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UPDATED – see below.
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Last night, I posted here about the LA Auto Show, how it wasn’t far away, and how you should get there if you want to see the Saab 9-X Air concept vehicle.
This morning, I wake up and see this:
General Motors has made the L.A. Auto Show shine a little less brightly.
The cash-starved automaker said today that it would cancel its only news conference at the annual event, originally planned as the North American debut of the Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Convertible. The executive who was to conduct the reveal of the concept car, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, also will not be attending the show, which opens to the public Nov. 21.
The company described the cutback as a cost-saving measure. In the third quarter, GM burned through cash so quickly — about $2.3 billion per month — that executives predicted that, without outside help, it would run out of cash sometime in the first two quarters of next year….
…..The Saab concept car had its worldwide debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. Last year, GM debuted three cars at the L.A. show. The fact that it will debut zero vehicles in the single largest auto market in the U.S. is another reminder of the industry’s dire situation.
That’s how bad it’s getting, people.
If you’re in LA, looks like you miss out. I think all the coming US motor shows are going to miss out, too, except for Detroit.
I took that first LA Times report to mean that they’d cancelled the 9-X Air’s appearance all together. when the headline reads “GM Cancels LA Auto Show Debut” you can easily figure it’s more than just a cancelled news conference.
Apparently that’s all it is and the 9-X Air will still be showing. There won’t be any trumpets or marching bands, that’s all. From the Detroit News:
General Motors Corp. has scrapped plans to hold a news conference during next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show and to send Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, a cost-cutting move that comes as the automaker faces questions about its financial future…..
….GM will still have North American premieres of the Saab 9-X Air concept vehicle and Chevrolet Volt electric extended-range vehicle.
The automaker earlier dropped plans to unveil its Buick LaCrosse in L.A. GM will still have vehicles on display during the auto show and is using the same amount of floor space, Fosgard said.
The public “probably won’t even notice a difference,” he said.
I don’t get it, though. They’ll have space, they’ll have the cars. Why does it cost so much to have Bob Lutz come in and say a few words? Does he get an appearance fee, like Tiger Woods at a golf tournament?
Please explain, Bob.
Heck, I’ll come over and announce it. Wouldn’t that be a novelty? Have a complete stranger do your debut announcement for you.
I’ll even fly economy, GM 
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13 responses so far ↓
1 Thad
// Nov 12, 2008 at 6:52 am
I think that the 9-X Air might actually have its US debut at the New England Autoshow in Boston 12/03/08- 12/07-08
I think you might have posted this while I was editing that, Thad. Looks like it’ll be in LA after all
2 ctm
// Nov 12, 2008 at 7:06 am
The question is how many want to hear Bob Lutz cry like a baby about the current situation. Think he better stay at home.
3 B
// Nov 12, 2008 at 7:11 am
Could there be that he was going to make a announcement that now has been canceled and therefore he doesn’t have any reason to attend ?
Except to hold a press conference about nothing and be hammered with (for him) icky questions about their economy and future ?
4 GWC
// Nov 12, 2008 at 7:36 am
I’m guessing Bob’s appearence is cancelled for fear of how the public/government would perceive his attention on items not immediately and directly related to “saving the company”. “B” has a compelling point as well.
One could argue however that at least the Volt is (should be) the car that shows that the giant ship that is GM is turning around, albeit slowly and gradually. Time will tell if they run out of cash before they are able to complete the turn.
5 900_S
// Nov 12, 2008 at 7:54 am
I’m just excited I’ll get to see the 9-X Air in person!
6 albert
// Nov 12, 2008 at 8:23 am
That would be great, Swade announcing a new vehicle on the LA show!
Like the idea.
7 Brendan
// Nov 12, 2008 at 8:26 am
GM management maybe starting to hide. The heat is really starting to build, and the media seem more interested in financial state of GM rather than the cars they are making.
8 aireeca
// Nov 12, 2008 at 8:47 am
Not having a spokesman there=no questions about GMs future from those pesky reporters.
9 eggsngrits
// Nov 12, 2008 at 8:59 am
I agree with others about the hiding from reporters.
Since it’s in LA, I personally think that they may be hiding from Dan Neil, but that’s just me.
To more directly answer your question, Swade, I hope that what’s not said is that GM cut MANY travellers and MANY extras and those cuts include Mr. Lutz. I hope.
$2.3 billion per month is astonishing. According to the World Bank, that’s roughly the GDP of Suriname or Aruba, or roughly double the GDP of Bhutan or Belize. In annual terms, that burn rate is equal to the GDP of Latvia or Costa Rica. That’s some serious cash, folks.
10 SaabLance
// Nov 12, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Sorry to be a wet blanket….BUT WHO THE F… CARES IF THE9-X AIR IS GOING TO BE SHOWN!!!! Why? So we can take a picture of it,blow it up ,frame it and put it on our bedroom wall next to all the other masturbatory delights from Saab’s Design team that we will likely never see.Do I sound bitter? You G D right I am.GM in an IDL broadcast told us on Monday to not expect to see the new 9-5 until at least first quarter of 2010 and the 9-4 is pushed back a full year until third quarter of ‘10.Our big debut this model year will be the 9-5 Griffin.Whoopee! The model we sell one a month of dressed up with a rear deck spoiler,different wheels and matte chrome headlight surrounds and grille. Wow…be still my heart! We are for all intentions a one model car company……to the best of my knowledge a first in automobile retail history,with the possible exception of the Ford Model-T.You can get the 9-3 in other colors,however,which gives us a leg-up on the “T”.
11 Bruce
// Nov 12, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Saturn was a one-car brand for what, nine years? Three models, but one car. How long was VW the Bug (with the odd 311 or KGia tossed in on occasion). I agree that dealers need to take the marketing initiative.
N
12 The Fop
// Nov 12, 2008 at 7:33 pm
“Why does it cost so much to have Bob Lutz come in and say a few words?”
A press conference would need Bob, his security team, a host of PR staff to handle questions afterwards and do interviews, catering, audio visual equipment (plus the staff to run it), etc. etc. If you look at what these things involve (youtube must have a few) I doubt there would be change out of $100k. I’d say that not doing it just because they always do is a sign that they really do understand the situation they are in. If they are to invest in product (say Saab product…) then the less money they waste on these dog and pony shows the better! All the press there would know about the car anyway, so no great loss.
13 Mailr
// Nov 12, 2008 at 8:25 pm
According to AMS, it was the Buick Invicta (name change from LaCrosse, that shares the Epsilon II platform with the Insignia and the new 9-5) that was supposed to be presented at L.A. Considering the delay of the new 9-5 development it makes very much sense that the Invicta is delayed as well. And Bob Lutz won’t have that presentation to do at L.A. anymore.