Forcing automakers to sell smaller cars to improve fuel economy [is like]... fighting the nation's obesity problem by forcing clothing manufacturers to sell garments in only small sizes.

Bob Lutz

Categorized in : Science Fighting Engineering

Being able to ‘think out of the box’ presupposes you were able to... by Bob Lutz

Being able to ‘think out of the box’ presupposes you were able to think in it.

boxes able thinking

It applies in any business. Shoemakers should be run by shoe guys, and software firms by software guys, and supermarkets by supermarket guys. With the advice and support of their bean counters, absolutely, but with the final word going to those who live and breathe the customer experience. Passion and drive for excellence will win over the computer-like, dispassionate, analysis-driven philosophy every time.

passion running philosophy

Tesla burns cash. It's not a car company, it's a cult of fanatics who think Elon Musk can do no wrong. But financially, it doesn't work.

cash car thinking

With autonomous cars, you're gonna see more consolidation. Once we have transport modules, you order off the phone and brands won't matter anymore. When brands don't matter, the auto industry ends. It's got another 20 years.

phones order years

The electrification of the automobile is inevitable. by Bob Lutz

The electrification of the automobile is inevitable.

automobile inevitable

People under 75 need more seasoning by Bob Lutz

People under 75 need more seasoning

seasoning people needs

In the past, (GM) produced a lot of very excellent vehicles but s... by Bob Lutz

In the past, (GM) produced a lot of very excellent vehicles but somehow they didn't excite anybody.

vehicle excellent past

Design can be both a manifestation of a company's design ethic and an outward communication of a company's design ethic and drive for excellence.

design communication excellence

CAFE is like trying to cure obesity by requiring clothing manufac... by Bob Lutz

CAFE is like trying to cure obesity by requiring clothing manufacturers to make smaller sizes.

cafes size trying

Public Schools too often fail because they are shielded from the very force that improves performance and sparks innovation in nearly every other human enterprise - competition.

innovation competition school

The Marine Corps taught me commitment, courage, focus, and a value system that can easily suffice for people like me who aren't religious.

marine religious commitment

What do you want in a female companion? What is the first thing that attracts you. Her ability to cook and keep house or is it the way she looks? It's not politically correct, GM hates it when I draw that analogy. But it's absolutely correct."

female hate house

You cannot buy a bad automobile any more from any producer. We have to do more products not because we're looking at a particular segment, but because it's a great vehicle.

automobile vehicle producers

Why did I lose? No reason, though you might like to know that I got tired, my ears started popping, the rubber came off my shoes, I got cramp, and I lost one of my contact lenses. Other than that I was in great shape.

lost-ones shoes tired

I think either party would have seen the wisdom in bailing out the American automobile industry, because one job in ten in the United States is either directly or indirectly connected to the automobile industry. You just could not let these companies go down.

party jobs thinking

One colossal advantage of being in extra innings is that you can tell it like it is, say what you think, and largely eschew political caution.

advantage political thinking

There's a powerful sense of reality to our concepts, ... These are vehicles we think people would purchase and drive today.

powerful reality thinking