Henderson says he expects to remain CEO of GM

WASHINGTON — General Motors’ chief executive said Thursday he expects to remain at the helm of the automaker when it emerges from bankruptcy protection but added that nothing was guaranteed.

Fritz Henderson met with the Obama administration’s auto task force on Thursday before meeting with Michigan lawmakers about the company’s search for the best facility to build a new compact car.

Henderson said he spoke with the task force on a number of subjects, including the Detroit automaker’s corporate culture. Asked about his future, Henderson told reporters it was his expectation that he will remain chief executive when the automaker exits bankruptcy.

But he said, “There’s no such thing as a guarantee in life.”

Henderson succeeded Rick Wagoner, General Motors Corp.’s CEO ousted by the Obama administration in March as the company worked through a government-led reorganization.

Henderson told Michigan lawmakers that GM plans to decide by the end of the month on whether it will build a new compact car in Michigan, Tennessee or Wisconsin. The three states are vying for the new vehicle to keep their plants running.

GM is considering plant sites in Orion Township, Mich., Spring Hill, Tenn., and Janesville, Wis. Troy Clarke, president of GM’s North American operations, met with lawmakers from all three states on Wednesday.

The production site of the small car, which originally was to be built in China, has set off an intense lobbying campaign by the states. The Michigan and Tennessee plants are scheduled to end production in the fall but will remain on standby, meaning workers can be called back if the company needs to increase production. The Wisconsin plant closed in April.

Michigan lawmakers said they expected GM to announce its decision by the end of June or early July.

“We’re going to be making sure that we put Michigan’s best foot forward,” said Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., whose district includes the Orion Township plant.