Read the comments

As a taxpayer, I hope the new GM can succeed. As an upmarket car buyer, an EV 1 (the original GM electric car) test driver and a car guy since I was 12 (almost 60 now) I do not see any product in the GM product line that I would seriously consider buying. The Volt looks to me to be too little, too late. Toyota is now on the third generation Prius. GM is still in the barn. GM needs real car guys and gals, not more bean counters.

Ensenada Al @ 8:52 AM PDT, Jul 9, 2009

Only total distruction of the awful GM company with their poor managers overly rigid labor system can put America back on the right footing to compete. I can't imagine buying an American car in my lifetime. Let GM die.

Doug M @ 7:51 PM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

The development process for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has been far from quixotic. In fact it's been quite successful. The costs for the fuel cells are plummeting, they're in the hands of real people and have moved from the protoype stage to pre-productino models that for some auto manufacturers have even been built on small production lines. This is an evolution and GM as well as the rest of the major automakers have been leading the way. I, for one, hope that continues. To hear more from the automakers directly about hydrogen, go here and watch the videos: http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/policy/briefing_12jun09.asp

Patrick Serfass @ 2:41 PM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

GM never needed a government bailout, or reductions in wages. GM's problem is they build garbage. If GM built quality cars that people wanted to buy, they would not be in any sort of financial trouble requiring bankruptcy protection, and bankruptcy will have been in vain anyway because GM still builds garbage.

Ambivalent @ 12:09 PM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

Although, it will be the first time in a very long time, the next car I buy will be an American. It seems that the strain of anti-nationalism that runs through our society is so pervasive that one can even brag about it. I am so tired of those who consider this country as one big teat that they can suck and consider those who care about its health, xenophobes. It is time for an American-first party that consists of loyal citizens and not leftist and rightist pimps. The Democrats sell out the country for political gain while the Republicans do the same for profits.

Ransome @ 11:56 AM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

All the money in the world can't buy the thing GM needs most: a complete change in corporate culture. BTW, the EV1 wasn't ill-fated; it was killed off by GM itself. Far more egregious than a simple failure, it was the planned dismantling of a marketing and manufacturing success. For this and so many other stupid moves, GM deserves to fail.

John L @ 10:36 AM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

@John Corkery -- Apple and Dell have a lot more in common than you admit. Apple doesn't design chips. It doesn't design motherboards. It doesn't design video cards. It doesn't design sound cards. The thing that differentiates a Mac from a PC, aside from the one-button mouse, is the software. Even to be like Apple, GM would have to move a lonnnnng way.

Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times @ 9:49 AM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

Outsource design? You're nuts.

tonyE @ 9:46 AM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

Comparing your model for GM to the computer industry leaves a lot to be desired. It is sort of like comparing Apple's to PC's. Apple has very tight control over every aspect of their products which means that everything is designed to work together. PC's are combinations of parts from various manufacturers held together by an operating system which can either work superbly or rather badly. It sounds like you are looking forward to GM producing products like PC's. At 70mph I'll take the Apple version.

John Corkery @ 8:53 AM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

GM is positioned for failure. Based on history you can bet that the new GM will fail or be so heavily subsidized it will never surrive and the peoples money is gone. When has the Government ever conducted profitable operations?

Andy @ 8:04 AM PDT, Jul 8, 2009

Next