Holden ZB Commodore Holds Its Own In New Zealand
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Holden hasn’t fared well in Australia since local manufacturing ended in 2017. In New Zealand, things have been more positive, which outsiders have credited to smart advertising and marketing messages.
One year since the Holden ZB Commodore came on the scene, the first imported Commodore, Stuff.NZ had a look at how the sedan and its wagon have done in the market. In short, pretty well.
In the final year of VF Commodore sales, which boasted a V8 engine option, rear-wheel drive, and the iconic ute bodystyle, Holden sold 1,427 of them. In 2018, the ZB Commodore based on the Opel Insignia without a V8, ute, or RWD, sold 1,366 units. While that number is down, it’s not a shadow of the VF Commodore’s sales figure. Keep in mind, New Zealand is a small market, even compared to Australia. In February alone of this year, Holden sold 572 ZB Commodores.
Even in Australia, the new Commodore isn’t falling flat on its face. It remains the top-selling large car outside of premium brands like Mercedes-Benz. Even the lauded Kia Stinger hasn’t matched the Commodore, which sold just 158 units in February in Australia.
The kicker is one needs to realize Holden is no longer the Commodore Company any longer. Consumers have moved on from sedans, utes, and wagons, and have placed their needs in SUVs and pickups. Indeed, Holden New Zeland sold 4,583 Colorado pickups in 2018 compared to the 1,366 Commodores. That tells one everything he or she needs to know about the shifting tides in consumer preference.
Holden itself has said it will focus on SUVs and crossovers moving forward, and new chairman David Buttner has even put killing the Commodore on the table. The brand will take a hard look at the decisions it needs to make based on vehicle sales and other factors in the future.
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Is Holden’s success with this Commodore, when combined with the Buick Regal, enough to keep producing the vehicle? I realize that GM’s contract with Opel will run out so they would have to create their own Commodore / Regal.
I do believe it’s called shooting yourself in the foot , you had the commodore that everyone knew ,that sold it self , on top of that GM gave away opal to a rival company who are now being gifted sales , should have imported the Impala or Buick
The Malibu would have been a good option