Will the Holden brand survive?

[galaxy xr8]

Ive seen one, while holidaying along the GOR, about 3 weeks back but Apart from that not a single one on my daily commute.

[arronm]

I haven't see one either. But then again I have only seen about a dozen FGX.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by marty351

For those that have forgotten, or just don't know, this is a ZB Commodore...

“I just want one”

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by hackney

“I just want one”

LOL, at the moment, you'd probably get two for one...

[marty351]

Originally Posted by hackney

“I just want one”

There's always one.

[ozpacman]

I must admit to feeling quite a bit of empathy for the Holden dealers that employ thousands of people right across Australia. With the range of models they presently have access to, it must be very difficult for a lot of them to make ends meet at the moment.

Our local dealer has been trading since 1923 and has been a great corporate citizen for the town. I can't help but think they'd be feeling the pinch in the present sales climate though.

This ZB Commodore is probably not a bad car on its own merits, but I think it was a huge mistake on Holden's part to badge it as Commodore. All they've achieved by doing that is make potential customers suspect they're being played for fools.

I think if the car was given another nameplate, priced competitively and pitched against Camry, Sonata et al, it could have gone okay.

Brand loyalty is a big thing, but customers will drop it like a hot spud if they feel they're being bull****ted to.

Russ.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

I must admit to feeling quite a bit of empathy for the Holden dealers that employ thousands of people right across Australia. With the range of models they presently have access to, it must be very difficult for a lot of them to make ends meet at the moment.

I agree. They are the innocent victims and a number will lose their livelihoods if things continue as is.

[lra]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

Brand loyalty is a big thing, but customers will drop it like a hot spud if they feel they're being bull****ted to. Russ.

And that is precisely what Holden marketing has been doing over the last 6 months for their products.
TV adverts that have alienated their previous customers, and arty farty ads that tell you nothing about the car itself, apart from the driver being hip and cool.
A Colorado is preferable to a goat ……. really ?

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by lra

A Colorado is preferable to a goat ……. really ?

So goats eat motor oil?

[Bossxr8]

Dealers would be absolutely seething at Holden management.

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

I must admit to feeling quite a bit of empathy for the Holden dealer

Not really feeling it myself - most have other brands also. These guys are astute businessfolk, they know how to keep their chosen business afloat.

Maybe my local will do better recall work for the Mitsubishi now.

[Junkyard-Dog]

I actually saw a new ZB Commodore on the weekend. It had two adults in the front and two or three kids in the back.

The car actually looked alright tbh.

[Sprint XR8]

Holden dumped in Doncaster

DONCASTER Holden, in Melbourne’s affluent east, has handed back its Holden franchise and is quitting its Doncaster site in a deal with nearby Penfold Motors which is owned by the Johnstone family.

Doncaster principal and CD Motor Group managing director Cameron Doidge told GoAutoNews Premium that the exit from Holden, effective July 1 this year, was triggered by many “underlying issues”.

“It was caused by issues including the size of the site and the market share of Holden that combined, didn’t help the business model,” he said.

“It means we are out of Holden sales and we won’t continue with service and parts either.”

Mr Doidge said Penfold would take over the lease of the Holden site at 825 Doncaster Road and make it a Volkswagen dealership. He said about 90 per cent of staff will retain their jobs.

https://premium.goauto.com.au/holden...-in-doncaster/

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by Sprint XR8

https://premium.goauto.com.au/holden...-in-doncaster/

This is not good at all. While I admit to being a Fordie, I also admit to being sadened by the likely loss of our historical number one competitor.

[leakey]

Drove past the Holden dealer at Chullora the other day.

They have had to adorn the 'new' Commodore with massive vinyl lettering stating "NEW Commodore" and flags around it with the same.

It just blends in with everything else in the yard.

Even as a Ford nut, I used to be so excited about the release of a new Commy, or Falcon and even Camry/Aurion.

I dont think they (govt and car makers) realise the massive gulf they have created by allowing production to end here. So much part of our culture.

I feel lost, really, when it comes to cars atm.

I guess there's only one thing for it. I'll make my own.

[mr smith]

It doesn’t seem that long ago there was Holden dealer in every town..

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by leakey

Even as a Ford nut, I used to be so excited about the release of a new Commy, or Falcon and even Camry/Aurion.

I dont think they (govt and car makers) realise the massive gulf they have created by allowing production to end here. So much part of our culture.

I feel lost, really, when it comes to cars atm.

I guess there's only one thing for it. I'll make my own.

Exactly! People couldn't understand why I was so passionate about Falcons. It is because of their cultural significance and what they represented to this nation. Driving them was like wearing a badge of honour as it was a clear indicator of which tribe i did NOT belong to.

[Trendseeker]

I saw a new Commodore on the road recently but it wasn’t far from the dealer and could have been on a test drive. The recent closure of that other dealers showroom might be the start of the end or maybe not. I know one or two that have closed over the years. Heartland Holden at Rockdale was one. It’s a shame the local manufacturing has gone; like others here, I was proud to own Australian made cars.

[GCRXR6]

Well, well. I had one in my driveway yesterday. A friend, who was working at a nearby gas field, dropped in on her way to the local airport for return to Brisbane. Not a nice looking car at all, but, that's only my opinion. She was impressed with the bells and whistles, it rode and handled well, but was let down by the lack of rearward vision. Yeah...still ugly.

[jpd80]

They must be running out of room to stick all those unsold Holdens.....

[roKWiz]

Probably seen quite a few of these but wouldn't have noticed if I had due to them just blending in amongst the rest of boring cars on the road these days.

[Syndrome]

Is there a media ban? The Holden stories have all but disappeared.

[bathurst77]

I do about 1000km a week, mostly in sydney through the suburbs including the more affluent ones and the cbd.
I see heaps of stingers and stangs. I have been keeping an eye out as i drive but i still havent seen a ZB
Seen a couple of ZB fairlanes tho

[Fordman1]

It’s funny how they run the ZB with a V8 in that stupid Supercars sillouette series.

[DFB FGXR6]

https://www.goauto.com.au/future-mod...-24/72890.html

From the article about the new Arcadia -

"Due to its size and comfort levels, Mr Tassone also likened the Acadia to the Australian-built Caprice that was discontinued last year with the end of local Holden manufacturing.

“It’s a great car. We’re really excited – it’s like the new Caprice almost,” he said.

“It’s a great, big luxurious seven-seater, and it almost fills that space that the Caprice left and as far as a car to just eat up the miles in."

Wow, this guy is delirious!

And this -

"“I did 2000km in it a couple of weekends ago – and it’s just a great car, it’s awesome and its going to be really good.”"

How old is this guy? That reads like something a 7 year old would say.
The digging continues............

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

https://www.goauto.com.au/future-mod...-24/72890.html

From the article about the new Arcadia -

"Due to its size and comfort levels, Mr Tassone also likened the Acadia to the Australian-built Caprice that was discontinued last year with the end of local Holden manufacturing.

“It’s a great car. We’re really excited – it’s like the new Caprice almost,” he said.

“It’s a great, big luxurious seven-seater, and it almost fills that space that the Caprice left and as far as a car to just eat up the miles in."

Wow, this guy is delirious!

And this -

"“I did 2000km in it a couple of weekends ago – and it’s just a great car, it’s awesome and its going to be really good.”"

How old is this guy? That reads like something a 7 year old would say.
The digging continues............

In all fairness, Mr Tassone is the vehicle development manager. So with Holden's sales the way they are saying anything less could mean that he'd be looking for another job

[CyberWasp]

Poor Holden..... Trying to launch a vehicle like this when Petrol Prices are on the rise.... Good Luck.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Poor Holden..... Trying to launch a vehicle like this when Petrol Prices are on the rise.... Good Luck.

But but but its awesome and its going to be really good.

[Crazy Dazz]

What?

GM "Closed" brands in the USA, because producing their unique vehicles was uneconomical and led to sharing of components then eventually badge-swapping, and once buyers wized up it was a pointless expensive exercise.

They won't close Holden because there is no alternative brand.

Will they SELL Holden?
Maybe, I don't see our ****ant market being a huge focus.
However I think its more likely that it will continue on as a local Badge for GM's Korean or Chinese operations.

Eventually you'd figure Commode production will move there, once they have convinced buyers its a "quality German product". China and Korea already build "Opels" and "Buicks", so it would make sense to keep sourcing their RHD cars from there.

"Holden" has the advantage that they've been re-badging trash for years. For Ford to move from selling Local, European, and Japanese, to Thai, was a marketing challenge.

I'm just waiting for all the burnout comps featuring FWD Commodes.

[csv8]

No diesel ? then neither does Kluger.. Diesel should be in it.