[alcatraz]

GM will shut down it Australian Holden division in 2016 to put an end to years of losses. Holden has received $2.7 billion of government money over the past 12 years, and it needs more money very soon in order to continue operating. The decision on whether to end American auto manufacturing in Australia will be made on December 20th.

Gm won't be affected too much by Holden's closing. Holden's model line-up consists of re-badged Chevrolets, like the Spark, Cruze and Volt, and larger brand specific models like the Ute, commodore and Sportwagon. The Commodore is imported to the US as the Chevy SS.

With the SS being the only model that will be affected outside of Australia, will Gm just give up on the SS, or will they move production to another facility to continue selling the model?

 

[LS1hawk]

It sounded like it may be moving to the US depending on how the first year went. Much of what Reuss has said over the past year has changed so who knows.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

Again still all speculation at this point. If true the factory won't close until 2016. There are factions withi. The liberal party that are undermining the fight to save all auto manufacturing by focusing solely on Holden

 

[DrewDogG8]

who will produce the parts if they close

 

[Commodoreman2000]

If they are to close. Part of that would be to provide parts for a period of up to 10 years. That's what happened with Mitsubishi when they closed in 08.

 

[hdt176]

If more Australians bought Australian built cars we wouldn't be having this discussion.
But with low import tarrifs imported vehicles make up most of Australian new vehicle sales.

The Commodore & Ford Falcon would have to be 2 of the best value/quality/performance/safe/handsome cars on the planet but we (Australians) have sent one to the grave, and the other to soon follow by the looks of it....

I was going to say that I'm ashamed to call myself an Aussie, but I'm not because everything in my garage is Australian made.....and if every Australian Local, State & Federal Government, Police, Fire, Ambulance etc body bought Australian made vehicles instead of imports, the Aussie vehicle industry would be strong & make money.

Something I notice every year when I come to the US, is how all of the above bodies have American made vehicles - and the american National pride, that here in Australia we seem to have lost.....

 

[PFWiz]

You can't build an auto plant to produce 2000 - 4000 $45,000 units per year. Even GM isn't that foolish.

On the good side my SS may become even more of a collectors item!

 

[chevypwr]

You can't build an auto plant to produce 2000 - 4000 $45,000 units per year. Even GM isn't that foolish.

On the good side my SS may become even more of a collectors item!

It will be, this is probably one of the best sedans from the brand. It's making history.

 

[Navy Lifer]

Holden's model line-up consists of re-badged Chevrolets, like the Spark, Cruze and Volt, and larger brand specific models like the Ute, commodore and Sportwagon. The Commodore is imported to the US as the Chevy SS.

With the SS being the only (NOT!!!) model that will be affected outside of Australia, will Gm just give up on the SS, or will they move production to another facility to continue selling the model?

Well, what you say is not entirely true--there is the Middle East business (no idea of the size of that market segment, or whether the new Impala is being pushed now, but Holden cars have been in vogue there since the demise of the US-built Caprice and Caprice SS in 1996), and there is the current (US) Chevrolet Caprice PPV business--a segment long abandoned by GM, only to be given the short-straw treatment by this pending Holden "death" decision, after MAYBE 5 or 6 years of production (2011-2015/6?).

Probably doesn't matter, as PPV business seems to be shifting to SUV's, with the 2015 Tahoe PPV due next year with it's version of the GenV direct-injection 5.3L engine (Ecotec 3) with 355 HP (click on menu on right side of screen - 2014 Product Guide).

The Caprice PPV V8 (L77 6.0) is also rated at 355 HP, with equal torque to the smaller L83 5.3 DI engine, most likely due to the higher CR with DI of the Ecotec3 version--in other words, I could replace my L77 with an L83, keep the same overall performance, and bump the FE numbers a couple of MPG--ain't technology grand!!!

As to the idea of moving production of Zeta platform to a suitable location, I'm guessing that the current iteration will cease to be relavent once Camaro is an Alpha, and the exclusiveness of the new ATS/CTS platform is finally shared with the other divisions, that will set the future for something to follow Zeta.

We may want to be careful about what we wish for, as one thing that COULD happen would be that Zeta build could shift to China (as Holden or Chevrolet), where the Buick Park Avenue is currently assembled and sold as a captive model (a CKD shipped in from Oz, as I understand it)--who would be willing to buy a car built in China, even from "GM"??? I'm guessing there would not be much enthusiasm for that option.

I have no basis in fact for saying this....just letting the imagination run with options that GM could choose to explore--not sure China is ready with workers of the skill level to make a world-car factory run reliably and/or produce an acceptable product. They have plenty of warm bodies to choose from, however!

While I wouldn't put anything past current top-level GM management (CEO Akerson), the issues that such a move would create could make quite a mess. His tenure should be over before too much longer, just hope he isn't able to do much more damage.

 

[z51vett]

His tenure should be over before too much longer, just hope he isn't able to do much more damage.[/QUOTE]
Bingo we have a winner hurah.
z51vett
Doug

 

[jat63]

It sounded like it may be moving to the US depending on how the first year went. Much of what Reuss has said over the past year has changed so who knows.

For the SS to be built in the USA GM will need to build in camaro numbers just to make a profit if any, then their is CAFE to deal with.

The US Chev sales are a small part of Holden's total production and Chev can sell 2~4k per year without having to justify the cost of a factory.

Mike stated long ago Holden had to make its case at home (au & nz) any US sales were to be seen as a bonus.

 

[LS1hawk]

For the SS to be built in the USA GM will need to build in camaro numbers just to make a profit if any, then their is CAFE to deal with.

The US Chev sales are a small part of Holden's total production and Chev can sell 2~4k per year without having to justify the cost of a factory.

Mike stated long ago Holden had to make its case at home (au & nz) any US sales were to be seen as a bonus.

I'm not really sure where or why I thought that about the SS coming over. Maybe I was just dreaming or wishing. Somewhere along the line I thought the alpha platform was mentioned with production in the US. If consumers would get over the fact that there's a Bow tie on the front of it I think it would do well no matter where it's built. I guess I'm just thinking back to the G8 days and just when the general public realizes what a great car we have back in the lineup it will disappear.

 

[BowtieDriver]

I'm not really sure where or why I thought that about the SS coming over. Maybe I was just dreaming or wishing. Somewhere along the line I thought the alpha platform was mentioned with production in the US. If consumers would get over the fact that there's a Bow tie on the front of it I think it would do well no matter where it's built. I guess I'm just thinking back to the G8 days and just when the general public realizes what a great car we have back in the lineup it will disappear.

Somehow I was hoping that if the SS took off then they would build the next generation on Alpha here in the US.

Now it seems as if GM just gave us another product to love, then to take it away when people realize how great it is.

 

[davidcroft]

Somehow I was hoping that if the SS took off then they would build the next generation on Alpha here in the US.

Now it seems as if GM just gave us another product to love, then to take it away when people realize how great it is.

G8...08-09 only because Pontiac shut down. Resale is strong. Now Chevy SS and GM is pulling out of Australia. I figured it would be a 2yr car, but not because of that:dry:

 

[z51vett]

My take if the Camaro is coming to the states and is being built on the alpha platform and the Cts is built on the alpha platform and they build the SS on the alpha platform in the same plant.That is four cars of the same platform and plant. What is your argument about low production not being cost effective? They will have a chance to put in an lt1 and 8 speed gear box no gas guzzler tax. They run one line for CTS and ATS the other for Camaro and SS.
z51vett
Doug

 

[Commodoreman2000]

Holden will still exist, The rumour and speculation is that manufacturing will cease. Mike Deveraux fronted the productivity commission instigated by the new Coalition Government into te Auto sector Co-Contibution funding.
The very first question asked was about the decision to close.Mike Deveraux responded "No, a final decision has not been made".
He presented his case for ongoing government assistance for about an hour.
The Productiviy Commission is looking at support for the entire industry not just Holden but Toyota and all the component suppliers.
It all stems from the Abbott Governments pledge prior to the election to strip half a billion dollars from the fund between 2016 to 2022-25 time frame.

There seem to be factions within the conservative Liberal Government that are undermining the Industry Ministers attempts to try and save the Auto Industry at any cost.
These same people are also gutless and wont come forward to put their hand up and say "It was me"

I'm going to end this now before I make this too political as it just makes me angry to see what our Government has done in the last 3 months to make Australia look like a laughing stock

 

[Asylum]

I don't get how a factory that builds 2 of the top 5 best selling cars in the country could even be considered for closing.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

To me it is lunacy to consider shutting. The only reason sales saw a decline was the VE was left largely unchanged since introduction. At least from the outside. Whilst under the skin it underwent a lot of changes.
I get very tired of hearing people saying that Holden, or Ford for that matter should build what people want. Forgetting the fact that Commodore sits regularly inside the top 6, but we can't let facts get in the way of someones ego.
The only real reason why sales in the segment have declined is the market fragmentation.
What I would love to see happen in a perfect world is for Holden to build the next gen Commodore (RWD of course,I can dream) next gen Cruze and next gen Captiva

 

[Navy Lifer]

His tenure should be over before too much longer, just hope he isn't able to do much more damage.

Bingo we have a winner hurah.
z51vett
Doug[/QUOTE]

Just announced, it will be Mary Barra

REALLY wanted it to be Reuss.....opportunity missed, but the combination with Barra in place of Akerson will be much better, no doubt.

To me, this is an important statement to absorb, and it remains to be seen what impact it has, with Reuss in that position, on the Holden decision and how it may change or evolve from it's current (rumored) status:

Barra will be replaced by Mark Reuss - Reuss will assume the role of executive vice president, global product development, purchasing and supply chain. For the past five years Reuss has served as president of GM North America, and served as the managing director of GM Holden prior.

If there is anyone who MIGHT save the situation developing now, it would take someone with his experience and background to know what it will take to keep Holden viable.

GM Inside News story & press release - see comments, too

 

[Commodoreman2000]

So it looks as though we have a new Driver at the wheel to decide the Ultimate fate of Holden manufacturing. Unless of course the decision has already been made?