On the heels of a record-breaking year in profits, General Motors (GM) Chairman Dan Akerson spoke to the Commonwealth Club of California about the government bailout and GM's plans to pay it back, gas prices, electric cars and more.
In 2009, American automakers GM, along with Chrysler, received an $80 billion bailout from the United States government. But the company received some criticism in recent months for posting record profits in 2011. During his speech, Akerson called GM a "punching bag in this political season," while providing insight into the bailout, its results and the time frame for paying back the bailout funds.
He also discussed hot topics such as gas prices, electric cars and the international market.
After his speech, which occured last week in San Francisco, he took questions from the audience.