Detroit Auto Show: All Those Who Like Having a Job, Stand Up and Cheer!

GM brought its own cheering section to its press conference on Jan. 11, a few dozen GM employees waving signs and cheering loudly, every time Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner paused for breath.

Ford wasn’t much better. Ford invited employees, suppliers and dealers to its press conference, and they cheered at every occasion.

It was grating, especially when the employees cheered on cue, like the audience at the wedding in the first “Shrek” movie, every time a royal flunky held up a cue card.

This was unusual behavior for the auto show’s press preview days. I sure hope it’s not a trend.

All I could think of was how it must have galled the car company CEOs when they were pilloried in Washington while they were asking for a bailout, instead of getting the rock star treatment they get in Detroit.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally said during Ford’s press conference, also on Jan. 11, that Ford gained market share in December, for the third month in a row. That didn’t get the round of applause he expected — probably because in December, for instance, Ford sales fell 32.3 percent. Ford only gained share because the entire U.S. industry fell even more, down 35.6 percent.

Undaunted, Mulally said, “Should we stop and applaud that?” The Ford cheering section got the hint and cheered.

Over at the GM display, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm got into the act. She marched up to the GM display at the head of a small mob of GM employees. The governor waved a sign that said, “We’re Electric!” on one side, and “Here to Stay” on the other.

GM introduced literally a parade of cars, not all of which were especially new, bookended by the Chevy Volt at the beginning, and the Cadillac Converj concept car at the end. The Converj shares the Volt’s hybrid technology.

On Jan. 12, GM had another press conference, where Wagoner announced that GM will manufacture its own batteries in the United States (Cheer!), in fact, the batteries will be made in Michigan (Cheer!). Awkwardly, Wagoner added, “subject to negotiations with state and local government authorities.”

Wagoner repeated that phrase several times: “subject to negotiations with state and local government authorities.” Granholm wasn’t leading the cheering section that time, but the not-so-subtle message was directed at her, and other “state and local government authorities.” After all, there are plenty of other places GM could go. The governor probably would have cheered, anyway.