Other Editorials

Hindsight

Jim Dollinger
Thursday, January 5, 2006

Is there a glimmer of hope that maybe they'll listen?

Link: wsj.com

GM EXEC "REGRETS" LAUNCHING EMPLOYEE PRICING PROGRAM.

GM EXEC: "NO PLANS TO REPEAT PROGRAM"

General Motors Corp.'s top North American sales and marketing executive, Mark LaNeve, said he now regrets launching the employee-discount program that drove GM sales to record levels last summer, and doesn't plan to repeat such promotions this year.

"Hindsight being 20/20, I probably wouldn't have done it," Mr. LaNeve said.

Aside from trying to stop its market-share slide, which was at 26% for 2005, Mr. LaNeve is looking at addressing the perceptual gloom surrounding the company. There are rumors that GM will file for bankruptcy-court protection. Analysts say GM produces cars that nobody wants to buy. And some consumers who left GM in the 1980s still refuse to return.

"We've got to get our mojo back in terms of the way we are viewed," he said. "But I don't know what the answer is. How do we get America rooting for us?"

HELLO MARK...IT'S CALLED RETURN TO GREATNESS!