Car News

Bob Lutz is on General Motors’ payroll for the third time — this time as a part-time adviser to senior management.

The former vice chairman and ultimate car guy retired in spring 2010, but has provided informal advice to GM executives for free ever since.

He met about monthly with CEO Dan Akerson, who wanted to formalize the relationship and compensate him, Lutz told the Free Press on Friday. But that idea displeased GM’s part-owner, the U.S. government.

“The Feds took a dim view of it,” Lutz said. “I think Dan Akerson argued effectively that there is value in having me on board and that it didn’t diminish any of the current management. … It’s just making my broad experience and, arguably, my skills in leadership and general automobile business available to the company.”

Akerson e-mailed Lutz two weeks ago to tell him of the arrangement, which formally reunites GM with one of its most-outspoken and ambitious change agents. Lutz is credited with reviving GM’s product-development department and had been open about his desire to run an automaker.

He was effectively second-in-command a few times, including during his recent nine-year stint at GM, but never became a major automotive CEO.

Lutz, a pilot who has been overheard measuring paychecks in tanks of jet fuel, declined to disclose his pay. He said he’d provide counsel related to product development, design, marketing, communications and general management decisions.

“In most cases, it’ll just be reinforcing the direction they’re already on. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the company is being run, with the way the products are being marketed, with the pricing, and, of course, I’m very familiar with the future product,” he said. “I think a lot of it will be saying, ‘Wow, that’s good, keep it up,’ and occasionally I’ll offer some critical comments.”

Lutz, 79, retired after 47 years in the auto industry. He began and ended his career at GM, first in sales and marketing and, starting in 2001, as product-development guru. He also held top positions at Ford, Chrysler and BMW.

Lutz’s devotion to the auto industry has endured, despite a few attempts to retire. He retired from Chrysler in 1998, but threw himself into saving GM at then-CEO Rick Wagoner’s behest in 2001.

He also said he was retiring from GM in 2009, but stayed an extra year after he was given a chance to run marketing.