Comments By GM's Mark Reuss

[The Critic]

Quote:
Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, recently voiced his opinions on a slew of issues with the Nashville Business Journal. Reuss spoke of GM's future, the role of the Chevrolet Volt and more. But when the discussion turned to the Nissan Leaf, it became obvious that Reuss is not a fan of the electric hatch.

Reuss explained what he believes to be the most significant drawbacks of electric-only vehicles like the Leaf, stating:

[The Leaf] has a finite range and requires infrastructure and charging to run it, where the Volt is really an extended-range electric vehicle. The Volt can really be the only car you own. You better be living within a certain range for the Leaf. ... It's a lot different market, a lot different car and a completely different driver.

While we think that Reuss should've stopped at that, he didn't. Reuss continued to rag on the Leaf, boldly stating that:

I'm not sure if I'd put the Leaf in the hands of my three kids. Say, what if they can't charge it? What if they get to school and can't charge it? The Leaf is a single-purpose car.

Did Reuss' statements to a little too far? Let us know what you think by voicing your thoughts in 'Comments' below.


http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/06/gms-mark-reuss-says-nissan-leaf-is-a-single-purpose-car-that/

Discuss.

 

[BobsArmory]

I think he is right on target at this point in time.

 

[Zaedock]

He's right, but I wouldn't buy either.


Our future (when folks wake up) for a renewable fueled vehicle will be diesel.

 

[Nick R]

I think he's right. I can see the use of an electric only vehicle, but for most people it would be a secondary car.

 

[Nick R]

LOL at the GM haters in the comments section claming that the fit and finish and build quality of the volt is terrible. Interestingly, most reviewers are praising the interior as top notch.

 

[adamjeeps]

I am waiting for the first report of a major traffic jam caused by a Leaf running out of juice on a major highway.

 

[fdcg27]

Reuss is right.
The Leaf is a dedicated commuter, while the Volt is an all purpose car.
Of the two, the Leaf would make the most sense as a daily driver, since it is considerably cheaper to buy, run and maintain than the Volt would be.
I commute about 14K each year.
The Leaf could be an inexpensive way of doing it.

 

[wallyuwl]

Reuss is right in his assessment.

But the real future is compressed natural gas. Maybe an extended range EV like the Volt, whose engine runs on CNG instead of gas.

 

[jaj]

Battery life isn't what it's cracked up to be. Your cell phone provides a good example of the real issues around battery powered appliances.

You always have to plan around not running out of power. For instance, if your phone will run for two days without charging, you still have to charge it every day so you don't spend the entire second day wondering if it's going to make it.

The Leaf will be the same way. Regardless of its range, you'll have to start every day with a full charge just to be sure it won't strand you somewhere. Imagine having to kill the A/C on a blistering afternoon stopped on the freeway so you'll have enough power left to get home.

The Volt has the same issues, but it's range is far enough that you'll never have to deal with them.

So, on that basis I agree with Mark Reuss. In some service cycles, like city couriers or downtown-only taxis where the vehicle can be dropped off at the garage for a recharge whenever it's needed, the Leaf will be perfect. But for commuting twenty miles in heavy traffic and uncertain weather every day, it's going to make people nuts.

 

[Vikas]

Do I really think GM president will go and buy Nissan Leaf? No, I don't think so.

- Captain Obvious

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Do I really think GM president will go and buy Nissan Leaf? No, I don't think so.

- Captain Obvious


I agree. I'm thinking more likely a BMW or Mercedes

-Spyder

 

[Hokiefyd]

I think it's right, but it's a little unusual to see a corporate figure, a professional, bashing his competitor's product. In my opinion, he should be focused on raising up his own product, rather than telling us why we shouldn't buy someone else's.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I think it's right, but it's a little unusual to see a corporate figure, a professional, bashing his competitor's product. In my opinion, he should be focused on raising up his own product, rather than telling us why we shouldn't buy someone else's.



I agree that he shouldn't comment quite as far as he did, but he didn't bash the Leaf. He just took a great opportunity to plug what the Volt is all about. Business is business and most of the public still do not understand the benefit of the Volt's driveline. He may have "touched" a few potential buyers thay otherwise would not have considered a Volt.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy


Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I think it's right, but it's a little unusual to see a corporate figure, a professional, bashing his competitor's product. In my opinion, he should be focused on raising up his own product, rather than telling us why we shouldn't buy someone else's.



I agree that he shouldn't comment quite as far as he did, but he didn't bash the Leaf. He just took a great opportunity to plug what the Volt is all about. Business is business and most of the public still do not understand the benefit of the Volt's driveline. He may have "touched" a few potential buyers thay otherwise would not have considered a Volt.


He did it in an unpleasant way. Leaf and Volt take care of very different needs and either of them are a step to the right direction.

 

[The_Jeff]

Classic Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt piece.

The marketing of the Leaf has been 1/20 that of the Volt. GM was using the Volt as a halo car, and an excuse for their, well, existence. The Leaf's done Yeoman's duty, quietly existing and giving Nissan something Honda and Toyota don't have (on purpose or not.)

These comments show GM thinks Nissan is a threat, about to the degree that Microsoft is afraid of Linux, IMO.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
I think he is right on target at this point in time.


+1

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: adamjeeps
I am waiting for the first report of a major traffic jam caused by a Leaf running out of juice on a major highway.

I can just picture that too...

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan


He did it in an unpleasant way. Leaf and Volt take care of very different needs and either of them are a step to the right direction.



I would disagree. I like when high company people aren't afraid to speak their mind. Sometimes people need to make a point even if it steps on a toe or too...

 

[Nick R]

If nothing else I think this helps highlight that GMs upper management isn't what it used to be. They've changed execs regularly since Ch11. And a lot of them are either GM outsiders, or industry outsiders. That's a good thing.

No matter what you say about anything else, it's clear that GM is competetive again.

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Classic Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt piece.

The marketing of the Leaf has been 1/20 that of the Volt. GM was using the Volt as a halo car, and an excuse for their, well, existence. The Leaf's done Yeoman's duty, quietly existing and giving Nissan something Honda and Toyota don't have (on purpose or not.)

These comments show GM thinks Nissan is a threat, about to the degree that Microsoft is afraid of Linux, IMO.



+1. I think a more productive, and less antagonistic, tack would have been to acknowledge the benefits both have in common, and then to go into the Volt's greater range to differentiate it in the same end, and without the needless attack on the Leaf.

Honda and Toyota seem focused on hybrid technology instead of the EV route. I can see a few reasons why they are sticking to that alternative exclusively. A big one is that they've already invested tremendous amounts in developing that technology, and an EV alternative could be viewed as competing with their own hybrid lines. Another is that it would take capital away from cost cutting production R&D, which is still keeping their hybrids priced markedly above their ICE models. And related to that is that hybrids, largely due to their extra up front cost, are still struggling somewhat to gain traction and are nowhere near yet the mainstream bread and butter.

It could also simply be complacency. Or a "wait and see" approach as they focus on their hybrids while waiting to see how the Leaf does both in terms of sales and the adoption of the needed infrastructure if its to become a major alternative.

They're all steps in the right direction, and a good sign overall that the auto industry has come to terms with the fact that these alternatives are not only needed, but becoming increasingly desirable. Each also offers the consumer a choice of technology that best suits their needs. Overall I see it as a win, and I'm hoping both the Volt and the Leaf do well.

-Spyder