General Motors has reportedly given Holden the OK to now choose from its entire vehicle portfolio—including Cadillac.
CarsGuide reported Wednesday that Holden chairman and managing director, Dave Buttner, returned from a week-long trip in Detroit and delivered the news to local media. Buttner said no GM vehicles are off the table if they’re deemed a good fit for Holden, though he would not confirm any cars from the Cadillac or Buick brands would be ported down under.
Instead, he focused on trucks and SUVs from GM’s portfolio, which continues to expand. He said Holden is now able to “draw on a fantastic stable of SUVs and trucks” with everything on the table. The Holden boss added he visited the GM design studio to see everything in the works to give him a clearer picture of Holden’s future lineup.
Candidates for Holden’s lineup in the near term could include the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. In the future, Holden will have access to new Buick models, future electric cars and Cadillac’s lineup of vehicles.
The shift in strategy comes after GM’s vice president of global design, Michael Simcoe, told GM Authority in 2017 that Cadillac was off limits for Holden’s portfolio. Without further explaining the reasoning, we could only assume it was because GM still has plans to introduce the luxury brand locally in the future. GM’s product chief, who now has oversight of the Cadillac brand, also said an Australian launch is potentially still on the table. GM pulled Cadillac’s Australian launch in the final hour in 2009 as the global financial crisis took hold.
But, even if Holden has access to sportier coupes and sedans from Cadillac, don’t expect them to undergo any redesign. Instead, Holden has made do with minor design changes and variations in the grille and taillights. Thus, it seems unlikely we’d ever see a Cadillac shoed into the Holden lineup with just a badge swap.
Buttner said Holden will be able to jump into the development program for any future car and ensure the vehicle will have right-hand drive baked in for a future launch.
“Then really, the world’s your oyster in terms of what you can bring in,” he said.
Comments
Aussie Bogans love Trump’s America and everything that stands for.
Rich Aussies (therefore not bogans) don’t like America, Trump’s or Hillary’s.
This is a cultural fact, hasn’t changed since 1788. Selling Caddy’s will never work in Australia. However, an ATS with a decontented interior and a Holden Torana badge, that would sell like hot cakes, particularly if GM put the LT1 in there and an SLR6200 badge on the back.
Throw out the Holden badges and bring the cars in as is
I agree, there will not be rebadged Cadillacs Down Under. What I see and hope this change in heart is that Holden is being given an access to RWD platforms for next gen Commodore. I can’t see any other reasoning. Obviously, they could march on with next Commodore as rebadged next generation Buick Regal, but I think they realized it’ll will not work. Australians have spoken and, although current Commodore is a great car, it should have been brought to AUS as Holden Insignia.
What I would love to see is letting Holden design next gen Commodore on Cadillac platform and than have it rebadged as next gen Impala. Dream a little. Why not?
It would be insane, no, asinine, to label Cadillacs as anything other than Cadillacs. Removing the exclusivity factor and cross-labeling them with a lesser brand–no matter how far away that brand’s home turf is–would forever doom Cadillac to second-tier luxury status. Just floating the idea around will tarnish Cadillac in many enthusiasts’ eyes.
Dare better.
The Aussies do not want a re-badged Cadillac as a Holden, the simply want a rear-drive platform with a V8. Buick will also need a new platform for the Regal (and LaCrosse) with the loss of the Opel design, so why not share the Cadillac’s platform. Base any Holden off the Buick design. This sharing of platforms, including the Camaro, would offer economies of scale for all models involved.
Cadillac rebadged a Chevy Cavalier and called it a Cimarron right on their hometurf of Detroit 30 plus years ago Reggie
If Holden can not sell and market a line of cars from this portfolio under any badge then they should not be around.
This should help Holden much and should give them the cars they want not just what they get.
Australia has basically zero affiliation with Cadillac brand. If they stay rear drive/powerful next generation would be good to see torana and commodore names on suitable sized caddy’s. Would only need different grilles and slightly less chintz. I know I would consider a commodore badged Cadillac so much more than the insignia/vectra thing we are offered now. Only thing they will have to work on is getting the price right.
Please please Cadillac CTS-V, GMC Sierra or GMC Yukon. How about something more upmarket than the Acadia?
This should have been the way instead of the going to Opel
BRING THE HSV VEHICLES TO AMERICA