Mike McDaniel goes deep inside Government Motors:
The Scene: An executive conference room at General Motors HQ. The mood: grim.
CEO: “Thanks for that report, Tom. What’s next on the agenda, Bob?”
Executive Vice President #1: “Uh, Steve Jenkins from Chevrolet is here to report on the Volt task force.”
CEO: (Perking up) “Ah! Some good news at last!”
Jenkins: (Nervously) “Uh, Mr. Chairman, I’m afraid the news isn’t so good…”
CEO: (Frowning) “Just get on with it.”
Jenkins: (Swallows) “Well, the Volt is only getting about 25 miles per charge…”
Executive Vice President #2: “Wasn’t it supposed to get 50?”
Executive Vice President #3: “Nah. That was marketing hype. Forty is more like it.”
CEO: “Forty? Didn’t I just hear Jenkins say 25?”
Jenkins: (Sweating) “Well, Mr. Chairman, it seems that customers are insisting on carrying passengers, using air conditioning, the heater, the radio, lights, turn signals, and other accessories like that.”
EVP#3: “Oh yeah. That kind of frivolous, luxury stuff will really drain the battery fast.”
CEO: (Sighs) “Go on.”
Jenkins: (Wipes sweat from his brow) “Uh, well, our sales volume is (whispered) 1210 units…”
CEO: “What’s that? How many?”
Jenkins: (Pale and stuttering, a little louder) “Uh, um, 1210 units?”
CEO: “One thousand two hundred and ten units?! For last month?
Jenkins: (About to pass out) “Well, uh no, that’s…that’s for 2011.”
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