Bob Lutz - Is he making the grade?

sls002

It would be pointless then to bring up the series 90 and series 80 models I suppose. (the series 90 was what the Sixteen concept car was about)

jae5

Thanks R.

You pretty much listed what I was trying to say. I knew they went to the Euro-designations, but to me it wasn't like the MBs, with their C, E, S, SL, CLKs. It will always be the words to me, not the new-euro designations.

The switchover just doesn't have the panache to me, same as with the Lincolns. Seems like just another copycat move.

sls002

I don't think that the names are well thought out. The CTS, STS and DTS names make some sense, except that the DTS is not a sports sedan and so the name is not right. But perhaps there was a need for a change. Perhaps better names will come out eventually.

What BMW and Mercedes do is to use the first letter/number to indicate series and the rest to indicate the engine. Cadillac is using the first letter to indicate a series, but the rest indicates a model in the series.

robr2

I don't think that the names are well thought out. The CTS, STS and DTS names make some sense, except that the DTS is not a sports sedan and so the name is not right.

They're not called sport sedans - T = Touring. Besides it all marketing anyway - you could call it anything you want.

sls002

Cadillac considers "touring" the equivalent of "sports" in that "touring" was a stiffer suspension for better handling. The STS verion of the FWD Seville was the top of the line model that one would want. It was expensive enough that more SLS versions were sold. But "STS" was a recognizable Cadillac model. So the xTS models are a recognizable name, where "x" could be any letter.

jae5

Exactly sls. It's like there wasn't a good enough transition from names to alpha-designations. I mean, when the first Northstar Sevilles and Eldos came out, the STS/SLS and ETC designations were slowly implemented in. Many people had a chance to "take it in" as you will, with some even thinking it was cool to use the TLA (three-letter-acronym). But then, wham-bam everything went to TLAs with much meaning or forethought.

Whereas with MB & BMW, it was either "-series" or"-class". And it even helps to differentiate the market:
Just starting out, 3-series or c-class.
Bump-up at work/ finances or family gets a little bigger, 5-series or E-class.
Become a big dog, retire, or make it to the mountain top, 7-series or S-class.
Sporting fun: 6- or 8-series or SL-CLK
And add in M or AMG for the performance side :shades:

sls002

BMW and Mercedes names have shifted over the years too. The BMW 3 series developed out of the 2002 series. Mercedes names used to start with a number, like 220 or 300 or 280 and then there may have been some letters at the end.

Cadillac has used a three letter name for existing models like the STS is the replacement for the FWD Seville. The Deville did have a DTS performance trim, so renaming it DTS is not totally new. The all new models, like the CTS (which was a Catera replacement) and the SRX (all new), are not replacements, so anything they were called would be new.

Current Mercedes names are a jumble to me. There are so many models that I am not sure what a lot of them really are. There are no Mercedes dealers less than a days drive away, so they are not anything that I consider.

rockylee

I think Lutz, is doing a better job lately. His product planning is good. GM employees are going to have to make sacrifices. Hopefully in 2 years we will get a leader that believes in domestic manufactoring and will be willing to save it.

Rocky

dtownfb

I agree Lutz has been doing a good job lately. The 2008 Malibu will be the make or break for Chevy.

"Believes in domestic manufacturing": Sorry my friend, that train left the station a few years ago and won't be back.

dtownfb

I agree Lutz has been doing a good job lately. The 2008 Malibu will be the make or break for Chevy.

"Believes in domestic manufacturing": Sorry my friend, that train left the station a few years ago and won't be back.

hpmctorque

If the most successful auto company in the world by most measures, Toyota, believed in domestic manufacturing, all of its vehicles would be sourced in Japan. Clearly, the U.S. doesn't have to be the most efficient producer of everything to have a thriving economy, or even a thriving auto industry, for that matter. We're #1 or very competitive in software, telefony, agricultural products, chemicals, entertainment, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, appliances, aircraft, defense, lodging, retailing, higher education, financial services, autos, and other industries. Also, while everything isn't wonderful, our unemployment rate is among the lowest of all major industrialized countries, in part due to our relatively free trade polices.

62vetteefp

Have you been in a LaCrosse? It is fully soft except for the console. Just your comment tells me you have never been in one?

62vetteefp

G6 was in the pipeline as was the LaCrosse when Lutz came in. The LaCrosse was supposed to come out before the G6 buy they delayed the LaCrosse and it came out after. In this case Lutz was able to get the LaCrosse upgraded significantly. However the G6 was pretty well baked.

If you actually look at the LaCrosse it has more "soft" surfaces than any vehicle near it's price class. Almost as much as the previous ES300 (Have not been in a newer one). the only areas that are not soft are the pillars, console and I believe the knee bolster below the steering wheel.

You may not like the use of wood in the car but it is all very nice "plastic".

Lutz did have a bit more impact on the DTS and Lucerne but even then he was still taking over and there were many who were dragging their feet on changing the way they did things.

Rock, there was an article on Lutz recently and it showed his conference room. On the wall was a picture of his jet and the Buick Velite.

Impala / buick badge engineered GP's? No way.

62vetteefp

The Kappa twins are so half-baked, "we'll fix them as we go" it is ridiculous. They're making one running change after another, probably best to wait for the 2008 model.

Wow, how can anyone even say something like this? the kappas are so succesful they are on the shortest turnover rate at GM and almost in the industry. They are outselling the Mazda 2:1. If this is not success I do not know what is.

Does anyone have a list of running changes on the Kappas?

rockylee

Rock, there was an article on Lutz recently and it showed his conference room. On the wall was a picture of his jet and the Buick Velite.

62' that still gives me hope pal.

Rocky

rockylee

I don't know how anyone could basically call the Kappas a failure. :confuse:

Rocky

62vetteefp

Simply put, the General has 15K orders for the niche car, but:

A. orders aren't the same as actual sales
B. how many of those orders are actually going to be sales
C. the car is a niche product
D. is that really making an impact in their (Pontiac and GM overall) lackluster portfolio
E. is it really going to gain conquest sales from the Miata
F. what about the other products
G. is the quality there
H. will there be supply problems that may cause this thing to stall out the gate

have you guys ever went back a year and see what was said here? Very interesting how much we really know!!

62vetteefp

Well bad move to remove anti-lock brakes off of mid-level cars since Hyundai and Honda are offering lots of standard safety equipment on their cars. Yeah I agree with you removing standard features off of low-level cars is ok but mid-level cars no GM shouldn't have done that.

When these were removed from the low and midlevel cars at GM Honda and Toyota had them as optional on their low and midleverl cars.

62vetteefp

14 months? Lutz has been at GM long enough now to have made his mark. Nothing but excuses from GM supporters, which is why they can't get anywhere with all the competition now. Either way he's been reassigned so we'll never see a pure "Lutz" vehicle now.

M

Missed this one. Reassigned? He was made head of all product world wide. More responsibility and vehicles are now more "Lutz" than ever.

62vetteefp

Second, and far less acceptable than number one, GM has always had this thing about making a big PR splash at the auto shows. I think GM puts more stock into auto shows than they deserve.

GM? Toyota and Honda are so secretive that we know almost nothing about their products until they are released at auto shows.

rockylee

I totally agree with you here. Good luck getting a reliable leak

Rocky

62vetteefp

Good point. I think the only member of GM's current senior management team who has the right leadership and vision to solve these problems (and the intestinal fortitude to do the hard things that will be required) is Bob Lutz. The board should promote him to chairman, President, and CEO. Then his first order of business should be to promote anyone anywhere in the company who has the vision and leadership to help him and, if there aren't enough of these qualified company insiders, fill any remaining senior management positions with talent from the likes of Toyota, Honda, Hyundai (sp?), and Nissan.

How fast things change. Now Wagoner is one of the top CEO's in the country and GM is turning around with great product.

62vetteefp

I somewhat agree. I think Lutz presents a good game, but honestly I think for GM to straighten itself, it needs it's house cleaned, including Lutz.

Nope, they just needed someone to come in and take charge and kick some buts. Too many were sitting there fat and happy cutting costs and putting out unremarkable cars. I can still remember proposing we use the benchmarked vehicles and out do them in many areas. Instead we had to pick 3 to better, 5 to meet and the rest to just get along.

62vetteefp

This from a man who heads up the same company that depends on suvs and large pickups for their survival! This is said as GM gets ready to roll out their most important vehicles of all, full-size pickups! What am I missing here? Lutz needs to retire, he has officially lost it. Toyota has finally made him crack up. He would change his tune very quickly if the new large utes all of sudden stopped selling and the new full size pickups flopped. Uh...Lutz, GM doesn't have enough small cars or enough that people would even want to buy in order to offset the sales losses if the Feds did what you're asking! Hello earth to Yutz? You're calling for buyers to revert to the vehicles with the slimmest profit margins at a time when GM is dying?

And what is about to happen? Increased MPG ratings which will really hurt GM. Because they sell a preponderance of large truck vs. small econo cars they will have to greatly decrease the volume of the profitable trucks because of government rules, not supply and demand. The japanese, who do not sell that many trucks will just sell more cars.

If they would just increase taxes (which I am not in favor of)those who want to will still be able to buy the trucks (which is most of them anyway) and GM would be better off than the Japanese.

He is just making sense. How come every where else in this world they do not have the MPG rules and they drive small cars and not fuel thirsty trucks. He was jsut asking us to do the same as every where else.

62vetteefp

Holy Moley

I agree Merc, this lunatic needs to retire. If I was Rick Wagoner, I'd tell him to clean out his desk immediantly and Security will be escorting him out. Rick Wagoner, I'm positive doesn't think this way.

Rocky

Did you really say this? How things change.

62vetteefp

I'm starting to agree. The only one he's headed up that's been a success was the kappa twins.

Rocky

shame shame Rocky :P

62vetteefp

I wouldn't go that far......I don't think Putz is the one who is responsible for getting all these new and improved products launched.

Yes he is. I guess someone else could have (ME!) but it took a bunch of power from above and experience to get it done.

62vetteefp

Uh oh, I see a pic from a Chinese site. Will this be another Chinese market GM car that is superior to its NA market brother?

I'd like to know how Lutz created all those, too...

US engineers are over in China and Europe and Austrailia and Korea right now working wiht them to improve their product. Lutz is in charge of those folks and is going around the world to assure the cars are better and done right.

62vetteefp

So things were developed under him....so what? I mean, giving him that credit would be like blaming Bush personally for all the issues of his regime.

It takes teams to do the work but Lutz personally aproves all phases of design from beginning to production. He looks at mockups and discusses materials and gaps to the nth degree.

62vetteefp

Did Putz, also draw up the interiors for the GMT-900's ? I didn't know Lutz was a design engineer ?

that wouls be a designer and Lutz has a very keen eye for style and yes he does approve all designs at Design Staff.

BUT, he does let folks do their jobs. And the creative folks have risen at Design Staff.

rockylee

62' The guy did make the quote and at the time it pissed me off

Rocky

rockylee

Well that is true isn't it ????? Not until recently he has done anything. The Kappa's and the Lambada's and those are yet to be proven winners. :P

Rocky

rockylee

I do stand by my claim 62' it's not all Lutz's doing's. He has stepped in most recently with cars like the 08' CTS and 08' Enclave interior but what else ? The Astra ? Well that was already made wasn't it ? A monkey could put a Saturn grill and emblem on a Opel. :P

Rocky

rockylee

He also to some degree is a bean counter. If he was so smart he would of left the wooden tables in the Enclave along with the rear center console and dual LCD screens instead of cost cutting it :mad:

Rocky

62vetteefp

It is not all his doing because he was not sitting in every meeting making decisions on every program. However he gave the direction to those that do. Many wanted to put out the best cars they could but many factors stopped them.

1.) The engineers had taken over Design Staff. All Designs had to meet their criteria and the bottom line is that the criteria was there to get the cheapest, easiest design out of Design to produce. Styling was second. The first LaCrosse was horrific. Just looked bad. Lutz delayed the program and over Christmas break the Designers worked and came up with a great looking car and interior. Maybe not every persons cup of tea and they had to work within certain parameters but still a nice looking vehicle.

2.) Interiors were being cheapened to death. gaps and materials were not that great. Look at the G6. Not exactly great. He said lower the gloss levels and make all gaps tighter. He would come into a mockup and say this gap is too large. Make it smaller. He did push to keep price down by using less soft materials on the IP. Most felt this was a mistake but then the new SUV's and Trucks come out with hard upper IP's and virtually all articles have great praise for the interiors and I have yet to read one that says "IP is too hard, do not buy". I still feel that there should be more soft materials but with at least $2000 in cost penalty over our japanese competitors (health care, retirement cost, exchange rates, etc.) he have to cut cost somewhere.

3.) He pushed to get more engine manufacturing modules to build DOHC engines. While they are very, very expensive modules we had to get more capacity on line. Now you finally see that more cars are getting them with 6 speeds.

4.) cost cutting- Every carry over program was given a target to cut cost. Each team had to pick those items. There was a lot of stuff cut that no one noticed. The lists were made up by looking at the competition. Huge spreadsheets showed where we over contented and these were the low hanging fruit. At the time many tried to stop removing the ABS from standard on lower models but when looking at the competition on the midsize the Japanese did not have them standard on the base models and, with the exception of the Accord, were optional on all models. When it was announced to the press they had a field day. No matter that we were the only ones as standard before. BUT, soon after Honda and Toyota started making it standard. So, did were they making it standard before the announcement or because of the announcement?

No Lutz did not do it all. It is a huge company that wa floundering. It needed direction to be better. Lutz did make mistakes. We all do. But GM needed someone to lead the troops because there was nobody doing it before. Somebody else could have done it but Lutz was the one picked.

How many here two years ago said GM would be bankrupt and Wagoner tar and feathered?

rockylee

I respect your opinion and post. Lutz, has done a good job lately. I still would like him try to build benchmarks/class leading cars even if it costs a few bucks more. The $2,000 like you say is probably more like $4,500 on the low end of a cost difference's/disadvantage because of currency manipulation, and legacy costs. The arguement by the critics would be if GM, put that extra $2,000 in the interior they could make up the difference
(currency manipulation/legacy costs) with a higher MSRP.
This of course will also take money to premiumize the brands through marketing. I think GM, needs to hire Toyota/Lexus, marketing team to help change the perception so GM, can ask higher premiums for it's vehicles.

I think more needs to be done with warranty. I'd like to see GM, also offer 5 more years on to the 5/100K warranty to match Hyundai at 10/100K. GM, also needs a 5 YEAR / 60,000 bumper to bumper warranty to match Hyundai. I feel doing this would give the perception that GM, stands behind it's vehicles and I'd also make the warranty transferable. This would raise resale values even higher and would be a good selling point for resale which would raise residuals. Raising the residuals would make lease's cheaper for the new car buyer. I also would like to see a similar BMW scam called free maintainece added. Well it would insure every new car was properly maintained further adding residual value protection. I believe if both of these features were added to every new GM, vehicle it would change perception and in return GM, would have more room to raise MSRP's to pay for this and become even more profitable. GM, dealers would be happy to make more money on service and a higher volume of traffic going to the dealers would perhaps mean more sales as a salesman could convince the guy getting service and looking he needs to get a new car or truck and because his resale is so high he won't take a bath.

Just my $0.02

Rocky

jae5

Impala / buick badge engineered GP's? No way.

Question 62: if they're not badge engineered then what are they? If I'm not mistaken wasn't the Regal/Lumina (later Impala/MC)/GP/Cutlass the same W-Body? Yes, they had different sheetmetal by they were they same vehicle. Seating, switchgear, drivetrains, hardware, harnessing were the same. I've worked on, designed parts for and been in all; hell I still have my W-body Cutlass, my sister had a W-Body Regal. Different greenhouse, dash layout and sheetmetal as stated, but same underneath. Again, I guess our definitions of badge engineering are the different.

When the MC reappeared GM itself stated it was renaming the Lumina Z34 to MC Z34 - check the Automotive News of the time as well as the other auto journals (not talking about magazines, but the industry journals). My old company supplied parts for the car; nothing was different. Also the Impala was the rename for the Lumina 4-door; wasn't totally new. Now agree they have been reskinned and the W has been updated; but IMO badge-engineered.

jae5

I guess 62 some people make a big deal out of what Lutz has "accomplished" but to me and a lot of others, he really hasn't done anything spectacular. Yes, the interiors have been improved, but anyone could have done that. Yes he held the Buicks (and the Caddys) launching because of this, but anyone with common sense would have done the same. He's brought out the two-seater niches, but time will tell if they really have done their jobs, bringing in more foot traffic for the other models, particularly for Pontiac.

Same with the Holdens. He brought the Monaro over, good, but was that really something that couldn't have been done before? People have been asking for the Holdens for decades. We're got a taste, but the execution was wrong. Was it all his fault, no. But the market should have been read better. Hopefully the lessons have been learned and the G8 will do better when it crosses. And with Saturns, just as Rock stated, was it really that difficult to Saturnize an Opel, a la Caddy with the Catera/Omega? Though I think the Saturn is a better effort than the Catera was, with the Catera better than Cimmaron.

With regards to the ABS, I still say that was not a smart move. GM needed a leg-up on the competition and had one by offering the ABS as standard. At the time there was a big push in this area of safety equipment. This could have been used as a selling point, a way to gain sales..."We are the only car company offering ABS standard on our low-level cars". Then GM made it optional not only on low-level but also mid-level. Why the mid-levels? I could understand somewhat on the lowest of the lows, but the mid-levels. A safety item at that!! No excuses!! So the buyer's question became "Why should I buy this GM "whatever" when the panel gap is huge, interior is a sea of gray, hard plastic, fit/finish is not up to par and anti-lock is a huge $$$ option?". Why not de-content somewhere else, like interior option packages? Give me roll-down windows, manual locks, basic radio, no mats - it's a basic transportation A-B vehicle anyway. They should have let the market help guide them where to de-content and what should be kept.

But I do agree with you that engineering had taken over, with the mandate to make it as cheap as possible. I can't tell you the number of times I had to change/redesign parts to make them meet their cost target. It got to the point they didn't care about robustness, just make it cheaper, cheaper, cheaper. I was actually glad we started removing and not bidding GM business.

Grade: B for flash/dash and quotables; C for efforts.
Final Grade: TBD

rockylee

jae5,

I like Lutz, I really do think he's a likable man but I do think I could do a better job than him because I feel I can put myself in the consumers shoes better than he can. Perhaps it's my age advantage. However saying that GM, needs to focus on brand building and get some distinguishment among it's brands. Each brand has to have a identity. GM, is missing that ingriedient. You can build great cars but if they lack a identity under the emblem it will fail or confuse people on which brand from gM, they should shop or is most likely to fit them.

Rocky

62vetteefp

I think you have taken "badge engineering" to a new level. A badge engineered car wouls be one that has the bare minimum changed from model to model.

A "badge Engineered" car definition today from most of the press/experts is one where they have taken a model and just changed badges, fascias and a minor revision inside. An example would be the cobalt/G5 and the Torrent/Equinox.

If we were to use your definition the number of vehicles not "badge Engineered" could almost be counted on two hands. And if we only looked at vehicles under $30k there would be very few. In fact, maybe the MX5 is the only one. I cannot think of another even though I am sure there are some more. Maybe the Mustang but supposedely there are models coming out based on that platform.

The cars you refered to share architectures just like every other car out there that is built in volume.

rockylee

62' I can't say I disagree with your post.

Rocky

62vetteefp

Yes, the interiors have been improved, but anyone could have done that.

I agree but the issue is no one was. No one had the power/cajones to do it. Bob was hired in to do it and Rick gave him the responsibility to do it. He ran into significant pushback from many but he perservered. Yes someone else could have done it but no one else did. Bob also has a rich background/experience few in this world have. Multiple companies, multiple countries, multiple responsibilities, excellent design sense (and if anyone says he does not then they do not know him).

Could someone else do it? Sure, but then again somebody else could have been our first president but George was the one that was and gets the credit. There are many who could have done as good a job as Washington but he was there and gets the credit (sorry, kids are studying presidents this week!).

rockylee

Bob, is doing a good job. I was being sarcastic thinking I could od better. I however do think their are area's where he needs to improve. Bob, will come up with a good design with lots of features but won't put those extra's in their to save a buck and meet a certain price point. The only way Bob, will be able to raise Buick's perception is not hold back and build to a Benchmark. How much would wooden tables, dual flip down LCD's, center rear console cost with buying in volume ? A thousand dollars tops ? I think it's worth a thousand dollars to put features like those I described above to get $3-5K more on MSRP. You are a smart guy and never doubted that but you and I disagree on the Buick brand stragedy. Now Saturn, and Pontiac I understand why you would leave some of the goodies out. But low cost goodies like wooden tables, LCD screens, center rear console isn't going to cost all that much and it's
"eye candy" to the consumer. It would take a loaded Enclave that has a $45K MSRP to $48-49K MSRP and you only invest $1K if that.

Rocky

62vetteefp

How much would wooden tables, dual flip down LCD's, center rear console cost with buying in volume ? A thousand dollars tops ? I think it's worth a thousand dollars to put features like those I described above to get $3-5K more on MSRP

Doubt it would price out a $3000 for those items but no way woudl people buy them even at that price. Just no market. I could be wrong but am willing to see the data. A $50k Buick Enclave is not gonna happen soon. Just not enough market for it. Sure they could get one to be loaded up at that much but few if any would sell. Even a $40K Buick will have a low volume.

62vetteefp

A leaked Toyota Motor Corp. document obtained by a Detroit newspaper that says the auto maker is preparing for a political and consumer backlash due to its success in the U.S. is a “public relations ploy,” a top General Motors Corp. executive says.

“I would kindly refer to that (document) as yet another carefully honed Toyota public relations ploy to make everybody say, ‘Oh no, we don’t resent you. We love you. Look at what you’re doing for American jobs and American employment,’” Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman-global product development, says at the auto show here.

A Toyota spokesman declines to comment directly on Lutz’s remarks but provides Ward’s with a statement regarding the document published by the Detroit Free Press.

“It is unfortunate that a confidential and proprietary Toyota document was released outside the company,” the statement says.

“This planning document looks at various business challenges for Toyota in the next five years, including the rising cost of wages and benefits and how we compare to other auto makers and manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world.”

Toyota has gone to great lengths to publicize the fact it employs thousands of Americans in its U.S. assembly plants and builds where it sells.

The Japanese auto maker currently operates 13 manufacturing plants in North America and will add another when its plant in Woodstock, ON, Canada, comes online in 2008.

The Toyota spokesman says the auto maker employs some 41,000 workers in North America.
Despite its substantial investment here, Lutz argues Toyota has not created new jobs.

“These aren’t new jobs in new plants,” he says. “These are simply jobs in plants they’re taking away from established producers,” he tells Ward’s.

“So I would take that (document) with a grain of salt. I don’t think (Toyota) is fearing any backlash at all. I just think it’s another ploy for public sympathy.”

rockylee

A great article indeed and one which I agree with him on.

Rocky

rockylee

62' The Acadia, prices out at $42,000 and a Denali version is on the way. That will be $45-47K. So you are telling me a mid-high $40K Enclave with the options I say are missing wouldn't sell ????? I disagree. I think a Tiger Woods edition with those options I described at let's say 5000 units would do just fine IMHO.

Rocky

jae5

As stated, we each have different thoughts on what badge engineering is. What many think of as "badge engineering" I call "nameplate" engineering, with badge engineering meaning something more than just a facial change. Again, this is me, my opinion, what I think, IMO, not what the so-called badge-engineered definition is today. As you know auto definitions change like the seasons; they not like the "Jxxxx" codes.

For example, you may not think the GMT900s are badge engineered but I do. You may think of the Aura as not being badge engineered but I do. Same with the Opel/Sky/Soltice, or with other makes as well, particularly the FOMOCOs. To me, if at the heart of the car, the main BIW, is the same, it's B.E.

Again, we just differ on our thoughts on BE; nothing wrong with that.

jae5

Understood Rock. Just that I worked for him before his GM adventure. And also followed him during his Chrysler years and, ummm, let's just say I am not a big fan of his. this is due to things he did, wrongs he saw and did nothing about. In the end I did give him somewhat a passing grade; you know that's way better than what I gave him last time. Gasp, don't tell me I'm softening up :surprise:

Agree with the brand identity. Which is why I was scratching my head a year or so back when they had decided to put that "GM" belt-buckle emblem on the outside of their cars. I swear that was the GM emblem from my pops 74 & 80 Impalas seatbelts - I was a little guy when he had the 80 Imp but I remember it had that emblem.

For me it's just that their cars lack a soul. There's nothing in that lineup to me that would make me trade my curent truck on a new one.

jae5

62,

A. orders aren't the same as actual sales
B. how many of those orders are actually going to be sales
C. the car is a niche product
D. is that really making an impact in their (Pontiac and GM overall) lackluster portfolio
E. is it really going to gain conquest sales from the Miata
F. what about the other products
G. is the quality there
H. will there be supply problems that may cause this thing to stall out the gate

So what are the answers to my questions?