Holden Celebrates 10th Year Of Exports To Brazil With The New VE Commodore

[JoeT]

Holden Celebrates 10th Year of Exports to Brazil

GM Holden Limited
28 August 2007
www.holden.com.au

A version of the all-new Holden Commodore will go on sale in Brazil, as GM Holden begins exporting the new large sedan to one of its longest-standing customers.

The shipment of Chevrolet Omegas from Holden’s manufacturing plant in Elizabeth marks its tenth year of Holden exports to Brazil and begins a new chapter in Holden’s export history.

The company has successfully positioned itself as a global manufacturer of niche products. From next year, cars built by Holden will be sold around the globe by five different brands .

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Chris Gubbey, says Holden was able to invest $1 billion in the VE Commodore program thanks to ongoing export opportunities.

Mr Gubbey said both VE and WM Statesman and Caprice were developed as global cars, with their striking design, performance and refinement making them highly desirable products around the world.

“VE and WM are generating a great response from our global GM partners, so much so that we expect to export 50 per cent of the vehicles we make by the end of next year,” he said.

“At the end of 2007, our vehicle manufacturing operation will run at maximum capacity, thanks to the strength of our export programs.”

Brazil ’s media have already praised the Chevrolet Omega, following a media preview in July, where it was described as fresh, young and luxurious.

GM Holden Export Manager, Kristian Aquilina, says Chevrolet expects it will be equally well received when it goes on sale.

Mr Aquilina says the E24 capable Omega is sold as Chevrolet’s flagship model, where its understated luxury is highly valued by Brazilian customers.

“The Omega’s position as the top model in Chevrolet’s line-up confirms Holden’s ability to produce a world class product,” he said.

“The Brazil program is further recognition of our capability here.”

GM Holden has a long-term export relationship with Brazil. Since 1998, Holden has exported more than 9,000 vehicles to Brazil.

GM Holden began its export program in 1954 and exported 46,074 Holden vehicles around the world last year.

GM Holden export markets in 2007




New VE Chevrolet Omega Launched In Brazil

[jkennedy293]

Wow. GM is really getting some use out of the Zeta platform.

[mikmak]

I would be interested to see how well they sell in their export markets.

[fingers]

Hmmm but correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the G8 GT going to basically be a Commodore SS (not SSV). Would have thought holden would have got that right in one of their media releases....

... maybe I'm jus nit-picking.

[chrisbenz]

There is a demand for these cars all over the world. I think GM should build more for the US and Europe. Start selling the as Opel since the lower end of the market in Europe is cover by Chevy.Opel will have a hard time with their image as they start to share platforms with Dawoo that are sold under Chevy in Europe. With a top of the line, they may be seen more like VW/Audi.Sake thing is true in the US with Buick.They need to sell a larger Buick in the US as Buick needs a flagship. Holden in the US,Europe, and China should use Holdens to give brands their own cars to show different in brands.

[MonaroSS]

I don't see any Asian countries listed there. China? Korea? etc.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by fingers

Hmmm but correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the G8 GT going to basically be a Commodore SS (not SSV). Would have thought holden would have got that right in one of their media releases....

... maybe I'm jus nit-picking.

That's what we heard at the start, but that was before the new CAFE rules were announced. We now hear the price of the G8 GT going up to close to $40K. Perhaps they are going to load it up with more luxury to both make higher profits on the V8's to cover CAFE, and to push more people into the much cheaper V6 which lowers GM's CAFE numbers.

[asylum]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

I don't see any Asian countries listed there. China? Korea? etc.

arent china going to be building their own?

i think the Korean statesman was announced a while ago, but hasn't been released

[redimpss5]

WOW, all the good cars they build and we get none.

[RedVee8]

Did Holden replace the Executive and Acclaim names with Omega to save money on badges by sharing with the Brazilian VE?
Does this mean we can expect the Berlina name to be replaced by Lumina?
Will the G8 Ute be the Storm?
Is the production and inventory of name plates, Badge Engineering?

[asylum]

Originally Posted by RedVee8

Did Holden replace the Executive and Acclaim names with Omega to save money on badges by sharing with the Brazilian VE?
Does this mean we can expect the Berlina name to be replaced by Lumina?
Will the G8 Ute be the Storm?
Is the production and inventory of name plates, Badge Engineering?

i thought that originally too, but they actually get different badges! we have the massive OMEGA badge, while the brazil is a smalled "omega cd" version... almost looks likes OMEGACD as the gap is quite small

we do get a "limited edition" lumina though, which sits between the omega and berlina

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by asylum

i thought that originally too, but they actually get different badges! we have the massive OMEGA badge, while the brazil is a smalled "omega cd" version... almost looks likes OMEGACD as the gap is quite small

we do get a "limited edition" lumina though, which sits between the omega and berlina

Yeah mate, i know about the Lumina, i was just kidding around.

....... But if they create two different OMEGA badges like you suggest - well, that is just a mindboggling waste of money.

[chinamonty]

Intersting that they excluded the Chinese market from those figures. Either the Royaum or the park Avenue or both should be there or have they excluded the PA because it is a CKD?

[Stormin]

Originally Posted by chinamonty

Intersting that they excluded the Chinese market from those figures. Either the Royaum or the park Avenue or both should be there or have they excluded the PA because it is a CKD?

They are 2007 export figures so the Royaum isn't included as they were from previous years. And I guess the PA isn't there because it is CKD and it's not the complete car as it seems a fair amount (interior at least) is locally sourced.