip to what's going on "on the ground." The White House, however, thought it would be too damaging for Detroit, calling it a "bridge too far."
- The White House and Rattner wanted Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn to run GM, but Ghosn declined because he "felt considerable loyalty to both companies (nissan/renault- Ed.) and wanted to see them through the crisis."
( Automotive News )
throwback says:
12:37 PM, 09/ 3/10
"felt considerable loyalty to both companies (nissan/renault- Ed.) and wanted to see them through the crisis."
translation, "No I wont run GM. However if you are willing to sell it to me for 10cents on the dollar, I will gladly run all 3"
brn says:
03:29 PM, 09/ 3/10
I'm not sure who really should run GM, but I'm pretty sure it's not Mr Bean.
slickersdrip says:
03:55 PM, 09/ 3/10
Well it's nice to know that I at least one opinion in common with Rahm Emanuel.
kevm14 says:
06:34 AM, 09/ 4/10
Dang, someone beat me to the Mr Bean joke. Didn't this guy see Nissan through their El Cheapo era?
stovt001 says:
01:20 PM, 09/ 4/10
Lol @ Mr Bean. I never noticed it until you said it, but now it cannot be unseen.
I was shocked at Rahm Emanuel's colorful slam on the UAW. That's rather shocking considering the vital relationship between the unions and Democratic party.