It might seem like piling on, but
really, Ronn Torossian said GM is doing it to itself … and that may not be a
bad thing. Aside from the Silverado truck, if anyone had to name an iconic GM
model, there is really only one top contender. The Corvette. But now, the auto
manufacturer has announced it will stop selling Corvettes. At least temporarily.
Yes, seriously.
Sure the latest ‘Vette can go 0 to
60 in less than four seconds, but as far as driving one off the lot … well,
you’re pretty much at a stand still. According to a recent press statement, GMhas told Chevy dealers to stop delivery of about 2,000 Corvettes in order to
inspect them for a, quote, “suspicious part” that, apparently, has something to
do with the driver’s side airbag. Further, GM has also stopped shipments from
its Bowling Green, Kentucky plant, the place that has been building Corvettes
for three decades. This issue has to do with the parking brake, which “must be
inspected to ensure it works on both rear tires.”
Come again? The breaks don’t work
and the airbag might be faulty? Oh, and this just in, the Corvette only makes
up a few thousand of the 270,000 vehicles GM currently has on recall for a
plethora of reasons.
Now, there might be two sides to
this PR nightmare. Side one, GM is in it deep. Simple, and it’s likely the
tactic Ford and Chrysler will approach. However, that’s not exactly a fair
assessment. At the heart of all of GM’s recent troubles has been the fact that
they were clearly lax and tardy in resolving an issue that has claimed (at
least) nineteen lives. HOWEVER, here they are voluntarily recalling their MOST
ICONIC automobile. I’d say that’s cause for an “atta boy.” Yes, recalls are
common, and yes, recalls are responsible. But by now, even GM’s top brass have
got to be thinking, “What now?”
No matter how they spin it, this
will be difficult treading from a public relations perspective. They knew this
before they released the statement – but they made the statement, anyway. This
is clearly the action of a company that has seen its errors and is working hard
to rebuild public trust.
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