Saw the trailer for it this weekend, and early reviews for this documentary are very positive.

We should all try to watch this - for the business case as well as the history.
They are going to go inside some of the upcoming projects (not too deep, but enough to pique interest). They are also going to review some history of the company and spotlight some significant milestones - like Camaro. Lots of vintage footage and movies.

CNBC Presents "Saving General Motors"
"CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, takes an unprecedented look inside GM, a company struggling for survival and hoping to recapture its dominant position before it runs out of time, money and gas. "

"The documentary profiles GM's "Quality Czar" Bob Lutz, who arguably bears the heaviest burden in turning America's struggling giant automaker around. "

"CNBC cameras travel around the world to China where Buicks are considered a status symbol and GM became the first auto manufacturer to sell one million vehicles in a single year. LeBeau travels with GM's CEO Rick Wagoner in Beijing where he unveils an all-new Buick and is looking to expand the company's global strategy of investing in foreign markets such as India, Brazil and Russia. "

"CNBC takes viewers behind the scenes of the development of the all-new Chevrolet Camaro, set to roll out in early 2009. From the design lab in Melbourne, Australia, to sub-zero testing in Northern Canada, to a test drive with NASCAR giant Dale Earnhardt Jr, CNBC follows the rebirth of one of GM's most storied models. "

"The program features Warren Kennedy, a GM lifer and UAW hourly worker, who after 31 year with GM is set to retire after accepting the company's buyout offer."

"With oil prices rising, GM is placing massive financial bets on alternative fuel vehicles, especially an "extended range" electric car called the Chevrolet Volt."
See it on CNBC - Premieres Wednesday, August 6th 9p | 1a ET
I will be watching... suggest others here do the same.
We might just learn something we did not know otherwise.

Here's a teaser clip with Dale, Jr driving the new Camaro... (you gotta wait thru a 10-sec ad before the vid - sorry!).

As a parting thought - I wonder why CNBC decided to do this sort of special on GM? Why not Chrysler or Ford? Or why even use a car company at all - there are many other industries out there that are on the cusp of collapse.
Sort of leaves me wondering what the play is for this on Wall Street, and if the news of GM's recent financial postings was leaked out early, because it takes more than a few days to put together a documentary of this magnitude. Maybe they will divulge what brought his about and why GM was the "chosen one".

Mark your calendars guys - should make for good discussion.

 

At the moment, GM is in the worse cash position of the 3, and the clock is running much faster for them than it is at Ford or Chrysler.

 

Given GM's desperation, and CNBC's propensity for "fluffing", I'm not expecting a lot of hard-hitting reporting. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

Here's the Dale Jr. clip...

Click here to see Video

Lots of talk about this in the 2010 forums...

 

Wanted to bump this back TTT since it airs tonight.

With the recent discussion in other threads about financial woes of the big-3, this really is a "must-watch" program IMO.

CNBC at 9pm EST

 

This program probably should have been rated NC-17 for the amount of oral-genital contact OK, so the B-word got mentioned once at around the 40-minute mark, but for the most part, there were a lot of softballs thrown at Wagoner (and Lutz didn't so much participate in an interview as he did engage in his usual level of pontification).

It's a bit disappointing that CNBC - nominally a business-oriented network - would fail to engage in any meaningful assessment of GM's finances. The amount of detail (or lack thereof) is more indicative of Dateline or 20/20. This was very disappointing, as I would have expected rigorous analysis of legacy costs, cash flow, capital expenditures, etc. At least there was mention of the Volt's battery pack cost ($15K!).

The good news for history buffs is that there were pleny of cool old GM TV ads

 

GM wouldn't have endorsed the program if it didn't ultimately show them in a positive light. On top of that all TV financial shows are overly optimistic, pump and dump often comes to mind.

One think I took from this is how important the Cruze and Aveo replacement are and that they need to get to the USA ASAP!!! All GMs new products have been great, Malibu, CTS, etc.. but those are all more expensive vehicles. GM needs to get the entry level vehicles right. GM needs to hook the young people and first time car buyers. Most 20 something girls I know buy compact cars and SUVs. Cobalt is a generation behind, Aveo is weak, and the HHR is styled for older people (retro) unlike the xB (modern).

 

I was hoping for a bit more closure.

 

Its CNBC men, you knew it would be an incomplete story.

 

It's on overview documentary about GM and their current position and a look at how they operate today and a little bit of how they did in the past. Sure many of us would like to have seen a more critical view so that we actually learn something new but CNBC is still a TV network the last time I checked so ratings and a watch able program outweigh the nittty gritty numbers. That's more for Market Watch and Fast Money. Phil LeBeau and the other analysts do get very in-depth on the numbers during those programs.

A few things I did find interesting.
They used the interior of a F-body when talking about bad interior quality/fit and finish.

Volt Battery $15K yikes!

I knew Buick was doing well in China but didn't know Chevy and Caddy had joined them and we're doing well. I found it very interesting how the first time Chinese buyer said that Chevy makes quality cars and cited their long history of building cars before signing and driving off in an Aveo. Interesting how people's perception drives their decisions and outlooks.
IF GM does ever cut brands could it be a Chevy-Buick-Caddy worldwide GM brands.

I still find it very ironic how the new Camaro is so followed and seemed to be loved by GM and the press now and yet it was a forgotten car just 6 years ago.

 

Perception is reality for the vast mayority of people...

 

Count me into the "bubble-busted" crowd too.
NOTHING about the billions being spent/lost and where it's replacement is expected to come from.
Almost nothing about lagacy costs and the abatement program.
Nothing about how GM is forcing everyone 62-63 out of their helthcare program and into Medicare/Medicaid.
Nothing about proposed sales volumes on these "18-of-19 new vehicles to be released as cars/crossovers in the next 24 months".

If anything, I think the one analyst they were speaking to about his perspective on the Volt was out in left field. HE was painting a picture that the Volt was going to be the salvation for GM, which - as we have discussed here - is not the case IMO. I think that whole segment was bad. Them showing Lutz driving the Impala with the Volt drivetrain was not too cool either IMO for PR reasons. Now a bunch of people who were not half paying attention will think the Volt looks like a 4 year old Chevy.

The peice was not as well-done or detailed as I was hoping for.

 

I noticed the F-body interior as well. I didn't find it interesting so much as amusing. I definitely agree that the F-body interior is lacking. Granted, I have zero seat time in one, so I don't know about fitment or squeaks or anything; but asthetically, it looks pretty weak.

I also didn't realize Chevy was a strong brand in China.

Didn't watch the volt section, by that point I had grown tired of watching stuff that had no detail and was common knowledge to someone like us forum readers. I do wish I would have seen the malibu volt test vehicle though.

 

Definitely a light weight piece. I did like how they showed the succession of CEOs proclaiming the huge strides in GM's quality, meanwhile history shows they were clearly full of it. At least he asked Lutz if he was still blowing smoke when he talks about it now.

But other than that, not much depth. It would have been nice to see them talk about some of the things we're always harping on here, such as rampant badge-engineering, too many models/divisions, wasted money on joint-ventures (esp the Fiat debacle), the selling off of all non-core operations, poor product decisions, and so on. In other words, why is GM now at this point where their very future is in doubt? And since the title of the show was "saving GM", how about at least a few financial numbers regarding P/L, cashflow, etc. Instead of such indepth analysis, we get two segments that are little more than promotional pieces (Camaro and Volt).

 

[QUOTE=R377;5521348]Definitely a light weight piece. I did like how they showed the succession of CEOs proclaiming the huge strides in GM's quality, meanwhile history shows they were clearly full of it. At least he asked Lutz if he was still blowing smoke when he talks about it now.

But other than that, not much depth. It would have been nice to see them talk about some of the things we're always harping on here, such as rampant badge-engineering, too many models/divisions, wasted money on joint-ventures (esp the Fiat debacle), the selling off of all non-core operations, poor product decisions, and so on. In other words, why is GM now at this point where their very future is in doubt? And since the title of the show was "saving GM", how about at least a few financial numbers regarding P/L, cashflow, etc. Instead of such indepth analysis, we get two segments that are little more than promotional pieces (Camaro and Volt).[/QUOTE]

Thus, GM's endorsement and cooperation.