GM’s new CEO tells workers to go into “attack mode”

Detroit, Mich.: Daniel Akerson, General Motors’ new CEO, said the company must go into “attack mode” to beat out competitors like European car-maker BMW.

Akerson made the remarks in his first webcast to workers since taking over as CEO on Sept. 1, 2010, according to a worker who watched the speech.

The worker asked to remain anonymous because the webcast was not public.

Akerson said that GM’s Cadillac luxury brand should make cars that are better than BMW’s 300, 500 and 700 series sedans.

BMW sold 139,236 vehicles in August, outnumbering Cadillac by almost 47,000 cars and trucks, according to Autodata Corp.

Akerson was first appointed to GM’s board by the government in July 2009 after the company emerged from bankruptcy protection.