Vauxhall & Holden
Discussion
Why are Holden considered to be Australian but Vauxhall not considered to be British...when the are both owned by GM?
I'll explain.
Ask someone to name a British car brand and they're very unlikely to name Vauxhall 'cos everyone knows it's a GM brand which is Merkin.
Ask the same person to name an Australian car brand and (assuming they've heard of it) they'll name Holden.
Maybe they'll say HSV but more likely Holden.
Odd, 'cos they're GM too.
I'll explain.
Ask someone to name a British car brand and they're very unlikely to name Vauxhall 'cos everyone knows it's a GM brand which is Merkin.
Ask the same person to name an Australian car brand and (assuming they've heard of it) they'll name Holden.
Maybe they'll say HSV but more likely Holden.
Odd, 'cos they're GM too.
Holden has historically designed and built cars that are for Australia, fairly independent of GM input.
The commodore was based on the opel but was bigger and only carried over the door handles and ???? (Trevor??)
As I understand it Vauxhall is a builder and badger of Euro combined cars. But I could be wrong.
I enjoy the Big Nige quick quiz
The commodore was based on the opel but was bigger and only carried over the door handles and ???? (Trevor??)
As I understand it Vauxhall is a builder and badger of Euro combined cars. But I could be wrong.
I enjoy the Big Nige quick quiz
BigNige said:
Why are Holden considered to be Australian but Vauxhall not considered to be British...when the are both owned by GM?
I'll explain.
Ask someone to name a British car brand and they're very unlikely to name Vauxhall 'cos everyone knows it's a GM brand which is Merkin.
Ask the same person to name an Australian car brand and (assuming they've heard of it) they'll name Holden.
Maybe they'll say HSV but more likely Holden.
Odd, 'cos they're GM too.
I'll explain.
Ask someone to name a British car brand and they're very unlikely to name Vauxhall 'cos everyone knows it's a GM brand which is Merkin.
Ask the same person to name an Australian car brand and (assuming they've heard of it) they'll name Holden.
Maybe they'll say HSV but more likely Holden.
Odd, 'cos they're GM too.
Growing up in Oz in the 80s both Holden and Ford were considered Australian - essentially because they were designed and manufactured there.
GM are rumoured to be looking at the Vauxhall brand name with a view to fazing it out and just using the Opel name despite the fact that it is the most profitable brand within GM Europe operations.
Most people can't help but think of Opel when they see Vauxhall these days esp when the publicity blurb keeps mentioning the German designers and the Russelheim R&D facilities.
Also, our Frontera 04 V6 was built in Luton, but the build info in the engine bay says Opel so it's no wonder the Vauxhall name is begining to become less thought of.
Most people can't help but think of Opel when they see Vauxhall these days esp when the publicity blurb keeps mentioning the German designers and the Russelheim R&D facilities.
Also, our Frontera 04 V6 was built in Luton, but the build info in the engine bay says Opel so it's no wonder the Vauxhall name is begining to become less thought of.
DevilYellowCV8 said:
GM are rumoured to be looking at the Vauxhall brand name with a view to fazing it out and just using the Opel name despite the fact that it is the most profitable brand within GM Europe operations.
Most people can't help but think of Opel when they see Vauxhall these days esp when the publicity blurb keeps mentioning the German designers and the Russelheim R&D facilities.
Also, our Frontera 04 V6 was built in Luton, but the build info in the engine bay says Opel so it's no wonder the Vauxhall name is begining to become less thought of.
Most people can't help but think of Opel when they see Vauxhall these days esp when the publicity blurb keeps mentioning the German designers and the Russelheim R&D facilities.
Also, our Frontera 04 V6 was built in Luton, but the build info in the engine bay says Opel so it's no wonder the Vauxhall name is begining to become less thought of.
If true that's probably more to do with the brand perception than anything.
Vauxhall has a dowdy image, always has.
The Monaro & VX(R) sub brands have helped but the over-riding impression is still probably repmobile & cheap hatchbacks.
Opel are pretty much unknown here and it would give GM a chance to wipe the slate clean.
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