guionM
12-02-2008, 03:14 PM
Holden has a long history of being independent since it did in fact start it's car making history as a body assembly business in Australia (for Ford, ironically). GM began it's close association with Holden after WW2, as Holden assembled various General Motors cars for the Australian market.
Holden's first exclusive car was a discared Chevrolet design that's now refered to as the FX. In the 50's, General Motors heavily invested in Holden's production expansion.
In the 1960s, Holden came into it's own. a car they were producing under the GM-Europe Vauxhall name became the Torana. Chevrolet & Pontiac production was replaced by models under the Holden name (Holden models from the late 60s & early 70s look exactly like they came from Pontiac or Chevy showrooms).
Holden produced it's first independent V8 in 1969 (a 4.2 & 5 liter...253 & 308 ci respectively). In 1970, they started making their own automatic transmissions and every model was an Australian design for the 1st time. In the 70s, Holden got fully into auto racing. In the late 70s, just like here in the US, Holden downsized their cars, switching their large cars from US based chassis to Opel based.
In the 80s, Ford Australia came close to wiping Holden from the map, as Holden had to make deals with Toyota and even Nissan (which supplied turbocharged 6 cylinder engines for a time) to survive. Holden even sold rebadged Suzukis for a while to round out their line, in many cases selling rebadged cars under their name that competitors were also selling under theirs.
In the 90s, Holden did a complete turn around, increasing Australian market share 50% in that decade and creating a very strong export business. Over half billion AUD were spent to upgrade local vehicle programs. Locally produced cars were condensed to Elizabeth City. Vehicles from GM Europe replaced vehicles sourced from Japanese competitors. Modified (for RWD use) Buick's 3.8 V6 were assembled in Australia.
This decade has been mixed for Holden. Holden has lost alot of atonomy to General Motors North America, market share dropped from 28 to just 15% at home now being outsold by Toyota, and Holden has recorded losses though admittedly a fraction next to what we're used to hearing from the big 3 here (a mere $6 million in 2007), primarily from the jump in the Aussie dollar, the billion used to create the VE & WM, and to a small extent, GM-NA cancelling a large majority of usage of the Holden created Zeta platform in North America.
Holden has developed an ability to manage itself in difficult times, has successfully turn itself around, has history and experience as an independent automaker, knows how to export successfully, & seems to have the product focus that's lacking with GM North America and it's large scale product over.
Holden was seriously looking at establishing a network here in the US nearly 10 years ago. If Holden were to take over Pontiac, it would have a dealer network already established with annual sales at over 200,000 annually to start off with as well as a couple of products with it's foot already in the door. On the flip side, the G6 can see a slight bump in sales via exports to the rest of Holden's markets.
Holden is also moving forward with a small 4 cylinder sedan to be made in Australia that would fit where a G5 sedan would fit in, while they would gain the Solstice for sale down under (the Vauxhall/Opel GT both are RHD, so a Sky interior on Aussie Solstices would be a no cost way to economically send a car that will sell in minute numbers).
Holden is too close to Chevrolet in market and demographics to survive any division closures at GM. Yet, Pontiac is still big enough to be GM GM's 2nd largest car division and would be a very strong independent brand.
Holden wouldn't need to buy Pontiac. GM should simply give it to Holden, save the cost of development of any new pending Pontiac vehicles, and cut any losses.
Under a new name, Holden might even be able to weed out under performing dealers.
Holden's first exclusive car was a discared Chevrolet design that's now refered to as the FX. In the 50's, General Motors heavily invested in Holden's production expansion.
In the 1960s, Holden came into it's own. a car they were producing under the GM-Europe Vauxhall name became the Torana. Chevrolet & Pontiac production was replaced by models under the Holden name (Holden models from the late 60s & early 70s look exactly like they came from Pontiac or Chevy showrooms).
Holden produced it's first independent V8 in 1969 (a 4.2 & 5 liter...253 & 308 ci respectively). In 1970, they started making their own automatic transmissions and every model was an Australian design for the 1st time. In the 70s, Holden got fully into auto racing. In the late 70s, just like here in the US, Holden downsized their cars, switching their large cars from US based chassis to Opel based.
In the 80s, Ford Australia came close to wiping Holden from the map, as Holden had to make deals with Toyota and even Nissan (which supplied turbocharged 6 cylinder engines for a time) to survive. Holden even sold rebadged Suzukis for a while to round out their line, in many cases selling rebadged cars under their name that competitors were also selling under theirs.
In the 90s, Holden did a complete turn around, increasing Australian market share 50% in that decade and creating a very strong export business. Over half billion AUD were spent to upgrade local vehicle programs. Locally produced cars were condensed to Elizabeth City. Vehicles from GM Europe replaced vehicles sourced from Japanese competitors. Modified (for RWD use) Buick's 3.8 V6 were assembled in Australia.
This decade has been mixed for Holden. Holden has lost alot of atonomy to General Motors North America, market share dropped from 28 to just 15% at home now being outsold by Toyota, and Holden has recorded losses though admittedly a fraction next to what we're used to hearing from the big 3 here (a mere $6 million in 2007), primarily from the jump in the Aussie dollar, the billion used to create the VE & WM, and to a small extent, GM-NA cancelling a large majority of usage of the Holden created Zeta platform in North America.
Holden has developed an ability to manage itself in difficult times, has successfully turn itself around, has history and experience as an independent automaker, knows how to export successfully, & seems to have the product focus that's lacking with GM North America and it's large scale product over.
Holden was seriously looking at establishing a network here in the US nearly 10 years ago. If Holden were to take over Pontiac, it would have a dealer network already established with annual sales at over 200,000 annually to start off with as well as a couple of products with it's foot already in the door. On the flip side, the G6 can see a slight bump in sales via exports to the rest of Holden's markets.
Holden is also moving forward with a small 4 cylinder sedan to be made in Australia that would fit where a G5 sedan would fit in, while they would gain the Solstice for sale down under (the Vauxhall/Opel GT both are RHD, so a Sky interior on Aussie Solstices would be a no cost way to economically send a car that will sell in minute numbers).
Holden is too close to Chevrolet in market and demographics to survive any division closures at GM. Yet, Pontiac is still big enough to be GM GM's 2nd largest car division and would be a very strong independent brand.
Holden wouldn't need to buy Pontiac. GM should simply give it to Holden, save the cost of development of any new pending Pontiac vehicles, and cut any losses.
Under a new name, Holden might even be able to weed out under performing dealers.