The End of Holden

[Procrastinator35]

'Sayonara '.

 

[Scotland]

Unless you were Toyota, who saw it as a matter of pride that their Australian factory ran at a profit and wanted it to continue, but were unable to support the industry on their own.

Holden were exporting both vehicles and engines not that long ago. The RWD Zeta platform and Alloytec V6 motor were part of GMs global plans in the mid 2000s.

Australia has always been a bit of an odd fit in the global car game. Domestic market is small, our labour is expensive and we aren't known as technology leaders. With the LHD/RHD difference from us to the US and the distance between the two countries sharing components across a platform was always going to be problematic. Toyota had a small advantage that at least Japan and Australia both use RHD cars.

 

[Geoffa32]

https://www.canstar.com.au/car-insurance/top-10-selling-cars/

Top 10 selling cars in Australia – January 2020

1. Toyota Hilux
2. Ford Ranger
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Toyota RAV4
5. Mitsubishi Triton
6. Huyundai i30
7. Mazda CX-5
8. Kia Cerato
9. Nissan X-Trail
10. Mazda3

Holden snuck into 10th for overall marque sales. Looking at the models people buy now, why would you choose the current Holden equivalent? You wouldn't, and most people don't.

Take out the Ford Ranger sales and Ford in Australia are not much better than Holden/GM.

Having said that the Holden badge should have died once they stopped producing a car. I can't think of another car brand that does not manufacture at least one model of vehicle.

The Holden brand being dropped is no real suprise. But hearing GM are pulling out altogether is a bit of a shock. What is the future of the Camaro, Corvette and Silverado? All good Chevy products. Albeit a bit over priced here.


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[The Speaker]

Holden were exporting both vehicles and engines not that long ago. The RWD Zeta platform and Alloytec V6 motor were part of GMs global plans in the mid 2000s.

Australia has always been a bit of an odd fit in the global car game. Domestic market is small, our labour is expensive and we aren't known as technology leaders. With the LHD/RHD difference from us to the US and the distance between the two countries sharing components across a platform was always going to be problematic. Toyota had a small advantage that at least Japan and Australia both use RHD cars.

With a bit of inventiveness I think Holden (and Ford Australia) would've been fine, because our classic cars actually fit the American market well, and they should've been creating other models more suited to the Australian market. But post-GFC GM and Ford both became more territorial and less interested in what their Australian outposts had to offer - especially in the case of GM - and that was that.

 

[Scotland]

The only difference between Ford and Holden is that Ford is an American company that has used the same brand around the world for 100 years. GM have/had a bunch of brands for different locations. Chev, Holden, Vaxhaull (sold), Opel (sold) etc. I'm sure the Spanish would be sad to see SEAT go or the Czechs Skoda, but they are both VW brands no different to Holden being a GM brand.

 

[Syd]

Take out the Ford Ranger sales and Ford in Australia are not much better than Holden/GM.

Interesting to note that the Colorado comes 15th while the HiLux and Ranger rank 1st/2nd, and sales are less than half that of either
Not much mix for either outside the top-20

Top 100 new cars sold in Australia in 2019
Ranking	Model	Sales	Variance %
1	Toyota HiLux	47,759	-8.1
2	Ford Ranger	40,960	-2.8
3	Toyota Corolla	30,468	-13.7
4	Hyundai i30	28,378	0.7
5	Mitsubishi Triton	25,819	3.7
6	Mazda CX-5	25,539	-2.4
7	Mazda3	24,939	-19.7
8	Toyota RAV4	24,260	9.5
9	Kia Cerato	21,757	16.8
10	Mitsubishi ASX	20,806	9.3
11	Nissan X-Trail	19,726	-6.9
12	Toyota Prado	18,335	-1.2
13	Hyundai Tucson	18,251	-5.2
14	Mitsubishi Outlander	17,514	12.5
15	Holden Colorado	17,472	-4.5
16	Isuzu D-Max	16,892	-8.9
17	Toyota Camry	16,768	9.8
18	Subaru Forester	15,096	21.4
19	Mazda CX-3	14,813	-9.1
20	Volkswagen Golf	14,355	-24.7
21	Honda CR-V	13,810	-14.3
22	Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series	13,802	0.9
23	Kia Sportage	13,645	-2.8
24	Nissan Navara	13,412	-18.6
25	Hyundai Kona	13,342	8
26	Honda HR-V	11,731	-3.4
27	Nissan Qashqai	11,653	-16.5
28	Toyota Kluger	11,371	-22.9
29	Mazda BT-50	11,357	-13.7
30	Honda Civic	10,531	-21.8
31	Subaru XV	10,062	-22.2
32	Hyundai Accent	9963	-36.4
33	Toyota Yaris	9853	3.3
34	Toyota C-HR	9378	-3.5
35	Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series	9222	-8.1
36	Isuzu MU-X	8419	-7.4
37	Volkswagen Amarok	8371	-9.9
38	Mazda2	8198	-23.9
39	Volkswagen Tiguan	7747	-15.3
40	Subaru Outback	7210	-30.5
41	Mazda CX-9	7168	-11.4
42	Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross	6998	-7
43	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	6798	34.5
44	Suzuki Swift	6676	-14.2
45	Kia Carnival	6493	-1.8
46	Mitsubishi Pajero Sport	6477	-1.4
47	Kia Rio	6270	-4.9
48	Toyota HiAce Van	6127	-10.6
49	Holden Commodore	5915	-34.6
50	Hyundai Santa Fe	5857	-22.1
51	Mercedes-Benz GLC	5770	2.9
52	Volkswagen Polo	5723	5.3
53	Ford Everest	5333	-2.7
54	Honda Jazz	5263	-23.6
55	Suzuki Vitara	5253	4.6
56	Kia Picanto	5237	-2.9
57	Holden Trax	4808	-11.5
58	Mercedes-Benz A-Class	4689	12.3
59	Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace	4665	90.1
60	BMW X3	4583	-5.8
61	Holden Equinox	4562	-8.7
62	Subaru Impreza	4518	-51
63	Holden Astra	4188	-57.6
64	Audi Q5	4152	1.6
65	MG3	4017	612.2
66	Ford Mustang	3948	-38.4
67	Hyundai iLoad	3919	-10.2
68	Kia Sorento	3777	-13.9
69	MG ZS	3729	120.4
70	Ford Focus	3682	-5
71	LDV T60	3529	9.9
72	BMW X5	3498	29.6
73	Lexus NX	3471	-6.1
74	Volvo XC60	3406	20.5
75	Audi A3	3362	-21
76	Ford Escape	3326	-30.2
77	BMW 3 Series	3135	1.8
78	Holden Acadia	3125	414.4
79	Toyota Fortuner	3033	-15.6
80	Jeep Grand Cherokee	2986	-24.2
81	Volvo XC40	2858	80
82	BMW X1	2847	-8
83	Mitsubishi Pajero	2847	-13.2
84	Holden Trailblazer	2813	7.9
85	Nissan Pathfinder	2712	-29.1
86	Hyundai Elantra	2644	-31.2
87	Mazda6	2612	-21.5
88	Ram 1500	2609	531.4
89	Toyota HiAce Bus	2577	-2.4
90	Mercedes-Benz GLA	2562	-34.4
91	Mazda CX-8	2551	64.6
92	Renault Koleos	2533	-15.3
93	Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe/Cabriolet	2496	64.2
94	Suzuki Baleno	2277	9.9
95	BMW 1 Series	2269	-10.4
96	Range Rover Sport	2202	-2.5
97	Mitsubishi Lancer	2197	-68.8
98	Land Rover Discovery Sport	2185	-24.4
99	Skoda Kodiaq	2163	60.7
100	Audi Q2	2155	15.5

 

[Scotland]

With a bit of inventiveness I think Holden (and Ford Australia) would've been fine, because our classic cars actually fit the American market well, and they should've been creating other models more suited to the Australian market. But post-GFC GM and Ford both became more territorial and less interested in what their Australian outposts had to offer - especially in the case of GM - and that was that.

Better, cheaper, different. Tick none of those boxes and you aren't an appealing export partner.

Local manufacturers really need to sell 50-100k of locally made vehicles to be viable. Last year Hilux came in at #1 and Ranger at #2 with 48k and 40k respectively. Holden only sold 43k across the whole range. Not viable to sell 5-10k of a few different models made here. To compete in 2020 Holden would need to make the Colorado (probably give it a less American name) here and have it outsell the Hilux.

 

[Sainteric]

With a bit of inventiveness I think Holden (and Ford Australia) would've been fine, because our classic cars actually fit the American market well, and they should've been creating other models more suited to the Australian market. But post-GFC GM and Ford both became more territorial and less interested in what their Australian outposts had to offer - especially in the case of GM - and that was that.

The US unions stopped any meaningful importing to their home market. It's actually written in there union agreements. So much for free trade.

 

[Rotayjay]

To be brutally honest, when Holden stopped making cars in Australia, what even was Holden anymore? It lost its identity and specialness. It's no longer the Australian car, the car made for us, just the badge that an American congolmerate slaps on its cars when they ship the cars here.

Australian manufacturing WAS Holden. Now that local production is gone, the brand is empty and meaningless.

 

[Syd]

To be brutally honest, when Holden stopped making cars in Australia, what even was Holden anymore? It lost its identity and specialness. It's no longer the Australian car, the car made for us, just the badge that an American congolmerate slaps on its cars when they ship the cars here.

Australian manufacturing WAS Holden. Now that local production is gone, the brand is empty and meaningless.

5,915 Commodores sold in 2019, 49th on the list. How many of those are Fleet vehicles rather than privately owned?

High costs have seen Commodores, Falcons and Magnas (380s) phased out of Fleets over the past decade and until then, that kept these artificially afloat.

Manufacturing has been dead here for 20+ years, just propped up by Government Funded Life Support in the name of ego

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Does that mean Ford "wins" the age old contest?

Ford vs Chevrolet at Bathurst

 

[Procrastinator35]

'Holden Wrecks & boiling diesels, steam in 45 degrees.' - Midnight Oil.

 

[Rotayjay]

To think that one day, the monuments to Australian car manufacturing will be really old 2017 Commodores being driven by teenage boys.

 

[The Speaker]

5,915 Commodores sold in 2019, 49th on the list. How many of those are Fleet vehicles rather than privately owned?

High costs have seen Commodores, Falcons and Magnas (380s) phased out of Fleets over the past decade and until then, that kept these artificially afloat.

Manufacturing has been dead here for 20+ years, just propped up by Government Funded Life Support in the name of ego

Manufacturing things in your own country is about more than ego.

 

[Scotland]

Supercars is a parody now.

The whole Project Blueprint parity regulations were designed to turn it into Falcon vs Commodore stock car racing. Popularity waned so they opened it up a bit so Volvo and Nissan and Mercedes could join in. They've all left.

Now it's a two door American coupe vs a front wheel drive Opel made in Germanu. LOL. Who is it going to be next year, Mustang vs Camaro?

 

[The Speaker]

Supercars is a parody now.

The whole Project Blueprint parity regulations were designed to turn it into Falcon vs Commodore stock car racing. Popularity waned so they opened it up a bit so Volvo and Nissan and Mercedes could join in. They've all left.

Now it's a two door American coupe vs a front wheel drive Opel made in Germanu. LOL. Who is it going to be next year, Mustang vs Camaro?

Only if Mustang lasts. They're going to have to get very inventive, because otherwise TCR will take their spot as the official ATCC.

 

[Scotland]

I don't think the appetite for touring car racing minus Holden and Ford is particularly high.

 

[The Speaker]

I don't think the appetite for touring car racing minus Holden and Ford is particularly high.

I agree, but Supercars's existence is now entirely dependent on what they do this year.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Getting rid of the shitty multiple races per round format would help a lot.

 

[Scotland]

Ford didn't even race Falcons for years when the Sierras and Skylines were kicking arse. It's only after the rules were changed in the 90s and then refined in the 2000s that it went back to being an all Ford/Holden affair. The cars stopped bearing any resemblance to the road equivalents decades ago.

 

[Power Raid]

Holden's not only gave my grandfather a job, when he arrived after the war. They also gave him a wooden car crate to live in and later the left over factory paint, to paint his home.

different times

 

[Syd]

Ford vs Chevrolet at Bathurst

Will the Chevys need Holden badges???

 

[Syd]

Manufacturing things in your own country is about more than ego.

Not in this case
Industry was propped up by Import Tariffs then Subsidies

Never by investment in technology that would make cars cheaper or better

Car manufacturing was on its way out decades ago and would have gone sooner without the Tariffs/Subsidies

 

[The Speaker]

Not in this case
Industry was propped up by Import Tariffs then Subsidies

Never by investment in technology that would make cars cheaper or better

Car manufacturing was on its way out decades ago and would have gone sooner without the Tariffs/Subsidies

That's the norm for car industries in every country. Nations recognise that there is real value in having a car industry - apart from us.

 

[Procrastinator35]

D'ya come in ya Torana?

The Marlboro Man.