Rebuttal Letter from Ed Wellburn regarding GM's design direction

[GTAHVIT]

A "Mr. Gerald Sindell" wrote an open letter on 'The Huffington Post' to our new CEO - Fritz Henderson.

Mr. Sindell suggests that GM needs a new design direction in order to reinvent itself.

Mr, Ed Welburn, our Global Vice President - GM Design -- And Camaro Comrade Extraordinare..... responded to the open letter with one of his own.

Mr. Welburn writes:

Dear Mr. Sindell -



While your blog post was an open letter to Fritz Henderson, I personally

felt compelled to respond to you directly. As global vice president of GM

Design, I have the pleasure of leading one of the most diverse industrial

design organizations in the world. Across the globe, over a thousand

talented GM designers and sculptors are bringing the heart and soul of GM

to life. I have the pleasure of participating, developing and approving

every product our passionate design team creates.



Since taking on this role, my team and I have taken immeasurable strides to

bring manufacturing, engineering and design together on a global scale. We

no longer work in silos, we work together. We have cut down barriers,

removed obstacles and have returned to the essence which made GM great -

Design.



Great design surrounds us. Harley Earl invented the modern design studios

of the 20th century. Eero Saarinen designed our Technical Center, where I

am privileged to work. Great design is a part of our DNA; for every misstep

through the years like the Aztek, I’ll point to a Camaro, a Malibu or a CTS

- cars that were created in a cutting edge 21st century environment.



I mention three recent examples of well-received GM designs and wonder

openly if perhaps you have experienced them, especially their interiors. I

challenge you to visit a GM dealer and sit in the Chevrolet Malibu or

Camaro, Cadillac CTS or SRX, or the Buick LaCrosse before you question our

commitment to design and quality.



It is obvious design elicits an emotional response in all of us. It is

rational and irrational at the same time. The hallmark of good design is

sublime yet overt in its detail, beauty and craftsmanship. We at GM are

artists, innovators and problem solvers and are passionate about our work.

Above all, we are listeners. I cannot tell you how many research events,

nontraditional focus groups, and dialogs with potential customers, we at

Design conduct, much less the entirety of GM to understand what customers

want, what they like from competitive vehicles, what they dislike - all in

the name of exceeding expectations.



Regarding your taking exception to our wearing suits . . . at Design, I

manage a diverse team and I don’t care what my people wear. What I do care

about are creative results and their style of dress has nothing to do with

delivering great design. I want them to be comfortable. I believe, like

many customers, that style and design count in everything. Done well, it

makes people feel great. And style and elegance is what we design into each

car and truck GM produces.



And as for quantifying my colleagues as old white men, I can only point you

to my opinion , that diversity is not only represented in skin color or

gender; it is diversity of thoughts, ideas, experiences and opinions of our

people, that matters and makes us strong.



Our job today is to recapture, reconnect broadly with consumers, and help

them feel good about GM vehicles again. It will be difficult, but not

impossible, and our designers have the best chance of rebuilding that

confidence. My team is designing some of the best vehicles ever, in studios

right here in Michigan and across the globe - designs that inspire me and

the customers we’ve met with - keep your eye on us.



Ultimately, you and your readers will judge for yourselves. To that end,

I’d like to invite you to reacquaint yourself with our award-winning cars

and trucks. I would be happy to take you, Mr. Sindell, on a personal tour

of GM Design Headquarters in Warren, MI. I implore you to see what we’re

working on; and then let folks know what you think. In the interim, the GM

design staff will do its part to ensure that design stays in the asset

column.



Kindest regards,
Ed Welburn
Global VP, GM Design

[2010 2-Tone]

WOW!!!!!

[Red Hot SS]

Wow...what a well written letter. I wonder if he actually wrote it or if it was a team of PR people.

This gets me almost as hype as those new GM commercials

[vm1971]

WOAH!
nice!!!!!!!!!
he's right about MALIBU, CTS and the BUICK.
amazing, amazing cars for what they are and THEN some. !!!!!!!
and of course, camaro. !!!

[UCF w00t]

Yea, I think Sangyup Lee would have something to say about the "Old White men" comment. Not to mention Ed Welburn himself lol.

Oh and here's the original letter at huffington post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald..._b_210421.html

[BlackCamaroSS]

Yes, it is a very thoughtful and well written response. The fact of the matter is, he should not have wasted his time. Anyone who bases their opinion of one's abilities based upon their photo on a corporate website doesn't deserve the dignity of a rebuttal.

Such baseless and irrelevant invective did not warrant the diplomatic reply.

[camarorick]

Well said Mr. Welburn !!!!

P.S. I LOVE my new 2010 CAMARO

[D1BADZ]

Damn, know thats a response.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Originally Posted by Red Hot SS

Wow...what a well written letter. I wonder if he actually wrote it or if it was a team of PR people.

This gets me almost as hype as those new GM commercials

If you listen to the man you wood now it was written by him, And as "UCF w00t" said "I think Sangyup Lee would have something to say about the "Old White men" comment. Not to mention Ed Welburn himself lol."

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5069639n

[speedster]

That is why Ed is in the position he is in. His passion and style are reflected in that response.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by camarorick

Well said Mr. Welburn !!!!

P.S. I LOVE my new 2010 CAMARO

+1

And as for your P.S. Camarorick - I pick mine up tonight and hope to be saying the same thing!

Long Live Camaro!

[Zabo]

...wow, Sindell needs to take out some stock on some Vaseline.

And Redhot, I think that realy was Welburn rather than PR. I can actually see him saying that off the cuff.

[tjbusa]

excellent

[ponycrusher21]

Ed wellburn is the man. Ive actually wanted to be a designer ever since I was about 7.
He is a great inspiration to me because of the fact that under him, great designs are coming from GM. And face it, in the last decade or 2, GMs cars werent that great. but i look forward to seeing what else happens with the new GM after this bankruptcy is over with.