RE: Holden to cease Australian manufacturing
Thursday 12th December 2013
Though often badged as Vauxhalls, we've become rather familiar in Britain with Holden over the past decade or so. The Monaro and VXR8 enamoured many with their affordable prices (mostly) and a surfeit of V8 muscle.
What a Holden without a V8 looks likeThe news that Holden is to stop vehicle production in Australia is rather concerning then, as it puts the marque's future in some doubt. The decision came following a confrontation with Australia's Treasurer Joe Hockey on Holden's non-committal stance on domestic manufacturing. Rumours that he drives a Ford Falcon are unconfirmed...
Holden production in Oz will stop in 2017As you will probably know, the Holdens that have most interested us in Britain are those fettled by Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). Though independent of Holden, the relationship was particularly close. Across the office somewhere, our Autocar colleague Matt Prior has written an insightful blog on Holden and HSV; it's definitely worth a read.
Holden to cease Australian manufacturing
GM pulls the plug on domestic Holden production, putting the company's future in doubt
What a Holden without a V8 looks like
Australian Holden production will end in 2017, when it will become an importer for dealerships and a parts distribution company. The Holden design studio will be retained by GM.
One of the biggest contributing factors in Holden's manufacturing demise was the strength of the Australia. In the past few years it has been suggested that the cost of production had rise by 65 per cent when compared to a decade previously. Toyota is the last manufacturer left making cars in Australia.
Holden production in Oz will stop in 2017
There's been no comment yet from Vauxhall about the impact of Holden's news on the UK models. But with the latest VXR8 GTS being launched next month, we're at least guaranteed some Aussie V8 silliness in the UK for a while yet.
[Source: Autocar, Autocar blogs]
Discussion
Turbobanana said:
One of the biggest contributing factors in Holden's manufacturing demise was the strength of the Australia.
????
Strength of the Australian dollar, I think that was meant to infer. It's gotten very expensive to do business in Australia over the past 5 or 6 years.????
Sad news.
Turbobanana said:
One of the biggest contributing factors in Holden's manufacturing demise was the strength of the Australia.
????
"the cost of production had rise by 65 per cent"????
Sorry couldn't help it.
Only the other night i was hoping that HSV would still keep going stronger as it'll now push the prices of the existing models up rather than down so i could pop my muscle car cherry.
Thank you Holden.
I promise I will keep the Monaro that rolled off the Elizabeth production line in December 2004 (a black VZ CV8 if you remember it?) for as long as I can. I've had it for seven years now and I really wouldn't know what to replace it with. It's been on holiday with us, got us safely to weekend destinations, took us on family days out, and been to more car shows and charity events than I can remember. She's never let us down, never broke, never complained, even when I'm naughty and laying big number 11's down deserted roads, but then they're used to that I guess.
Yes, I've lavished her with gifts, like custom made headers and exhausts, quickshifter and exhaust cut-outs and other trinkets over the years. With engine oil, trans fluid and diff oil that's probably better than she actually needs, and I probably clean her inside and out too much, but I can't help it.
So once again Holden, thank you, and good luck for the future..........
I promise I will keep the Monaro that rolled off the Elizabeth production line in December 2004 (a black VZ CV8 if you remember it?) for as long as I can. I've had it for seven years now and I really wouldn't know what to replace it with. It's been on holiday with us, got us safely to weekend destinations, took us on family days out, and been to more car shows and charity events than I can remember. She's never let us down, never broke, never complained, even when I'm naughty and laying big number 11's down deserted roads, but then they're used to that I guess.
Yes, I've lavished her with gifts, like custom made headers and exhausts, quickshifter and exhaust cut-outs and other trinkets over the years. With engine oil, trans fluid and diff oil that's probably better than she actually needs, and I probably clean her inside and out too much, but I can't help it.
So once again Holden, thank you, and good luck for the future..........
Can't say its a huge surprise. 10 years ago it used to make sense to buy car parts in batches of 10 from Australian eBay, keep the one you bought for yourself and sell the others on UK eBay and turn a profit. Now they probably do it the other way about such is the strength of their currency.
That's a shame. I was chatting with one of their test drivers last year and they sounded like a good bunch to work for.
They've been selling Vauxhall/Opel Astras rebadged as Holden's for a while and with the convergence of local car models into World Cars we've seen over the past few years I think this was always inevitable.
The rising AUD and problems at GM only expedited the demise.
A shame and I know there will be some truely gutted Aussie petrol heads out there
They've been selling Vauxhall/Opel Astras rebadged as Holden's for a while and with the convergence of local car models into World Cars we've seen over the past few years I think this was always inevitable.
The rising AUD and problems at GM only expedited the demise.
A shame and I know there will be some truely gutted Aussie petrol heads out there
thatdude said:
I suppose this will mean the end of Holden's presence in the V8 Supercar Championship too?
Still won't cheer on Ford!
Since Ford are also pulling out, couldn't that mean no Fords either? I mean, I know nothing about the Championship but they're Australian specific aren't they? If not, the US stuff could go over and race.Still won't cheer on Ford!
willisit said:
Since Ford are also pulling out, couldn't that mean no Fords either? I mean, I know nothing about the Championship but they're Australian specific aren't they? If not, the US stuff could go over and race.
I didn't realise Ford were pulling out as well - when will that happen?Maybe someone can get an old rover v8 dusted down and enter that.
Eviltad said:
Is this part of the "GM to stop manufacturing everything" that I read about on Sniff Petrol?
I think GM must be massively hard up at the moment to be pulling Chevrolet Europe and now Holden. What will be the next minor brand to go? Vauxhall?
Well they only just came through chapter 11 bankruptcy, thats why.I think GM must be massively hard up at the moment to be pulling Chevrolet Europe and now Holden. What will be the next minor brand to go? Vauxhall?
Vauxhall, ironically should have been the first (name) to go. The name just rankles, for some esoteric reason? But the name Vauxhall kills it for most petrolheads unfortunately, even me, and I run one for work (Insignificant) and also own a Monaro.
How the folk at GM could have screwed up on the Chevrolet brand in Europe so badly is beyond me, but that is the name (for me anyway)that should have replaced VX eons ago. If the people at GM don't understand brand strength (weakness) what hope did it have?
And the idiots even introduced Opel into Australia, with some of the same models as Holden and a different dealership network. How long did that last??? I pity the poor b
ds who invested all that money into Opel dealerships over there.All IMHO of course!
MyM8V8 said:
Eviltad said:
Is this part of the "GM to stop manufacturing everything" that I read about on Sniff Petrol?
I think GM must be massively hard up at the moment to be pulling Chevrolet Europe and now Holden. What will be the next minor brand to go? Vauxhall?
Well they only just came through chapter 11 bankruptcy, thats why.I think GM must be massively hard up at the moment to be pulling Chevrolet Europe and now Holden. What will be the next minor brand to go? Vauxhall?
Vauxhall, ironically should have been the first (name) to go. The name just rankles, for some esoteric reason? But the name Vauxhall kills it for most petrolheads unfortunately, even me, and I run one for work (Insignificant) and also own a Monaro.
How the folk at GM could have screwed up on the Chevrolet brand in Europe so badly is beyond me, but that is the name (for me anyway)that should have replaced VX eons ago. If the people at GM don't understand brand strength (weakness) what hope did it have?
And the idiots even introduced Opel into Australia, with some of the same models as Holden and a different dealership network. How long did that last??? I pity the poor b
ds who invested all that money into Opel dealerships over there.All IMHO of course!
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