February was not kind to Holden in the sales race. The brand posted a new record for its lowest sales month in history with just 4,689 vehicles sold in February, down 18.1 percent. Market share slipped to just 4.9 percent, down tremendously from its height of 21.6 percent in 2002.
The worse news is the fact auto sales actually surged ahead in Australia. New cars sales rose 9.8 percent last month while Holden posted the massive losses. News.au reported last Wednesday that Holden prepared for a slower start to the year and said inventory of the 2018 Equinox and ZB Commodore is just now starting to reach dealerships.
And as inventory seriously dwindles for the final locally-made VF Commodores, the imported ZB Commodore isn’t fully stocked to fill the void. Commodore sales dropped 53 percent last month, but the 2018 Commodore is just now reaching dealerships after a late February launch.
Comments
Aussies don’t deserve local manufacturing.
How do you figure?
They are angry about local production ending, and having empty showrooms due to logistics.
GM is a disaster. No automaker drops over 15 percent in 15 years.
And they don’t want GM. Their rebadged cars are rubbish.
Toyota stops manufacturing cars in Australia and the people buy the imported replacement in bucket loads.
Let’s just call it karma !!
If they are a angery about that then why are the buying all the imports that replaced them from Mazda and Toyota?
Toyota left, so did Ford where is the out rage on them?
GM was the last hold out to try to keep in country they should be praised for at least trying to stay as long as they did in spite of lower profits and dropping volumes
GM was smart to go with the Euro Commodore. At least the “value for money” proposition of the Euro Commodore is up there with the Japanese competition. (And it’s a cheaper entry point than the outgoing Aussie Commodore!)
Hell, even the bottom spec 2.0L turbo LT is a better performing and better equipped vehicle than the 3.0L V6 VF2 Evoke. It ain’t rocket science – the market shifts – if manufacturers don’t shift with the market, they suffer.
This Opel/Vauxhall/Peugeot/Buick/Holden “world” car is the future of car manufacturing. Old foggies need to get over themselves, move on and remember this might be the last (or second to last model) that still uses an internal combustion engine.
Revisionist history. Toyota was last to announce exit from country not GM. So they held the torch for industry longer. Yes I know they closed their factory a few weeks earlier but so what – intent is what matters.
Who cares though, the winner qeites history, that’s their prerogative.
The reality is you had more people and buyers and a more inviting economic climate odds are the Auto MFGs would have stayed.
Neither is the fault of any auto maker or GM. That to me shows the hate is misdirected.
Also Toyota left for the same reasons too. Does it really matter when?
Misplaced anger is sad.
I agree misplaced anger is sad.
Moving on, my local dealer is having a launch event next week, and it will be a chance to take one for a drive. Judgement reserved until then. That’s the first bit of advertising I’ve seen, so February sales aren’t likely to a true reflection of where Holden sits in the market. The next six months or so will paint a truer picture.
GM will retain buyer interest but need good vehicles at the right price. The new commodore might help with that, time will tell. Personnaly though, I’d love to see an Alpha and/or Omega based sedan.
GM is gunna leave Korea, and Thailand will go with it. PSA can’t make the Astra and Commodore for more than 2 years under their agreement. That leaves the slow selling overpriced Equinox, a replacement for a car slagged off by GMHs own publicity department.
GMH ain’t long for this world. Best not to buy an orphan.
Well GM is not totally leaving Korea.
Also the would export from China and reports are Mexico would pick up much as they have very relaxed export laws.
GM down under is not going away soon.
Holden will just get the Opel line up via Buick China and slap it with Holden tags if PSA drops products.
Unfortunately, I don’t see how GM plans to fix Holden or where tree brand will bottom out.
Barra likes to quit challenging environments. Holden dealer network is large, and of value. PSA could certainly boost sales this way as could Great Wall or Geely.
GM is a contracting company that is more focused on selling services than actual cars.
You fella’s stateside have not been informed of the facts down here in Oz.
This video provides a very good summation of the state of GM Holden business!
https://youtu.be/9CJRY6UdOgQ
It is an accurate assessment and is a hard watch because the Lion had been slayed!
Good I am glad the lion is getting destroyed!
Why fanboy? An unhealthy GM means less new and good product.
You said this about Opel and I doubt the Germans are crying over a bund without GM!
21.6 percent in 2002 ???? How about 50% in 1958. How much further will Holden slip before they shut the doors. All thanks to the mismanagement of what once the best car maker in the world. Pathetic !!