Will the Holden brand survive?

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by prydey

You can't whine about dealerships closing down and then complain that cars are too expensive.

I'm not whining about dealership Closing. I do however feel for the Holden Dealers, Who have either; closed, or: whose Business's are mere shadows of themselves...

While the two things may not be absolutely linked there is a relation. Dealerships have costs, just like any business. Rent, utilities, wages, insurance etc etc.

I've been running My own Business for over 30Yrs, I do know how the above Works..

I believe even some floor stock needs to be bought by the dealerships.

I too believe This...

[jpd80]

floor stock is normally financed as it's supposed to be short term.

But yes, if you're selling you must have stock for people to see and touch feel
or better still, drive home in this afternoon. I think it's got to the point that unless
Holden dealers are given stock with big discounts, buyers just aren't interested.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

With the prices that charge for parts and servicing, they’d make it up. When they’re not selling enough cars to get them through the service dept that’s when it spells trouble.

I read on another forum that Holden service departments were booked out doing warranty work on VF commodore power steering systems.

[Cster]

The Mitsubishi Magna went south as a big fwd sedan and I expect the Commodore to follow the Magna rather than the Toyota Camry. Pity Holden had the ability to do stuff once upon a time

[Bossxr8]

Wether Holden survives is purely down to how long GM bothers with it, considering they have pulled out of just about all the other RHD countries. It's pretty much just australia and nz left. No europe, south africa or india anymore.

[hayseed]

https://www.whichcar.com.au/features...8uHEcSKszWW0FE

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by hayseed

https://www.whichcar.com.au/features...8uHEcSKszWW0FE

Lots of misinformation in that article.

[janddbone]

I can absolutely see the Holden business being sold to PSA in a reduced form. With GM selling select vehicles here under there NA branding.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Lots of misinformation in that article.

Its a selective perspective, nothing more. Intentionally more nostalgia than insight.

The shops are shut, and aren't reopening.

[Syndrome]

October 2019 was Holden's lowest monthly sales since 1948.

Early indications are November 2019 will set a new low...…...

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Wether Holden survives is purely down to how long GM bothers with it, considering they have pulled out of just about all the other RHD countries. It's pretty much just australia and nz left. No europe, south africa or india anymore.

They are also in Thailand too which is RHD, but think they only sell the Colorado and Trailblazer.

[janddbone]

New Colorado was cancelled, talk of updating the current one. It seems pretty non committal either way .

[Franco Cozzo]

Hopefully GM just puts Holden out of its misery - its just the el cheapo crappy GM Daewoo Australia operation these days.

Everything they resell is poor quality Eurotrash, GM Daewoo specials or an Isuzu.

Its like a half squished cockroach on its back with half its legs flailing wildly in the air - just put it out of its misery and stop being cruel.

Christmas Party at Holden - GM and the 'Commodore'

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by janddbone

New Colorado was cancelled, talk of updating the current one. It seems pretty non committal either way .

That’s a huge kick in the guts for Holden !

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

That’s a huge kick in the guts for Holden !

I've seen this before. Development budgets for new models cut, existing models lifespans increased. Suppliers screwed for piece price reductions. Does not end well.

[CyberWasp]

......and somewhere in a parallel universe Holden kept their commitment to stay open and refreshed the Australian Commodore as was originally planned.
It was updated with the 10 Speed Auto and latest tech including AEB, Lane Departure ect.
The interior was refreshed as was the exterior styling as well as improvements to Engine and Suspension refinement.
That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

That’s a huge kick in the guts for Holden !

Maybe Holden misunderstood head office when it said,
“You can have any RHD vehicle you like....”
Maybe they meant just one, a $120K sports coupe.

Toyota has two years left to get HiLux ready for NG Ranger
but I bet their smug confidence ends up costing them dearly.

Forget Endura and Explorer, give us great T6 Ranger/Everest/ Bronco With V6 Powerstroke and a 3.0 V6 EB and Ford will be back in business People hack on about full size V8 pick ups but, if Ford was deliver the right performance package in the Raptor for about $80k-$90k, those big beasts start losing their appeal.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

......and somewhere in a parallel universe Holden kept their commitment to stay open and refreshed the Australian Commodore as was originally planned.
It was updated with the 10 Speed Auto and latest tech including AEB, Lane Departure ect.
The interior was refreshed as was the exterior styling as well as improvements to Engine and Suspension refinement.
That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

That parallel universe you speak of is dream world.

[au2000]

If the commodore and Colorado go, what have they got left ?

Holden itself could not be far off folding if these 2 go

[Eurotrash]

Originally Posted by au2000

If the commodore and Colorado go, what have they got left ?

Holden itself could not be far off folding if these 2 go

The first two to go will be Astra and Commodore, which going by their more recent sales figures, aren't going to be missed by the dealerships.

Holden will/have reduced the Astra and Commodore lineups and are importing less and less volumes of the two and I'm almost betting that Australia won't see either facelifts of the Astra and Commodore.

It has been rumoured that Holden will be a 5 vehicle lineup in the near future and will do this without any passenger cars, so just SUV's and a Ute, so Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado. Yes, there will be the Corvette, but that will be badged and sold as a Chevrolet.

I really don't understand why GM is holding onto Holden and then treating it the way it has. I think the sooner PSA buys Holden the better off it'll be. At least then it'll have a complete catalogue of vehicles to choose from and they way PSA is moving towards electrification with all of it's vehicles, this too would help the Holden brand. There is one glaring hole in PSA's lineup though and it's a Ute, so they would need to do something there quick smart!

[janddbone]

Who could ever have imagined a Holden with the influence of Peugeot, yet alone Fiat and Chrysler in the future!

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

The first two to go will be Astra and Commodore, which going by their more recent sales figures, aren't going to be missed by the dealerships.

Holden will/have reduced the Astra and Commodore lineups and are importing less and less volumes of the two and I'm almost betting that Australia won't see either facelifts of the Astra and Commodore.

It has been rumoured that Holden will be a 5 vehicle lineup in the near future and will do this without any passenger cars, so just SUV's and a Ute, so Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado. Yes, there will be the Corvette, but that will be badged and sold as a Chevrolet.

I really don't understand why GM is holding onto Holden and then treating it the way it has. I think the sooner PSA buys Holden the better off it'll be. At least then it'll have a complete catalogue of vehicles to choose from and they way PSA is moving towards electrification with all of it's vehicles, this too would help the Holden brand. There is one glaring hole in PSA's lineup though and it's a Ute, so they would need to do something there quick smart!

[jpd80]

I heard that Holden was offered to PSA as part of the package deal but PSA didn’t want it Fiat Chrysler may have a different POV

[lra]

A theoretical …….. I win an obscene amount of money in Lotto.

I start a company called ‘Yubudi’, with a stylised kangaroo playing a didgeridoo as the badge emblem (yes, I know this is ridiculous, but) and then find a Chinese car company willing to export their range of cars to Australia, with some modifications.
I convince them to add 2 more cylinders to their engines, and deal done.
When they arrive in Australia, some itinerant backpackers paint the grilles and wheels black, and Pedders Suspension fits some floor stock heavy-duty springs and shocks.
I (as CEO/General Manager) announce that ‘Yubudi’ vehicles are proudly developed for Australian conditions with Australian sourced components.
The cars do not sell, and the whole exercise is a commercial failure. Who would have thought it ?

The sooner the ‘Holden’ brand name is retired, or handed to Rare Spares, the sooner we can get over this endless speculation and embarrassment.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

Where would the development budget have come from? Because 20-odd thousand units per year wouldn't have justified it, and sales were falling 7-8% per year.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by au2000

If the commodore and Colorado go, what have they got left ?

If Colorado goes, they're done. Commodore isn't even relevant anymore.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by b0son

Where would the development budget have come from? Because 20-odd thousand units per year wouldn't have justified it, and sales were falling 7-8% per year.

and had GM developed the promised SUVs on zeta, we wouldn’t be having tis discussion

[au2000]

Originally Posted by Eurotrash

The first two to go will be Astra and Commodore, which going by their more recent sales figures, aren't going to be missed by the dealerships.

Holden will/have reduced the Astra and Commodore lineups and are importing less and less volumes of the two and I'm almost betting that Australia won't see either facelifts of the Astra and Commodore.

It has been rumoured that Holden will be a 5 vehicle lineup in the near future and will do this without any passenger cars, so just SUV's and a Ute, so Trax, Equinox, Acadia, Trailblazer and Colorado. Yes, there will be the Corvette, but that will be badged and sold as a Chevrolet.

I really don't understand why GM is holding onto Holden and then treating it the way it has. I think the sooner PSA buys Holden the better off it'll be. At least then it'll have a complete catalogue of vehicles to choose from and they way PSA is moving towards electrification with all of it's vehicles, this too would help the Holden brand. There is one glaring hole in PSA's lineup though and it's a Ute, so they would need to do something there quick smart!

If holden become a 5 vehicle company and loose the colorado, they either find a replacement or drop to 4, either way, those Chevy badges are looking like a simpler cost saving and marketing tool.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by au2000

If holden become a 5 vehicle company and loose the colorado, they either find a replacement or drop to 4, either way, those Chevy badges are looking like a simpler cost saving and marketing tool.

No Chev Badges, they’ll be out of business.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by au2000

If holden become a 5 vehicle company and loose the colorado, they either find a replacement or drop to 4, either way, those Chevy badges are looking like a simpler cost saving and marketing tool.

I think you’re being very optimistic, the whole reason for Holden’s existence is now gone and without a local car, they’re just fading away. It’s not that the products are bad, it’s just that people don’t want or care about Holden like they used to.

Holden would kill to have a sales foundation like Ranger but alas, that’s not gonna happen, they just have sales of heavily discounted bits and pieces, a lot of dealers are facing a really bleak Christmas unless they’re multi-franchise

And I hate iPhone autocorrect

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

......and somewhere in a parallel universe Holden kept their commitment to stay open and refreshed the Australian Commodore as was originally planned.
It was updated with the 10 Speed Auto and latest tech including AEB, Lane Departure ect.
The interior was refreshed as was the exterior styling as well as improvements to Engine and Suspension refinement.
That Holden would not now be looking down the barrel of a shot gun, and would be sitting up much closer to the pointy end of the market in sales.

The next Holden's weren't going to be VF facelift Commodores though. I thought the Holden boss declared not long after closure that they were going to be building a Territory style SUV and a front wheel drive, probably similar to the commodore now. No V8, ute etc.