Aussie Manufacturing Is Difficult, But Holden & Toyota Are Benefiting From Exports

[JoeT]

"Manufacturing Is Difficult"

Ken Gratton
12 January 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

And exporting is even harder, but the two local exporters are reaping the benefits of those hard yards.

Last year, combined exports of Completely Built-Up vehicles from Australia totaled approximately 140,000 units -- a 10,000-unit improvement on the year before.

This year is expected to run ahead of the 2007 figure, with Holden's G8 about to add potentially tens of thousands to that number (more here) and Toyota is forecasting an extra 5000 units this year, on top of the 95,000 sent OS in 2007.

So at least two locally based manufacturers are doing well with their export programs, but it's not all beer and skittles.

In conversation with Toyota and the FCAI this week, we learned quite a bit about the background to the country's improving automotive export prospects.

Holden and Toyota have taken two very different paths to secure export earnings.

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New Holden Commodore-based Pontiac G8 sedans heading for the US

[mikmak]

With John Conomos' reference to "our friends at Holden", I got a sudden shiver down my spine...like there is another Lexcen just around the corner

[Robert Ryan]

With John Conomos' reference to "our friends at Holden", I got a sudden shiver down my spine...like there is another Lexcen just around the corner

Well there goes another Camrydore. Although I would prefer a Falcadore as a better alternative.

[Rick_VT]

I cant imagine GMNA ever allowing Holden to ever have some kind of model sharing agreeement with toyota again and i hope they never need to, i would love to see some figures to show what kind of profit toyota makes on there export vehicles compared to Holden, i hope now that the VE is all done Holden can get back to making $200 million profit consistently again like it did a few years back, as much as toyota sells over 200 000 cars they never ever got close to making that kind of money i bet, they buy there market share

[jbernie]

The only problem i see for Holden is that the have a finite amount of vehicles that they can produce. X of them have to be for local production and the rest can go elsewhere.

I am assuming that Holden will be responsible for all production for markets other than North America and will only do initial production for North America (ie G8) until the plants come online for the Camaro etc which can do the volume required up here.

Either way, I don't see GM needing to do more sharing. Though if Toyota or Mistubishi have more issues in Australia maybe Holden can get a plant for increased production for either more Zetas or the Alpha platform that is frequently discussed.

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by jbernie

...

Either way, I don't see GM needing to do more sharing. Though if Toyota or Mistubishi have more issues in Australia maybe Holden can get a plant for increased production for either more Zetas or the Alpha platform that is frequently discussed.

If Mitsubishi Tonsley Park closed production, Government would shed a public tear for about 10 minutes and then get absolutely ecstatic with the thought of all the Stamp Duty and GST revenue it would get and Marion Council with all the Rates it would get as it built hundreds of 300sqm ghetto styles "houses" on the land!

Mike

[demonv8]

Originally Posted by mmciau

If Mitsubishi Tonsley Park closed production, Government would shed a public tear for about 10 minutes and then get absolutely ecstatic with the thought of all the Stamp Duty and GST revenue it would get and Marion Council with all the Rates it would get as it built hundreds of 300sqm ghetto styles "houses" on the land!

Mike

Please no......

[mikmak]

Hey man, it's called suburbia. Nothing wrong with having your neighbour less than 10 feet away at all times. May teach people to be more civil to each other. You know, like in the city (zero zoning is my new dirty word)