GM owes the U.S. government $6.7 billion on a loan that matures in July 2015.
The U.S. government also owns 61 percent of the company as a result of about $50 billion in federal assistance GM received this year.
Speaking to reporters in Detroit, Whitacre said, "We have to sell more cars. We have to produce a good car, which we do," The Washington Post reported.
"We have to convince the consumer of North America that what we have is the best and we're going to set out to do that. When you lose your reputation its hard to get it back," he said.
Whitacre said the government has been "true to their word," concerning a promise not to try to run the company. "I give them an A-plus for being hands off. They've let the board run this company," he said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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