General Motors Slogan: Nothing Changes Here

Apparently General Motors continues not to act quickly when it is involves both the safety of the owners of their vehicles, or the speed at which its board members make decisions. This time the beleaguered automaker which continues to shoot itself in the foot, legs, or whatever is left below the waist was forced to disclose that its own board members had very little knowledge about the recalls that continue to affect the company and its customers. In fact, the board's chairmen, Theodore M. Solso said that he "only had vague recollections of the details behind the recall." That's quite a statement when you consider that GM has recalled some where between 26 and 29 million cars and trucks this year. 

Also today, in an interview that she did with MSNBC, GM CEO Mary Barra announced that GM is likely done recalling cars and trucks for 2014. The company has released information leading to 65 recalls in the first seven months of this year. Including the heavily publicized ignition switch recall that affected 10-years worth Chevy Cobalts and various Saturn models that lead to the deaths of 13 people. The company has set up a victims compensation fund and it is expected to pay up to 600 million dollars. The fund received 100 death claims in the initial month that it was available. 

Personally, I find it sort of odd that GM would release a statement in early September saying that they are done recalling vehicles when there is still four months left in the year. Why did Mary Barra have to release such a statement in the first place? Was it because General Motors has run out of money to fix the millions of cars that for years it failed to inform buyers about? I have a feeling that by announcing that General Motors is done with recalls in 2014 it just means that the first several months of 2015 are going to have several recalls on newer models that the company could have revealed this year.  But the company, who continues to take a beating in public perception and in the press decided to make a play towards the future and look forward to the 2015 models years. 

Sources:
Barra: GM likely done with recalls on older vehicles
G.M.’s Board Is Seen as Slow in Reacting to Safety Crisis
Barra: GM likely done with recalls on older vehicles