General Motors has a new chief economist in Elaine Buckberg. She replaces Mustafa Mohatarem who will retire later this year.
The chief economist has an important role at GM. Buckberg will provide input and help determine the impact that global economic developments have on the automaker. Her appointment comes as the United States and China continue to announce new tariffs, though neither country has actually implemented them.
Specifically, the U.S. slapped imported cars from China with a 25 percent tariff. Although that may not impact Chinese automakers, it will impact GM, if enacted. GM currently imports the Buick Envision and Cadillac CT6 Plug-In from China to the U.S.
Buckberg has served in numerous roles during her professional career. She was most recently a principal in the Brattle Group’s Washington, D.C. office and has served in various government and private roles. Notably, she served as the deputy assistant secretary for policy coordination in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Economic Policy.
Comments
Just what GM needs another person with 0 passion for automobiles. Every job in the U.S. is expendable but hers.
An economist isn’t supposed to be passionate about cars. They’re supposed to be passionate about their ability to read the market and advise their client (GM in this case) what to do and what not to do.
I don’t know why you think her appointment has anything to do with the US labour market.
She’s replacing a soon to be retired Chief Economist.
Can’t vouch for her auto passion, but her resume indicates she knows how to navigate DC and global markets.
Time will tell, yes?
Yeah, maybe. But can she navigate Trump’s tweets?
the secret is a well lit big fat joint to illuminate the tweet.
GM needs passionate car guys and gals, yes. But they also need smart people. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that she’s probably crazy smart, like smarter than most of us that will read this article put together, and I don’t think that can be a bad thing for GM.
If automakers were run only by people on the web they would be gone in 4 years.
Bob Lutz in one of his books says it is a good balance of car people with passion and money people to prevent the auto minded people over spending and making sure they make money. He stated clearly you need both or you will just fail with one.
Economist or not, there are not enough car people managing GM.