Should GM drop the Holden name once they cease local production?

[buickman]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

The brand was CHRYSLER!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Valiant

Falcon is a name and Ford is the brand as is with most manufacturers around the world it appears that GM brands are unique to different markets. I see in the ads that Holden are staying as a brand as with Vauxhall in the UK and not changing to GM .
But after many years Woolworths changed all the Safeway stores in Australia to Woolworths so in years to come things change in life as new managers come on board with their own ideas and Holden might go as a brand.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by buickman

Falcon is a name and Ford is the brand as is with most manufacturers around the world it appears that GM brands are unique to different markets. I see in the ads that Holden are staying as a brand as with Vauxhall in the UK and not changing to GM .
But after many years Woolworths changed all the Safeway stores in Australia to Woolworths so in years to come things change in life as new managers come on board with their own ideas and Holden might go as a brand.

The Safeway stores were only in Victoria, if you asked anybody in another state they wouldn't have a clue what Safeway was.

[fte50]

I don't think it should be dropped, but I do think in future Holden as a brand will have much less relevance with its future model line up, and thus GM will drop the name in another bid to re-invent themselves

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by stevz

The Safeway stores were only in Victoria, if you asked anybody in another state they wouldn't have a clue what Safeway was.

I still call it Safeway, lol.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I thought it was a brand?

I used to think so too, and it sure gets used by some like it was the brand name.

[buickman]

Originally Posted by stevz

The Safeway stores were only in Victoria, if you asked anybody in another state they wouldn't have a clue what Safeway was.

In a hypothetical way that’s what I mean it had taken years to bring the one name only so it’s in line with the brand name around Australia.
Ask the average person on the street outside Aust and NZ if they know what Holden are known for and most would not know but ask what General Motors are known for and they would know that they produce Chevrolet, Buick or Cadillac under that brand.

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by buickman

Ask the average person on the street outside Aust and NZ if they know what Holden are known for and most would not know but ask what General Motors are known for and they would know that they produce Chevrolet, Buick or Cadillac under that brand.

Personally i doubt that the average person understands the difference between GM, it's subsidiaries and the models those subsidiaries make .. Even in the USA. Most of them probably won't remember the recently departed Pontiac and Oldsmobile brands .. The ill fated Saturn .. Or the long lost Oakland, LaSalle, etc. Cars are cars and most people only seem to remember Mercs, BMW and VWs these days (ignoring who owns what).

[tapeworm]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

The majority of Holden buyers probably won't know/care where their car is made.
Fact is they will still see Holden as an Australian company and that is where the intangible value lies in the name. GM know that and will milk it for what its worth for the coming years.

Just going by the TV ads, they will continue with the Holden patriotic Australian thing. They say they have been here for years and will continue to be here basically

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by buickman

Ask the average person on the street outside Aust and NZ if they know what Holden are known for and most would not know but ask what General Motors are known for and they would know that they produce Chevrolet, Buick or Cadillac under that brand.

Holden won't be trying to sell their brand name overseas so this comment is irrelevant.

GM will keep the brand name Holden in Australia since it is well known for marketing purposes.

[Terror_Tree]

I would bet my left one that there will be a great deal of market research done in the next few years on this. The decision will come down to what will make the most $$ for GM, separate tooling for the holden brand against perceived lost sales by a name change. Maybe a name change will spark more interest in GM in Australia.

[Bill M]

Ship unbadged GM vehicles in and we stick the badges on here!
Who says local industry is dead?

[chevypower]

I bet it's part of GM's long-term strategy. They want to ease people into it. I can see it now, 2017 "Introducing the Chevrolet brand to Australia... but don't worry, Holden will still be sold along side it" (until it is phase out).

[BPXR6T]

Now wouldn't it be nice if toyota bought the holden brand, refitted the holden factories with efficient Japanese manufacturing processes, retrained, exported, and continued to pump out aus made cars. Pipe dreams. Instead GM will spit in our faces by selling us rebadged daewoos or some other flavour of crap.

[au2000]

I think it's coming.... Was in big w today and in the past they used to sell holden branded clothing such as tops..
I found it wired today not seeing holden tops but Chevy tops with the massive bow tie on the front, this was at highpoint shopping centre.
Not definitive evidence but u have to admit it's a bit unusual

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by au2000

I think it's coming.... Was in big w today and in the past they used to sell holden branded clothing such as tops..
I found it wired today not seeing holden tops but Chevy tops with the massive bow tie on the front, this was at highpoint shopping centre.
Not definitive evidence but u have to admit it's a bit unusual

Or Big W have realised that the people who are silly enough to buy Chevy badges for their Commodores are silly enough to buy Chevy T-Shirts for themselves...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by stevz

The Safeway stores were only in Victoria, if you asked anybody in another state they wouldn't have a clue what Safeway was.

Safeway had stores in Queensland, NSW and Victoria before being taken over by Woolies in the 1980s..

I can see GM keeping the Holden name post 2017 and selling a FWD car as Commodore,
the brand cache is too big for them to ignore, I'm betting that GM thinks it can gain more sales than it loses....

[ebxr8240]

If it quacks like a duck ??

[UberKnee]

Depends really, there seems to be alot of Australian rednecks who have their panties in a bunch and will refuse to buy anything Ford or Holden from now on, so ditching the Holden name could lose the bogan demographic. But it seems pointless to rebadge cars just for Australia when there's no cars built here.

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

Or Big W have realised that the people who are silly enough to buy Chevy badges for their Commodores are silly enough to buy Chevy T-Shirts for themselves...

Whats silly about buying a Chevrolet shirt? They're one of if not the most iconic American car manufacturer.

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by UberKnee

Depends really, there seems to be alot of Australian rednecks who have their panties in a bunch and will refuse to buy anything Ford or Holden from now on, so ditching the Holden name could lose the bogan demographic. But it seems pointless to rebadge cars just for Australia when there's no cars built here.



Whats silly about buying a Chevrolet shirt? They're one of if not the most iconic American car manufacturer.

Yep there seemed to be heaps of people on here that stated they would never buy a Ford again after the closure announcement. Now that Holden has announced the same thing it wont matter what you buy, imports everywhere you look unless you buy a Camry . Which leads me to the next point, I wonder how many of those carry on artists on here will buy a Camry after 2016 cause its an aus made car? I'm willing to bet less than 3

[Maka]

Do rednecks (bogans?) drive FWD? (Rhetorical speaking)

cheers, Maka

[chevypower]

All this talk makes me think the Mustang is going to do exceptionally well in Australia.

[MITCHAY]

Why on earth would they drop a brand they have developed over decades for a brand barely known in Australia?

They've already been importing cars for ages so that is not really a practical reason for dropping the Holden brand.

I do think they should drop the Commodore name however if it isn't going to be built here anymore as that would just be an insult. But then again that is a well known name too so I can imagine them still using it.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by chevypower

All this talk makes me think the Mustang is going to do exceptionally well in Australia.

That would mean GM will have to develop a RHD Camaro real fast, if they want to retain customers of the usual demographic.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by TC200six

That would mean GM will have to develop a RHD Camaro real fast, if they want to retain customers of the usual demographic.

IMO I doubt GM would fast track a RHD Camaro just to battle Mustang in Australia. Ford went RHD so the Mustang could go global, not just so it could be sold in Oz

[Maka]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

IMO I doubt GM would fast track a RHD Camaro just to battle Mustang in Australia. Ford went RHD so the Mustang could go global, not just so it could be sold in Oz

Maybe GM will be watching how well the rhd Mustang sells worldwide before making any move in that (rhd) market? I would not be suprised if GM made a announcement in the not too distant future on the back of strong rhd Mustang sales globally.

cheers, Maka

[Bossxr8]

GM have already tried to get a business case for RHD Camaro but they figured sales would not be high enough to justify the costs. The Camaro isn't as iconic globally as Mustang is.

And that was based on the current Camaro which is Commodore based, making it easier to go RHD. The next Camaro will be based on a different platform, making it even harder.

I don't see it happening, we are such a small market here it won't change GM's mind even if they need a replacement for performance Commodores. But you never know, but I don't think the Holden decision will change that.

[Rockape]

Cant wait to see what HSV do with the Chinadore.

[Flat Top]

I think its an interesting question , in the end I think end Ownership of the brand name will be determined by WHO "Morally"Owns it?? Australia (determined by useage) or GM. ?

Ford never Sold to sell anything but a 'Ford" .

You can put "Lipstick" on a Daewoo , buts its still a Daewoo! (to vary the famous Obama quote)

I guess that GM will be monitoring pretty closely the General publics reaction to their decision to pull out of manufacturing.
Time will tell as to customer loyalty, Holden will want to see how many jump ship ? My Guess is that Ford are doing the same thing right now.
My guess is that Toyota will be the winners unless they also decide to "Jump" .

[UberKnee]

Originally Posted by FlipXW

Yep there seemed to be heaps of people on here that stated they would never buy a Ford again after the closure announcement. Now that Holden has announced the same thing it wont matter what you buy, imports everywhere you look unless you buy a Camry . Which leads me to the next point, I wonder how many of those carry on artists on here will buy a Camry after 2016 cause its an aus made car? I'm willing to bet less than 3

Yeah, if they truly cared that much they should be out buying new Camry's to support Aussie manufacturing that isn't closing down. But going on a forum and blaming the manufacturers is easier.

[zoesgift]

i think you will find the name holden will disappear on dealerships at least and be rebadged with GM signage. im not sure "holden" in australia on a world wide scale contributes a large % of their turnover so gm wouldnt see a need for the use of the name holden in the longer term