Will the Holden brand survive?

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Vormund

Regarding the Sedan, that comes from S.Korea and they stopped making that in May 2018 according to Wikipedia.

Yeah Holden basically bought out the final months production to stockpile them here. Mitsubishi did something similar back in 2017 with lancer stopping production, they are just getting through the final lot of demos now

Wish Ford did that with the Falcon utes. Just built thousands for stockpile, but leave one part off, then as they get sold add the part and finish the build plate. That way they could still be selling 2019 built Falcon utes now. Instant car industry.

[jpd80]

There was an issue with Euro 6 compliance dead line, Ford didn't want to spit for the certification work.
I think that's why the shutdown happened when and how it did and why VFII (Euro 6) went on for another year...

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

I've been told they have roughly 4,300 Commodores, which would include vehicles at dealers, vehicles sitting 'on the grass' in storage and in transit - still waiting to make land. That would be more than enough to last them for 2019 and possibly 2020, if they make it that far.

The current ZB Commodore and BK Astra will never be marketed as an Opel in Australia, as they're still being built under license from GM and PSA is trying to move them over to PSA platforms as quickly as possible. IF the Commodore and Astra ever make it back to Australia, it'll be under the Opel badge and will be moving on PSA platforms. Unless Inchcape, PSA and GM come to some sort of agreement, if GM hands distribution rights over to Inchcape, then we could see them keep their Holden badges.

On the basis of new ZB,s being on ships waiting to land could these be sold as 2019 models......

[PCT302]

GM to sell Holden ?

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...holden-116884/

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Wish Ford did that with the Falcon utes. Just built thousands for stockpile, but leave one part off, then as they get sold add the part and finish the build plate. That way they could still be selling 2019 built Falcon utes now. Instant car industry.

You can't "just leave one part off" & fit the compliance plate at a later date.

The ADR rule says that the date of compliance is the day the engine & body are co-joined.

Dr Terry

[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

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

You can't "just leave one part off" & fit the compliance plate at a later date.

The ADR rule says that the date of compliance is the day the engine & body are co-joined.

Dr Terry

What if that "one part off" is the engine?

[danzvtil]

https://www.caradvice.com.au/724868/...tralia-return/

What an unmitigated disaster for anyone trying to sell Holdens and run a dealership.
Although on the plus side, Opel returning, now run by people who love small cars (Europeans) might see some cool metal down under.

[CyberWasp]

[Fordman1]

I can’t help but feel really sad about this.

This news if true is terrible, but there are no Australian manufacturing connections regardless.

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by kevino

On the basis of new ZB,s being on ships waiting to land could these be sold as 2019 models......

They'll be 2018 built and plated vehicles. They may be called 'MY19' for sale purposes and will have a compliance plate of 2019, but it's built plate will be 2018.

Remember, Holden requested for production to stop for the Astra, Commodore and even the Equinox back in October 2018, but PSA haven't built much for Holden since, if anything.

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

I can’t help but feel really sad about this.

This news if true is terrible, but there are no Australian manufacturing connections regardless.

It's quite breathtaking, isn't it? Just as we had mentioned yesterday, CarAdvise are now reporting that if Inchcape are handed distribution rights for Holden, it'll be reduced to just selling SUV's and a Ute, which is inline with whispers that Holden will be reduced to 4-5 carlines, Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado, no Astra and no Commodore.

[kevino]

Thanks for your comments Eurotrash -a fascinating insight in to the train wreck that is GMH.

[Eurotrash]

There's a few other things that we also have to take note of.

The Holden Equinox is built in Mexico at the Ramos Arizpe plant and that plant is now pumping out the new Chevrolet Blazer, with Equinox production restricted to the San Luis Potosi plant in the US. There has been no mention of RHD production for the US plant, leaving a huge question mark over the models future in Australia and New Zealand. There's also the fact that Holden had production halted for the Equinox back in October 2018. Has production started again, I'm not sure, but if the Mexican plant is now building the new Blazer and there has been no word on the US plant picking up the RHD production, then it must be game over for the RHD Equinox. There was talk of the Blazer arriving in Australia with Holden badges from the Ramos Arizpe plant, but I doubt now this will happen.

There's also the facelifted GMC Acadia that's making the rounds and yep you guessed it, RHD production hasn't been mentioned, leaving more question marks over this model.

Then there is the Colorado and Trailblazer. Not sure what's going to happen there, but GM have been scalling back it's Thai operations over the past 12 months, again another RHD market and there are reports that the next Colorado, will simply be the US model and again, RHD production is questionable? Unless HSV pick this up and then they'll be sold under the Chevrolet badge, you'd imagine? The Trailblazer would probably die. Haven't heard if GM do Brasil is taking the lead development role of the Chevrolet/Holden Colorado/S10 Ute, like they did with the current models.

And the Trax! Well, both the Spark and the Barina/Sonic/Aveo have been cancelled in South Korea and both will be replaced with a new small Crossover which will sit below the Trax. This new model hasn't had RHD production approved and the new model Trax is also believed to be LHD only.

With all this, it's not hard to put two and two together and figure out GM want's out of all RHD markets and is not engineering future products for our markets.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by PCT302

GM to sell Holden ?
https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...holden-116884/

GM has signaled its intention to reduce right-hand model production globally.

Maybe time for Australia to ditch right-hand drive too?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Maybe time for Australia to ditch right-hand drive too?

Yep. Have all the cars and bikes change over on a Monday and all the Trucks and Bus's on the Tues.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Maybe time for Australia to ditch right-hand drive too?

Jesus...no.

There are two glaring issues i see right away:

-There are already enough bad drivers out there, don't need more difficulties handed to them.

-Road networks and infrastructure. Complete sections of road would need re doing...some won't suit LHD in the way RHD does. Right of the top of my head i can think of a mountain range near me that has arrestor beds for run away trucks that would need mirroring to suit LHD.

Slip lanes, parking...drive throughs...signage.

I'd hate to think of the cost needed to reconfigure everything.

Even the local tip would need to build a new entry!

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Right of the top of my head i can think of a mountain range near me that has arrestor beds for run away trucks that would need mirroring to suit LHD.

It would have worked on the old road down the Moonbi's though

[jpd80]

You can see that Australian buyers will continue to gravitate to RHD friendly companies (Japanese and Korean)
Those that sit on the fence and want to do minimal RHD versions of vehicles will feel the pinch in our market.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

It would have worked on the old road down the Moonbi's though

Thats before my time

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Yep. Have all the cars and bikes change over on a Monday and all the Trucks and Bus's on the Tues.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagen_H

Dagen H (H day), today usually called "Högertrafikomläggningen" ("The right-hand traffic diversion"), was the day on 3 September 1967, in which the traffic in Sweden switched from driving on the left-hand side of the road to the right. The "H" stands for "Högertrafik", the Swedish word for "right traffic". It was by far the largest logistical event in Sweden's history

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

Holden will be reduced to 4-5 carlines, Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado, no Astra and no Commodore.

Astra is selling in semi-respectable numbers (doesn't it outsell everything but Colorado). Surely it makes sense to keep it?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by b0son

Astra is selling in semi-respectable numbers (doesn't it outsell everything but Colorado). Surely it makes sense to keep it?

They have had to cut the price so badly just to move the stockpiles they have, that they will be making no profit on them. So what's the point?

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

It's quite breathtaking, isn't it? Just as we had mentioned yesterday, CarAdvise are now reporting that if Inchcape are handed distribution rights for Holden, it'll be reduced to just selling SUV's and a Ute, which is inline with whispers that Holden will be reduced to 4-5 carlines, Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado, no Astra and no Commodore.

Astra & Commodore will just come in as Opel’s,after all that is what they truly are.Back to Opel Insignia(sounds better anyhow) & Opel Astra.Makes a lot more sense for these two.Whether they sell in decent numbers remains to be seen.You also have the Opel van(Renault trafic,Vauxhall Vivaro,Fiat & Nissan NV300,all built @ Vauxhalls Elsmore plant.) which may well come in.Cheers

[Syndrome]

Wouldn't it make more sense for the Inchcape group to expand existing PSA dealers in Australia to add Opel products to their range?


As to Holden dealers, unfortunately, they are doomed.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Wouldn't it make more sense for the Inchcape group to expand existing PSA dealers in Australia to add Opel products to their range?


As to Holden dealers, unfortunately, they are doomed.

How many Holden only dealers are left? Either sell the property or change the brand. Have a sale on the Holden sinage.

[GCRXR6]

I know many on here don't like him, but, John Cadoganreports the rumour in an entertaining way on his You-tube post.. While Holden and Inchcape have denied the rumour, John blows their denial in the way we expect John to do.

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by hackney

Astra & Commodore will just come in as Opel’s,after all that is what they truly are.Back to Opel Insignia(sounds better anyhow) & Opel Astra.Makes a lot more sense for these two.Whether they sell in decent numbers remains to be seen.You also have the Opel van(Renault trafic,Vauxhall Vivaro,Fiat & Nissan NV300,all built @ Vauxhalls Elsmore plant.) which may well come in.Cheers

That's one of the scenarios being considered. If Holden is handed over to Inchcape, Holden will be reduced to a few GM SUV's and a Ute, no passenger cars, while Inchcape will re-introduce Opel, with a full range of cars, including the Astra and Insignia. The Commodore name will be dropped completely, as what should've happened in the first place.

Renault has cut ties with Opel with regards to their LCV range, so all previous Renault sourced vans are no more. All new Opel vans are now PSA based. The new Opel Combo is a rebadged Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner, while the new Opel Vivaro is a rebadged Citroen Dispatch/Peugeot Expert/Toyota ProAce. The larger Opel Movano, a rebadged Renault Master, will be replaced by a new large PSA Van that is yet to be announced. The Luton plant in the UK is now building the PSA vans - Citroen Dispatch/Jumpy/Peugeot Partner/Opel/Vauxhall Viviaro/Toyota ProAce.

Also remember, Renault will release the Trafic as the Mitsubishi Express in 2020, for only the Australian and New Zealand markets.

[EgoFG]

I was surprised to see that Opel Australia still has a website