Will the Holden brand survive?

[Syndrome]

October 2019 was Holden's lowest monthly sales since 1948.

Early indications are November 2019 will set a new low...…...

[janddbone]

New Colorado was cancelled, talk of updating the current one. It seems pretty non committal either way .

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by janddbone

New Colorado was cancelled, talk of updating the current one. It seems pretty non committal either way .

That’s a huge kick in the guts for Holden !

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

That’s a huge kick in the guts for Holden !

I've seen this before. Development budgets for new models cut, existing models lifespans increased. Suppliers screwed for piece price reductions. Does not end well.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

That’s a huge kick in the guts for Holden !

Maybe Holden misunderstood head office when it said,
“You can have any RHD vehicle you like....”
Maybe they meant just one, a $120K sports coupe.

Toyota has two years left to get HiLux ready for NG Ranger
but I bet their smug confidence ends up costing them dearly.

Forget Endura and Explorer, give us great T6 Ranger/Everest/ Bronco With V6 Powerstroke and a 3.0 V6 EB and Ford will be back in business People hack on about full size V8 pick ups but, if Ford was deliver the right performance package in the Raptor for about $80k-$90k, those big beasts start losing their appeal.

[Franco Cozzo]

Hopefully GM just puts Holden out of its misery - its just the el cheapo crappy GM Daewoo Australia operation these days.

Everything they resell is poor quality Eurotrash, GM Daewoo specials or an Isuzu.

Its like a half squished cockroach on its back with half its legs flailing wildly in the air - just put it out of its misery and stop being cruel.

Christmas Party at Holden - GM and the 'Commodore'

[CyberWasp]

......and somewhere in a parallel universe Holden kept their commitment to stay open and refreshed the Australian Commodore as was originally planned.
It was updated with the 10 Speed Auto and latest tech including AEB, Lane Departure ect.
The interior was refreshed as was the exterior styling as well as improvements to Engine and Suspension refinement.
That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

......and somewhere in a parallel universe Holden kept their commitment to stay open and refreshed the Australian Commodore as was originally planned.
It was updated with the 10 Speed Auto and latest tech including AEB, Lane Departure ect.
The interior was refreshed as was the exterior styling as well as improvements to Engine and Suspension refinement.
That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

That parallel universe you speak of is dream world.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

Where would the development budget have come from? Because 20-odd thousand units per year wouldn't have justified it, and sales were falling 7-8% per year.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by b0son

Where would the development budget have come from? Because 20-odd thousand units per year wouldn't have justified it, and sales were falling 7-8% per year.

and had GM developed the promised SUVs on zeta, we wouldn’t be having tis discussion

[au2000]

If the commodore and Colorado go, what have they got left ?

Holden itself could not be far off folding if these 2 go

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by au2000

If the commodore and Colorado go, what have they got left ?

Holden itself could not be far off folding if these 2 go

The first two to go will be Astra and Commodore, which going by their more recent sales figures, aren't going to be missed by the dealerships.

Holden will/have reduced the Astra and Commodore lineups and are importing less and less volumes of the two and I'm almost betting that Australia won't see either facelifts of the Astra and Commodore.

It has been rumoured that Holden will be a 5 vehicle lineup in the near future and will do this without any passenger cars, so just SUV's and a Ute, so Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado. Yes, there will be the Corvette, but that will be badged and sold as a Chevrolet.

I really don't understand why GM is holding onto Holden and then treating it the way it has. I think the sooner PSA buys Holden the better off it'll be. At least then it'll have a complete catalogue of vehicles to choose from and they way PSA is moving towards electrification with all of it's vehicles, this too would help the Holden brand. There is one glaring hole in PSA's lineup though and it's a Ute, so they would need to do something there quick smart!

[janddbone]

Who could ever have imagined a Holden with the influence of Peugeot, yet alone Fiat and Chrysler in the future!

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

The first two to go will be Astra and Commodore, which going by their more recent sales figures, aren't going to be missed by the dealerships.

Holden will/have reduced the Astra and Commodore lineups and are importing less and less volumes of the two and I'm almost betting that Australia won't see either facelifts of the Astra and Commodore.

It has been rumoured that Holden will be a 5 vehicle lineup in the near future and will do this without any passenger cars, so just SUV's and a Ute, so Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado. Yes, there will be the Corvette, but that will be badged and sold as a Chevrolet.

I really don't understand why GM is holding onto Holden and then treating it the way it has. I think the sooner PSA buys Holden the better off it'll be. At least then it'll have a complete catalogue of vehicles to choose from and they way PSA is moving towards electrification with all of it's vehicles, this too would help the Holden brand. There is one glaring hole in PSA's lineup though and it's a Ute, so they would need to do something there quick smart!

[au2000]

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

The first two to go will be Astra and Commodore, which going by their more recent sales figures, aren't going to be missed by the dealerships.

Holden will/have reduced the Astra and Commodore lineups and are importing less and less volumes of the two and I'm almost betting that Australia won't see either facelifts of the Astra and Commodore.

It has been rumoured that Holden will be a 5 vehicle lineup in the near future and will do this without any passenger cars, so just SUV's and a Ute, so Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado. Yes, there will be the Corvette, but that will be badged and sold as a Chevrolet.

I really don't understand why GM is holding onto Holden and then treating it the way it has. I think the sooner PSA buys Holden the better off it'll be. At least then it'll have a complete catalogue of vehicles to choose from and they way PSA is moving towards electrification with all of it's vehicles, this too would help the Holden brand. There is one glaring hole in PSA's lineup though and it's a Ute, so they would need to do something there quick smart!

If holden become a 5 vehicle company and loose the colorado, they either find a replacement or drop to 4, either way, those Chevy badges are looking like a simpler cost saving and marketing tool.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by au2000

If holden become a 5 vehicle company and loose the colorado, they either find a replacement or drop to 4, either way, those Chevy badges are looking like a simpler cost saving and marketing tool.

No Chev Badges, they’ll be out of business.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by au2000

If holden become a 5 vehicle company and loose the colorado, they either find a replacement or drop to 4, either way, those Chevy badges are looking like a simpler cost saving and marketing tool.

I think you’re being very optimistic, the whole reason for Holden’s existence is now gone and without a local car, they’re just fading away. It’s not that the products are bad, it’s just that people don’t want or care about Holden like they used to.

Holden would kill to have a sales foundation like Ranger but alas, that’s not gonna happen, they just have sales of heavily discounted bits and pieces, a lot of dealers are facing a really bleak Christmas unless they’re multi-franchise

And I hate iPhone autocorrect

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

......and somewhere in a parallel universe Holden kept their commitment to stay open and refreshed the Australian Commodore as was originally planned.
It was updated with the 10 Speed Auto and latest tech including AEB, Lane Departure ect.
The interior was refreshed as was the exterior styling as well as improvements to Engine and Suspension refinement.
That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

The next Holden's weren't going to be VF facelift Commodores though. I thought the Holden boss declared not long after closure that they were going to be building a Territory style SUV and a front wheel drive, probably similar to the commodore now. No V8, ute etc.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by au2000

If the commodore and Colorado go, what have they got left ?

If Colorado goes, they're done. Commodore isn't even relevant anymore.

[jpd80]

I heard that Holden was offered to PSA as part of the package deal but PSA didn’t want it Fiat Chrysler may have a different POV

[lra]

A theoretical …….. I win an obscene amount of money in Lotto.

I start a company called ‘Yubudi’, with a stylised kangaroo playing a didgeridoo as the badge emblem (yes, I know this is ridiculous, but) and then find a Chinese car company willing to export their range of cars to Australia, with some modifications.
I convince them to add 2 more cylinders to their engines, and deal done.
When they arrive in Australia, some itinerant backpackers paint the grilles and wheels black, and Pedders Suspension fits some floor stock heavy-duty springs and shocks.
I (as CEO/General Manager) announce that ‘Yubudi’ vehicles are proudly developed for Australian conditions with Australian sourced components.
The cars do not sell, and the whole exercise is a commercial failure. Who would have thought it ?

The sooner the ‘Holden’ brand name is retired, or handed to Rare Spares, the sooner we can get over this endless speculation and embarrassment.

[eb2fairmont]

The plan was to build what we know as the ZB commodore locally.

[Vormund]

The other car was either Equinox or the Cruze, both on Delta 2 platform. This was to take them to 2022.

[lra]

Originally Posted by Vormund

The other car was either Equinox or the Cruze, both on Delta 2 platform. This was to take them to 2022.

and in 2022, GM then would have announced the closure of the Elizabeth factory, with Holden in the same position as it is now.

[Sprint XR8]

Holden to auction several heritage cars from collection

Some significantly historic Holdens are up for grabs in a surprise auction

Eight separate listings on an online auction site suggest Holden is clearing some space in its heritage garage, with several ‘first’ and ‘last’ versions of some of its models joining some notable cars in being sold off.

According to the listings, the auction is set to begin on midday, November 18.

MOTOR has contacted Holden (and Manheim, which is undertaking the auction) in search of a reason for this sudden and rather unceremonious sale.

MOTOR has been able to certify via Manheim that the auction house has agreed to auction a specific set of Holden’s heritage cars in a sale.

Amongst the cars for sale is the first-ever Holden VFII Commodore Motorsport Edition, resplendent in Holden’s traditional red and showing only 9km on the odometer. The starting bid for the six-speed auto is listed at $65,000.

Car number one of 1200 built for Australia (another 151 went to NZ) is listed with 'SOLD ON BEHALF OF HOLDEN AUSTRALIA' in its description, as are the others Manheim is offering for auction.

Similarly, the first VFII Director, the Calais-V based executive sedan, is up for grabs (also starting at $65,000) also with just nine klicks on the clock.

The first copy of Holden’s acclaimed VF series, built in 2013, is also for auction, with a $30,000 starting bid and a mere 56km on its odometer. Also a six-speed auto, the first VF is a Calais-V painted in Prussian Steel.

Its VEII predecessor is also represented here, with the last VEII built (a 2012 SS-V in Chlorophyll Blue) up for grabs with a $45,000 opening bid.

If something a little rarer might take your fancy, Holden is also offloading its first V2 Monaro CV8, this one with 3742km travelled under the power of its 5.7-litre LS1 V8.

Bidding for the CV8 is set to begin at $40,000.

Some cars which have also undergone significant achievements are also included in the auction, like the 1995 Commodore VRII rally car driven by Ed Ordynski to victory in the 1995 Round Australia Trial, covering around 19,000km. The odometer shows 47,306km and bidding starts at $12,000.

A 1990 Barina which Holden used for a world record economy run and as a Round Australia Trial car is included in the auction, with a $5000 starting price.

Lastly, A 1980 VC Commodore driven around the country in 10 days by two motoring writers, Evan Green and Matt Whelan, features as the oldest member of the auction lineup, with $10,000 as its starting bid and with a relatively low (given where it’s been) 20,235km showing.

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/hol...ection-auction

[au2000]

hmmm .. commodore sales numbers have just jumped up for Novembers stats.....!

is this a sign that the end is near? clearing the decks so to speak ?

[jpd80]

Could be a sign that the end is closer than people think...
maybe making room for the first and last ZB sold.

[BENT_8]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit, let's be honest, the Holden brand was only ever a post war marketing exercise aimed at giving Australians something to be proud of and in return secure employment.
It's not necessary anymore.

That it lasted 70 years is more of a surprise.

Whether GM continue to stay in our market is the bigger question for mine.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

That it lasted 70 years is more of a surprise.

They almost died in the 1980s

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Could be a sign that the end is closer than people think...
maybe making room for the first and last ZB sold.

My thoughts also.

Wouldn't mind that Monaro to be honest.

[Bossxr8]

Are they that desperate for cash?


Read in the carsguide today that a ZB Calais has a redbook valuation of 17% after 5 years. Holy jeezus. They burned customers resale values hardcore by chopping the hell out of the RRP of the ZB, to clear that huge stockpile they had.