Will the Holden brand survive?

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by MrZ

The brand still exists in Australia, but they haven't sold any brand-new cars since 2016. From what I understand, the current vehicles don't meet emissions regulations in Australia, but they claim to have new models on the way.

Plus Proton have a legal obligation to provide support for the cars they sold in Australia.

[bathurst77]

Going....going....


https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-news...TGM7IAZly8w1t8

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by MrZ

If the Isuzu brand in Australia can exist and do well with just 2 models - the D-Max and MU-X, then Holden should in theory be able to exist with as little as just 2 models, a ute and a SUV. They're not going anywhere. After all, Proton Australia are still around and they literally sell ZERO cars here.

That just doesn't make sense, the light Truck division is huge here and sells very well in our market amongst other divisions distributing around the counrty, DMax/MUX are just other offerings in their range.
They exist very very well.

Back on topic, see ya later Holden won't miss you one bit !

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by FTE217

That just doesn't make sense, the light Truck division is huge here and sells very well in our market amongst other divisions distributing around the counrty, DMax/MUX are just other offerings in their range.
They exist very very well.

I think the Isuzu "UTE" dealerships are separate from Isuzu "Truck" dealerships.

Dr Terry

[jpd80]

The forgettable Ford Corsair (Rebadged Pintara), I've never seen so many people
embrace a Ewwro Mondeo after that...

Bring back the Telstar (mazda 6) and Laser (Mazda 3) but then the moment has passed...

[Wretched]

It was inevitable, there are no cars under the Holden name being developed.
It is a pity as there are a number of engineers still working at Holden.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Wretched

It was inevitable, there are no cars under the Holden name being developed.
It is a pity as there are a number of engineers still working at Holden.

Just hired a few more last year.

[Bossxr8]

GM has bailed out of India, Europe, South Africa. Australia looks to join a list of RHD markets GM could not care less about.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

GM has bailed out of India, Europe, South Africa. Australia looks to join a list of RHD markets GM could not care less about.

I'm concerned about what Mr Hackett is planning for Ford's ROW business,
especially for RHD markets. We may find ourselves in a similar position with
regards Ford pulling the plug on developing RHD versions of its products.

Rather than quit outright, I suspect that RHD vehicles will be outsourced to
another manufacturer as a job lot, be that VW in Europe or perhaps Mazda
or some other RHD friendly manufacturer in Asian / Australian markets..

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm concerned about what Mr Hackett is planning for Ford's ROW business,
especially for RHD markets. We may find ourselves in a similar position with
regards Ford pulling the plug on developing RHD versions of its products.

Rather than quit outright, I suspect that RHD vehicles will be outsourced to
another manufacturer as a job lot, be that VW in Europe or perhaps Mazda
or some other RHD friendly manufacturer in Asian / Australian markets..

I think a big clue at how GM and Ford see markets outside of the US , is seen in your borrowed acronym ROW. Rest of World is awfully dismissive.
Ford have USA and Europe (hows that going?)
GM have USA and China and......(crickets).....
GM in its current guise has NO interest in developing RHD now that Opel is gone.

[CyberWasp]

This is next level Reality TV at its best.
The Series 'How not to run a Car Company' has me hooked.
I've got it Series Linked and waiting for the next episode.

[MrZ]

In January 2016, Holden said that 22 new models will arrive before 2020:

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/top...e-fast-holdens

At the time, I said - impossible. They don't even sell 22 models in total across their entire range! Let's look at how many new vehicles they've *actually* launched since early 2016 (I will count facelifts as "new", and different body styles as separate):

Utes/SUVs:

1) Trailblazer (facelift)
2) Trax (facelift)
3) Captiva (facelift)
4) Equinox
5) Acadia
6) Colorado (facelift)

Passenger:

7) Astra hatch
8) Astra sedan
9) Astra wagon
10) Commodore
11) Commodore Tourer
12) Commodore Sportwagon

So, we're at 12. Even if we were to count the Camaro and Silverado, that's only 14. Is it likely we'll see 8 new models before the end of the year?

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by MrZ

In January 2016, Holden said that 22 new models will arrive before 2020:

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/top...e-fast-holdens

Didn't they also say that they would be number 1 in sales again by 2020 as well? They were also going to release a new rear wheel drive performance car...
They were making lots of promises around that time....

[beau4.0]

Possibly not in Supercars. If the Mustang performs as good as it looks Fords gonna drive away with supercars championship.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by beau4.0

Possibly not in Supercars. If the Mustang performs as good as it looks Fords gonna drive away with supercars championship.

If I was in charge of v8 supercars I,d be worried about Holden staying around.

I don't even see the point of Holden spending money on v8 supercars.

[4stanger]

Originally Posted by kevino

If I was in charge of v8 supercars I,d be worried about Holden staying around.

I don't even see the point of Holden spending money on v8 supercars.

Discussions are supposed to be held soon, regarding 2020 and beyond, article from January 2018. Current deal with 888 ends this year https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...400b393674b671

https://fordforums.com.au/showpost.p...4&postcount=32

A lot of positive PR at the time, surely they can't keep this spin going

any success they have had with the supercars series, is not helping holden,

Roland & 888 have done well, to get what they have out of holden, can 888 possibly get any more from holden, going into the future?

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by kevino

If I was in charge of v8 supercars I,d be worried about Holden staying around.

I don't even see the point of Holden spending money on v8 supercars.

I'd say they are.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/02/08...en-discussion/

[lra]

Originally Posted by beau4.0

Possibly not in Supercars. If the Mustang performs as good as it looks Fords gonna drive away with supercars championship.

Do supercar spectators care what brand wins these days ?
I think it is like Nascar, the fans 'follow' a driver.
If you were a Frosty fan, are you going to boo him this year ?

[jpd80]

There's only one driver I know that could switch brands successfully
and keep fans' respect and that was Craig Lowndes.

Ford Motor is only interested V8SC when it gives products like Mustang
great exposure without spending much on teams.

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by turbo4

Didn't they also say that they would be number 1 in sales again by 2020 as well? They were also going to release a new rear wheel drive performance car...
They were making lots of promises around that time....

Yes, it seems they did back in 2014.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by MrZ

In January 2016, Holden said that 22 new models will arrive before 2020:

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/top...e-fast-holdens

At the time, I said - impossible. They don't even sell 22 models in total across their entire range! Let's look at how many new vehicles they've *actually* launched since early 2016 (I will count facelifts as "new", and different body styles as separate):

Utes/SUVs:

1) Trailblazer (facelift)
2) Trax (facelift)
3) Captiva (facelift)
4) Equinox
5) Acadia
6) Colorado (facelift)

Passenger:

7) Astra hatch
8) Astra sedan
9) Astra wagon
10) Commodore
11) Commodore Tourer
12) Commodore Sportwagon

So, we're at 12. Even if we were to count the Camaro and Silverado, that's only 14. Is it likely we'll see 8 new models before the end of the year?

Kingswood
Kingswood Deluxe
Kingswood Vacationer
Kingswood SL
Belmont
Premier
Monaro
Brougham

One can dream (or type this in lieu of dreaming...)

[Sprintey]

There was a link with the article to this one:

https://www.whichcar.com.au/features...actory-closure

And a great quote from Peter Hannenberger:

“I was very independent,” he told Wheels. “I couldn’t give a **** what they thought in America. I was working for Australia and Holden.”

Hannenberger was the engineer that developed RTS in the Torana and Kingswood, and later MD that took the VT-VZ platform and created an amazing variety of models off it - the Monaro, the Crewman, the Adventra, 4wd systems, the One Tonner. It's possible to now find V8 AWD wagons, AWD one tonners and even an AWD V8 dual Cab amongst todays dealers in the used car section! Not to mention the all-paw Monaro! These really make the 1970s classics look positively plain in mechanical spec.

He was contemporary of Geoff Polites, and both men were passionate advocates of Australian design and building here. When you lose that determination and direction at the top, you get trouble, as the revolving door of MDs after them shows, in both Ford and Holden's local operations.

So for the great popcorn pic, what have we learned? How would we go about it next time?

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by MrZ

In January 2016, Holden said that 22 new models will arrive before 2020:

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/top...e-fast-holdens

At the time, I said - impossible. They don't even sell 22 models in total across their entire range! Let's look at how many new vehicles they've *actually* launched since early 2016 (I will count facelifts as "new", and different body styles as separate):

Utes/SUVs:

1) Trailblazer (facelift)
2) Trax (facelift)
3) Captiva (facelift)
4) Equinox
5) Acadia
6) Colorado (facelift)

Passenger:

7) Astra hatch
8) Astra sedan
9) Astra wagon
10) Commodore
11) Commodore Tourer
12) Commodore Sportwagon

So, we're at 12. Even if we were to count the Camaro and Silverado, that's only 14. Is it likely we'll see 8 new models before the end of the year?

The Holden Spark, facelifted Holden Barina hatch, Holden Cascada convertible, Holden Astra GTC/VXR hatch and Holden Insignia VXR, were also included in that 22 new models, I think?

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

The Holden Spark, facelifted Holden Barina hatch, Holden Cascada convertible, Holden Astra GTC/VXR hatch and Holden Insignia VXR, were also included in that 22 new models, I think?

Sorry, you're right - Spark and Barina facelift make it 14. Cascada, Astra (PJ), and Insignia were all released in early 2015 - a year before Holden made this announcement, so they would be not be counted. However, theoretically, if they were, we're still only at 17.

[Windsor220]

What happens tp HSV? Will they continue on?

[Nikked]

I think HSV can continue on regardless of what Holden do, to be honest, this would be the main reason why their business model has been switched to RHD conversions.

If HSV continue a good relationship with chevrolet, i can see them expanding the range slightly with other products...potentially Cadillacs.

In effect, HSV will become the manufacturer that has weathered the storm.

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Nikked

I think HSV can continue on regardless of what Holden do, to be honest, this would be the main reason why their business model has been switched to RHD conversions.

If HSV continue a good relationship with chevrolet, i can see them expanding the range slightly with other products...potentially Cadillacs.

In effect, HSV will become the manufacturer that has weathered the storm.

HSV become spiritual successor of AMI (Australian Motor Industries)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austra...tor_Industries

[Sprintey]

Thank you eurotrash for your comments.

It would be nice to think the French lion saves the Australian lion, but we'll see how it all pans out.

cue:

Petanque, croissants, poodles et Holden voitures

[Brazen]

I always thought the later Spark was a good little micro car. Probably no money in it though

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by Brazen

I always thought the later Spark was a good little micro car. Probably no money in it though

Absolutely, I agree! It's so far ahead of the previous 'Barina Spark', it's not funny! But the Kia Picanto wipes it with the floor, especially in GT Line and GT specs! Actually, the newly released Picanto GT, which is manual only, is a little ripper!