William Holstein, auto industry consultant and author of "Why GM Matters," will be online Monday, June 1, at Noon ET to discuss the filing of bankruptcy protection by General Motors, the government's restructuring plan, Chrysler's move through bankruptcy and its purchase by Italian carmaker Fiat and what all this means to the U.S. auto industry and American economy.

Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.

In an e-mail interview with washingtonpost.com, Holstein said, "This is one of the most decisive moments for the American economy in modern times.

If the Obama administration's unprecedented intervention in Chrysler and General Motors is successful, they will be hailed as masterminds.

But in what I regard as the more likely outcome, namely the mismanagement of this process, they will have contributed to a further downward spiral in the U.S. economy.