Quote of the Day: "False Familiarity" Edition
GM’s constant reference to the “perception gap” is, without doubt, the most galling thing about the company. Despite sucking-up over $62 billion in taxpayer money, the nationalized automaker continues to insist there’s nothing wrong with our products. Oh no, American-consumers are a bunch of [Jap-loving] idiots. If if they would just open their minds they’d see that they’re idiots. And buy our cars. And save the company. And keep Mexicans Americans employed. And get their taxes back. Now, adding insult to insult, they’re launching a taxpayer-funded ad campaign based on that premise: “May the Best Car Win.” Note to New GM: it HAS been winning. Ipso ’effing facto. Now LEAVE IT ALONE. But oh no. In fact, the car Czar who drove GM into the dirt is flooring it, betting the company’s future on this series of comparison ads. And he’s got a new name for “the perception gap” not because he understands the problem but because he’s bored with it.
What does it say about Buick when GM asks folks to identify the most prominent vehicles in the line-up and the answers are “Park Avenue” and “Rendezvous” — neither of which can be found (thankfully) in showrooms?
It says they know where Buick’s been, not where it is or where it’s going. Lutz calls that “false familiarity,” arguably worse than no familiarity at all with what GM’s doing today, just months after emerging from a whirlwind through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.It says they know where Buick’s been, not where it is or where it’s going. Lutz calls that “false familiarity,” arguably worse than no familiarity at all with what GM’s doing today, just months after emerging from a whirlwind through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Howes ignores the outrageousness of Lutz’s steadfast refusal to understand that Buick is an un-brand. As has become the norm, the Motown scribe sums-up with a piercing glimpse into the blindingly obvious.
In a company full of tough jobs, Lutz’s is among the toughest. He, his team and their cadre of outside agencies need to persuade skeptical, sometimes hostile, consumers to give GM another try.
Does that sound familiar? Of wait, that’s false familiarity. My bad.
More by Robert Farago
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- ToolGuy It seems like the move to Texas has been good for Toyota.
- ToolGuy TTAC Podcast Trivia Question: TTAC Editor in Chief Tim Healey has owned four vehicles in his life. Of the four, how many were involved in at-fault collisions?
- ToolGuy If you listen carefully to the TTAC Podcast you can hear Tim Healey's fellow Chicagoans driving past his apartment.
- Andyinsdca Since the batteries in EVs only last a few years, this seems like a great way to wear them down even faster.
- Calrson Fan Dumbest thing I've ever heard. The reason the grid probably went down in the first place is because of all the increased demand put on it to charge EV's. BTW I could easily power my home in a crisis situation for weeks if I had to, with nothing more than my little 2000 watt generator which will run all day on a couple of gallons of gas.A LOT cheaper than buying some expensive EV w/no resale value.
Comments
Join the conversation
Christy et al: Nope, never heard of the Grand National. I was 7 years old in 1969, not much interest in cars at the time. Reatta? Never heard of it. Sounds like either the name of an exotic disease or one of those drugs that they sell on those long commercials where they tout the product for 25 seconds and then spend the next 2 minutes on warnings and disclaimers.