Robert Lutz
Robert Lutz
Robert Anthony "Bob" Lutzis a Swiss American automotive executive...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth12 February 1932
CountryUnited States of America
auto flat industry matter owns people
People who think it doesn't matter who owns our auto industry are flat wrong.
commodity industry stopped
I think the American industry has stopped considering (small cars) as commodity vehicles,
analyzed bland great integrity link loyal reason reputation sales service
We analyzed the reason for where we were with the brand: great dealers, loyal customers, bland products. So we told ourselves: Why not link the reputation for service and sales integrity to existing, world-class products?
focus great lose money rather reputation
We would much rather focus on quality. We would much rather have a great reputation at 25% then try to get 28% or 29% and lose a lot of money doing it.
among desktop interest stronger system
But autoloaders are aimed at the server level, not the desktop level, so there should be stronger interest among VARs and system integrators.
badge design global single
We now have one, single global design and engineering budget. We've put an end to badge engineering.
european fuel gallon levels market per prices result stays
Fuel prices would have to go to European levels for that to happen. If it stays (in the $3 to $4 per gallon range) it will result in some market shift. It has to.
catering environmental mistake public relations valuable
For Toyota, it was a huge, huge, immeasurably valuable PR coup, ... was a mistake from one aspect, and that's public relations and catering to the environmental movement.
based best fuel maintain prediction segment shrinks volume
We think 750,000 (units) is the best prediction based on today's fuel prices. I think we may maintain our volume at other people's expense, even if the segment shrinks a little bit.
decided easy problem rocket
The problem was right there before us all along. It was so easy to see, once we decided to look. It's not rocket science.
absolutely believe gonna refuse work
We just absolutely refuse to believe that there's going to be a strike. We're gonna work our way through it.
afford bad cares nobody people price view whether
There used to be a view expressed: 'Hey, let's just make these cars. Nobody cares about them. Nobody cares whether they are bad or good. It's for the people who can't afford anything better, and price is the only thing that counts.'
assume realistic segment taking
It's realistic to assume the segment won't grow, but we will be taking share.
bottom driving europe fuel large majority people prices start time type vast vehicle
If U.S. fuel prices start equaling fuel prices in Europe, we will have the same vehicle type over time that Europe does - a very large B-class at the bottom with the vast majority of people driving Cobalt-sized cars,