The new GM reported a profit of $2.5 billion for the second quarter of 2011. This compared to a loss of $15 billion in the same quarter of 2010.
Indeed, the new GM appears to be doing a lot of things right. It has reduced its labor force from 263,000 to 208,000. It operates fewer plants. It made slightly more cars, and it has reduced its buyer incentives.
The Obama administration will use this success story as his major economic achievement. He saved GM with the government’s $50 billion bailout. He did not save the shareholders of the “Old GM.” They lost everything.
