Holden Exec Peter Keley To Manage General Motors Special Vehicles Venture In Australia
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Longtime Holden executive Peter Keley will manage the new General Motors Special Vehicles venture in Australia, which will import select GM vehicles into the country following Holden’s departure this year.
GM is currently in discussions with HSV parent company Walkinshaw Group to evaluate what it would take to make the GMSV venture work in Australia. Keley has been tasked with leading the discussions and, according to WhichCar, may be in charge of GMSV if the automaker decides to go forth with the plan.
WhichCar says there are currently three strategies GM is looking at implementing with GMSV. The first and most simple plan entails GM handing over local distribution rights to Walkinshaw Group, which will then import and sell the vehicles locally on GM’s behalf. The second option is a true joint venture, which would see GM and Walkinshaw Group work together on GMSV and share any profits, losses and other risks or returns that may be associated with the business.
The third strategy, which WhichCar says makes the most sense for GM, would be for the automaker to manage the whole operation but enlist Walkinshaw to convert the vehicles to right-hand-drive once they arrive on Australian shores.
Pickup trucks and SUVs may be some of the first vehicles that come to Australia under the GMSV banner. WhichCar claims the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a logical addition to the GMSV range, as it is already being sold in Australia by HSV. The Chevrolet Tahoe may also be a good candidate given Australian buyers’ tastes.
It’s uncertain if GM plans to ship the C8 Corvette to Australia under the GMSV banner. The automaker had previously said it would sell right-hand-drive examples of the C8 Corvette in the country through its network of Holden dealerships, but with Holden operations now set to wind down before the end of the year, those plans are off the table.
It’s not clear when the GMSV venture may officially launch in Australia – if it does at all. Current GM president and former Holden boss Mark Reuss expressed excitement over the potential opportunity earlier this year, however.
“We do believe we have an opportunity to profitably grow the specialty vehicle business and plan to work with our partner to do that,” Reuss said.
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Speaking of foreign aspects, Corvette Mike, Chevy Dude mentioned something that has not seemed to have gone viral: He received a second window sticker or build sheet stating that his C8 transmission was USA built. How did that happen and how many other sheets can be obtained with that information on C8’s. Contract for the Tremec 8-Speed was thought to have been exclusively in Mexico?
Correct, Adrian – Perhaps they can be shipped without complete construction so that full desconstruction is not necessary to put the vehicle into right hand drive. Dash compoinents on both sides are unique so mirror work would be needed, I believe…? af
Adrian and Alex Ford, I was in Kentucky last year for the Caravan and spoke to GM Corvette Engineer Harland Charles about the RHD C8s. He told me that he had driven one and found the experience “weird”, but that just tells me that he has had very little experience in RHD cars. So, this means that GM have built at least one presumably roadworthy RHD C8 and that they are quite capable of making as many as the market demands. Therefore, there should be no reason to only part build them in Bowling Green and let Walkinshaw finish them off in RHD form. If they do come here, and Chief Engineer Tadge Jeuchter told me personally that they would, they will come as factory built RHD cars that will comply fully with ADRs. Cheers. Aussiejohn
https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/holden-commits-to-negotiate-in-good-faith-with-holden-dealers
GM is dead in Australia, they killed Holden… we dont like GM now… you just dont get it yet..
I dont think Aussies will be interested in any GM product, sure there is talk of a Corvette, but we have had those stories for the last 30 years it never arrived.
Goodbye…GM
Go and close Cadillac and see how everyone feels…
My next car will be European, style and class…
Yeah well that’s just your opinion. And opinions vary.
Those “forward looking statements” like “when A happens, I will do Z” very often are discarded when A acctually occurs.
Thank you, John Smith – I think your first-hand experience makes the most sense when gauging where the C8 is going relative to Australia. Australians are very passionate about both motorsport and cars and I believe that the car may be able to develop quite a following in Australia. AF
that is correct Alex if GM exported the right cars to Australia and New Zealand in the first place they would have had a good market
lets hope