Tomorrow, Holden will become a full importer of vehicles as the final Australian-built Commodore rolls off of the assembly line. It marks an end to 69 years of continuous production in the country.
Ahead of the announced shutdown in 2013, Holden pulled every lever possible to ensure its factories would continue humming well into the 2020s, but ultimately, the plans fell through after the local government failed to co-invest in the operations alongside General Motors.
The Advertiser reports former Australian industry minister, Senator Kim Carr, approached the cabinet with a massive investment plan for $300 million per year. GM reportedly committed to invest $3 for every $1 of government investment into Holden manufacturing. The government, eventually, dismissed the proposal.
“There is no doubt in my mind both Holden and Toyota would have stayed,” said Senator Carr. “We could have kept the whole industry alive and 50,000 people in jobs for $300 million a year (in government support).”
The plans called for the next-generation Commodore, a smaller Holden Torana, and a Commodore-based SUV for production in Australia alongside a next-generation Holden Cruze. The report states the next Commodore was already considered for production on GM’s E2 platform. While the Australian-built Commodore would have been saved, the V8-powered Commodore was likely already long gone. The 2018 Holden ZB Commodore will, in fact, ride on GM’s E2 platform.
Holden chairman and managing director Mark Bernhard reiterated the brand did everything it could to keep production in Australia.
“We left no stone unturned in trying to keep manufacturing here, it was a very complex decision.”
Comments
Why?
Toxic Tony Abbott, the Gimp of Warringah, mad pommie monk who would have been thrown out of parliament, based on the very same non-Aussie-born rules that his own mate Barnaby Joyce, and several others, are humiliated by in our own High Court of the land, this very day. Rupert Murdoch fans, you are equally to blame, Murdoch put Abbott in the Prime Minister’s Lodge where Abbott killed Holden manufacturing.
Tones, thanks “mate”, go back to Bogan Gate.
So the day has arrived. We no longer make cars in this Great Southern Land. Holden is now just another American Company – and they don’t even make our ‘Commodore’ (and that name is debatable since it’s not a spiritual Commodore – RWD) now. I think a little more Pride just left this Country. In my eyes, I hold Prime Minister (PM) Abbott and Hockey primarily responsible for their narrow sighted vision of this Industry and driving them away. I bet PM Turnball won’t be at the Factory on the Final Day, like PM Chifley was on the First. To quote from the one great import from the Good Ole USA – Good-Bye, Farewell and Ahem. I’m off to by a Kia
A Stinger won’t ever replace the Kingswood.
Do you think Hockey is now being made to drive a Chevy SS in exile as punishment?
My day was bad enough, until you mentioned that cigar smoking wacker. Exiled out Australia by his own mob.
The boss of BMW said after Abbott’s mob were elected, that it would be the end for Holden manufacturing in Australia. He may not be Nostradamus, but spot on nevertheless.
Goodbye Holden, you’ve been a huge part of my 68 years.
The invitation to present a talk at Adelaide University along with one of the last factory tours of the Elizabeth plant convinced this Canadian to tour Down Under.
Every manufacturing country offers some protection to its domestic auto industry, even the USA with unique safety and emission standards. Australian regulations opened its doors wide to any imports including those from China. Not only did this chase out the multinationals such as Ford, GM and Toyota but countless second tier manufactures who supplied the industry are likely to fold with a sizable chunk being locally owned.
Many Australians that I spoke to also identified the strategic loss of an industry that in a conflict would be needed to build armaments. Holden and its head Larry Hartnett played a significant role during WWII, leading to the post War Holden automobile. How incredibly short-sighted the politicians have been. If they think that the industry could be revived in the future, they are dreaming. Cars were far less complicated when the Aussie auto industry began.
The Holden Commodore SV6 that I rented was an absolute delight. Its sporty suspension was understandably not as comfortable as my Mercedes-Benz but the car was equally as tight and solid with a vastly superior transmission and great feel through the steering. The only negative was a wide A-pillar that could hide a Mack truck. It is without doubt a world class product.
My sincere sympathies to the many Australians impacted by this political blunder.
The Holden badge will live on…for now.
I don’t see the ZB Commodore garnering the same following as the VF Commodore but sedans are a declining market the world over, not just in Australia.
Markets are currently hooked on SUVs and it’s still not a mature market yet, although it is starting to fracture in more micro markets under the SUV umbrella. If your average family has a big family SUV, who needs a large sedan in the driveway as well.
RIP. Holden Commodore VF: Evoke, SV6, SS, Caprice, Statesman.
A pox on the houses of Barra and Jacoby
When the last Commodore rolled off the tracks yesterday, the world became a much less interesting place 🙁
I totally agree JustJohn. I already feel this Country is a bit less than it was. No more spy pics of the next Commodore, no more BIG announcements of export deals.