UAW head Ronald Gettelfinger said in an interview that he would like the government to appoint someone who “knows something about the auto industry” and doesn’t favor appointing a Wall Street executive with little auto-industry experience to the post.
Mr. Gettelfinger’s comments came as Mr. Rattner’s name surfaced as a front-runner for the post, unofficially dubbed the “car czar” in Washington and Detroit circles. Mr. Rattner is a veteran financier who runs Quadrangle Capital Partners, the New York-based private-equity firm.
GM executives have generally welcomed the idea of a car czar in recent days, insisting the official could be a friend to an industry that has long felt ignored by Washington. “We welcome a car czar,” Mr. Gettelfinger said, although he added that neither he nor the union has been asked for input on the matter.
Mr. Gettelfinger added that he views Mr. Obama as a “realist” who will take significant steps to stimulate the U.S. economy and revive auto sales. He said he believes Chrysler needs to partner with another auto maker but will ultimately survive.
If Mr. Rattner gets the job it would raise questions about the future of Quadrangle, the firm he founded in 2000 after a successful career as a media-industry investment banker.
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