Holden on no longa COBBA!

[hauserplenty]

So it looks as though GM can't cope with the exchange rate Danoondah:

 

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/post--gm-shutting-down-holden-in-2017-quitting-all-australian-car-production

 

Here to stay? Do WOT?:

http://www.holden.com.au/

 

I mean, they've got the lion's share and all:

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=7d445898-6f9f-411e-a056-64d836070136

 

 

GM only recently started to get their scene together over 'ere...OK so the Catera was utter shit, but that was over 10 years ago...I remember working on one--I told the owner she'd have to take it to a German car specialist, and her eyes bugged out of her head...so I pointed to the door frame--(MADE IN GERMANY)--and showed her the name "Opel" stamped on the front brake calipers...

 

Anyroad, to recap:

OMGALLVAUXHALLSRSHIT

HOLDENSRFAIRDINKUMM8

...So OMGGMSEZNOMORE U CAN HAZ HOLDENS COBBA?

 

Well, throw another shrimp on the barbie for me, then...

 

[DSdriver]

I read about this somewhere. Aren't there any rich entrepreneur industrialists willing to take it on and make a go of it?

Keep the flag waving...

[r.welfare]

Not really a surprise as Ford are canning local production of the Falcon and its derivatives in 2016.

 

It's a shame for the employees but the traditional large Australian car no longer makes any sense - no doubt the Mondeo and Insignia will go the same way here eventually.

 

FWIW I drove a 2005 model Holden Commodore about 2000 miles 7 years ago, from Sydney to Melbourne then around Victoria a fair bit. I liked the OMGRWDGR84DRIFTIN aspect and the rugged simplicity of it, but the interior plastics would have been rejected by Yugo, the 4-speed auto was antediluvian and the 3.6 V6 lacked any real go, but that is probably as much due to the 91RON goat piss that passes for petrol there.

 

My brother is out there at the moment so I await driving impressions of the VE Commodore SV6 he is renting. When I went there I had hoped for the VE model which broke all links with the Vauxhall Omega; it had been out about six months but I got lumped with the old VZ model, probably because I was doing a long distance one way rental.

[brickwall]

Saab, Volvo, Holden, Rover, Lotus etc...all fucked up by foreigners. At least Leyland was fucked up by us.

[eddyramrod]

Saab, Volvo, Holden, Rover, Lotus etc...all fucked up by foreigners. At least Leyland was fucked up by us.

ERF, TVR, Foden.......................

[HillmanImp]

It's a shame for the employees but the traditional large Australian car no longer makes any sense - no doubt the Mondeo and Insignia will go the same way here eventually.

 

If current trends continue, they will simply upsize the smaller car to be the bigger car and bring in a new smaller car at the bottom like the Fox/Ka/107

[r.welfare]

Aye. Focus sized motors of today are as roomy as (and as long but much wider than) the Sierras and Cavaliers of yore.

 

Holden and Ford ceasing production will make Toyota the sole manufacturer (assembler?) in Oz.

 

But I am pretty sure the Auris (the best selling vehicle there now - when I was there the local motoring press started voicing their concern about the long term future of the Falcon and Commodore as it was the first time either had been knocked off top spot) is imported; they only build the Camry there so you've got to wonder how long their production line is viable too.

[hauserplenty]

Toyota do sound worried about that, as quoted in the MSN article:

 

"Holden's exit comes seven months after Ford announced it would halt all Australian manufacturing by October 2016. That would leave Toyota as the only automaker producing cars in Australia, something the company said would 'place unprecedented pressure on the local supplier network and our ability to build cars in Australia.' "

 

...So, as always, it's all about the money. Shame, that, as it seems the Australian market has its own unique muscle car legacy.

If they imported these to the US, they might even sell a few:

http://www.caradvice.com.au/240453/hsv-maloo-r8-review-2/

But GM has a lot of challenges still ahead. They still need to cut costs, but I don't understand why they'd kill off a division that is obviously still building good cars. Maybe they could rebadge the Maloo as a hEll Camino?

[r.welfare]

GM sell a few LHD Commodores in the Middle East, and also tried (and failed) to sell it in the States as the Pontiac G8.  Mind you, they've reintroduced it as the Chevrolet Police Pursuit Vehicle so presumably they'll be back to the drawing board come 2017.  I doubt they'll shift the production line elsewhere.

 

Ford are screwed every which way because the Falcon's never been engineered for LHD.

 

As part of his trip my brother will also be renting a Camry in New Zealand, so I'll be interested to hear what that's like as well.  Interestingly, the current Camry is a third-time-round rehash of the 2001 model (which I think was the last generation sold here in the UK).  You've got to wonder how relevant such a vehicle remains to Australasia.