General Motors CEO Mary Barra: Holden Decisions Are Irreversible
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The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show has become a play date for Australian media to grill General Motors executives as to what will become of their local automotive brand, Holden.
So far, from the mouth of GM’s Stefan Jacoby, we’ve had the confirmation of the V8 sedan’s death, no American replacement for the 2016 Chevrolet SS and hot hints suggesting the Corvette program is heading to Oz.
Now, General Motors CEO, Mary Barra, has broken silence on Holden, and shared her thoughts on the tough decisions made.
Barra told Drive a rethinking of Holden manufacturing is out of the question, despite it being a rough process, the value of the Australian currency falling and other GM executives admitting they may have underestimated the impacts of the closures.
I’m not in the business of predicting the future. When I look at it now and the conditions, we made a difficult but important decision to maintain a vibrant Holden brand and profitability over the long term. That’s what we’re focussed on. Beyond predicting the future that’s the current assessment, nothing’s changed and that’s where we’re at in executing it.
When pressed on what will create the “vibrant” Holden brand she envisions, she shared her thoughts saying, “the right products, the right ownership experience and the right [approach] to market – all aspects of the business and that’s what the team there is working on.”
She also admitted the process for bringing world-class global vehicles to the brand has been mediocre, and promised to streamline, and fix that problem.
“I think you’ll see a much more planned and very proactive view of how we do it, because when you engineer a vehicle we know from the beginning that’s what we’re going to do, it’s much easier than re-engineering it. You will see an improvement, for sure.”
Finishing her thoughts, Barra praised Holden’s design and engineering teams, with a handful being sparred from job loss.
“Holden is an important brand to the company, it is something that will continue to be and something we will invest in,” she said.
“There is very technical design and talent and we’re leveraging that where it continues to make sense for them as part of the global team.”
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As long as she realises that the loss of the fanatical Holden consumer base is also irreversible once Commodore becomes FWD 4cyl im happy with her statement.
GM doesn’t worry about the fanatic base in the US, hence the globally competitive Impala as FWD Avalon fighter. The closure of Pontiac is an example, too.
Enthusiasts means little to GM’s AU plans.
Isn’t that a lovely way for GM to pay back the tens of thousands of us life long GM die hards here in Australia, if i wanted to feel cheated and get slapped in the face i would just get back with my ex wife thanks GM.
Sadly the “global” products Ms Barra offers are either crap Korean or over priced European derivatives. Gone are the days of well made meat and three veg RWD Holdens and Fords offering 4 doors, Utes and wagons, alas we only have ourselves to blame for not supporting local manufacturing (local jobs, our neighbours, family and friends) if we choose to eat from a global banquet of average automobiles then we can only suffer accordingly.
Well the main problem is much of the issues at Holden and GM were done while the damaged culture management still was in control. Mary and Mark are now left to sort this out and are still limited by product cycles.
The damage culture tried to save money on things like the Alpha and not do RHD. Now that Mary and Mark are here they are determine to change this but it will take some time with product cycles. I expect the Alpha will get a refresh much sooner than they would have otherwise.
Trust me the present management is not happy with much of what was left to them and that is why things like they are doing at Cadillac and else where are on the large scale.
As a businessman, on his own, for near 30 years, the dollars and cents part they Inherited makes some sense…But I still feel, that they should look at the whole Picture…After all, they say that They are The New General Motors
Basically what she’s saying is.. Don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out..
yeah no kidding
First time here.
Mary Barra. You really do beggar belief don’t you. It is the introduction of the rubbish from Europe that killed Holden. Just have the courage to shut it down. Quite gutless, actually.
There was once an add by Holden in the seventies;
“We love football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden Cars.
What happened to Holden and General Motors?