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It’s Been One Year Since Holden Hit The Lights At Its Manufacturing Facility

Following Ford and Toyota, Holden shuttered its local manufacturing operations after nearly 70 years in Australia this time last year. On October 20, 2017, the nameplate began is full transition from local manufacturer to a national importer of vehicles.

And it’s been anything but smooth sailing since. The brand’s sales reached their lowest point in the company’s history in 2018, yet another new face is now leading the troubled brand and the brand has pushed pause on production of the imported ZB Commodore and Equinox. Many analysts expect tough times ahead for the brand tied so closely to Australian history for some time to come.

2017 Holden Commodore VFII Redline - end of production

The end of Holden manufacturing left 950 employees without work, though Holden slowly shed hundreds of other jobs until the final day of production. Local ABC News reported last Friday that more than 80 percent of former Holden employees have found new work. Numerous officials feared the worst as Australia’s local auto industry essentially evaporated in a span of a few years. Adelaide University economist Michael O’Neil said a few factors halted doomsday predictions, however.

A handful of major projects eventually scooped up Holden’s qualified workforce, though some aren’t making the pay they were used to. The workforce’s average age was also around 42 years old, which made them ideal candidates with over 20 years of experience in some cases. In South Australia, where Holden’s Elizabeth plant was based, the unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in September.

GM-Holden Elizabeth Plant - Holden Commodore VF Assembly 006

However, for some older workers, finding a new job has been difficult. Jason Couzner, age 60, said he’s received no callbacks after sending off his resume to other employers. And he fears the unemployment rate doesn’t reflect those still riding out Holden’s redundancy packages.

The Holden employee transition center on the Elizabeth site will remain open for at least one more year to help former workers and supply chain staff transition into new careers. And the brand continues to operate an engineering workforce and design team to place its stamp on global General Motors product bound for Australian shores.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. Is there any chance Holden starts producing again? I don’t think Australians will forget what GM did. I think the only way Holden rises from the ashes is something drastic, like finding a way to start up production again.

    Reply
  2. Behold GM’s last low slung four door driver’s car. Athletic, understated, not gaudy, almost a sleeper car for the canyon carver who actually has more emotional maturity than a 14 year old. Had moves like a BMW but served up the performance in American, audibly, and viscerally. Sad times we live in that there is no market for a car like that anymore.

    Reply
  3. Certainly it’s a shame that the Holden brand is suffering a slow and painful death, and without question the Holden division of General Motors has in past produced some wonderful cars.

    However much of Holdens former success in Australia, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s was because of the over protective and massive import tariffs which the Australian Government imposed on fully imported vehicles.

    These tariffs created a unique Australian market where Chevrolets and Pontiacs sold for Cadillac prices and the humble Holden had the works mans car market it its self.

    From the 1980s as import tariffs were reduced to near zero GMs Holden brand not surprisingly started to loose market share. In the early 1960s GMs Holden held 57% of the Australian market! In 2018 that share is down to just 3 or 4%. Times have changed, its an internet driven world unlike a world that existed during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

    To survive the Holden brand GM must retire the Holden brand as it did with Saturn, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Vauxhall. The global future for General Motors has to be based on just two brand names. Being Cadillac for the premium market and Chevrolet for the mass market.

    Buick should be sold to the Chinese. GMC could continue for commercial trucks etc. Time to put the Holden brand to sleep and the sooner the better.

    Reply
    1. They shouldn’t get rid of Holden IMO, lets just see if GM manages it well and succeeds (I hope). Also sorry if I written a similar comment below, meant to reply to you earlier.

      Reply
  4. GM should not discontinue the Holden division, we will see how GM will manage Holden if not worse.

    Reply

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