Holden Considering New Baby Daewoo's For Australia

[JoeT]

How Low Can Holden Go?

GoAuto Editor
23 May 2007
www.goauto.com.au

GM considers baby Daewoo's for Australia.

Holden has revealed that the next-generation Daewoo Matiz light car is under consideration to be sold in Australia as part of its expanding stable of South Korean-built cars.

The company decided not to import the current Matiz hatch, which is positioned below the Barina in many markets where General Motors sells the Daewoo micro under the Chevrolet brand.

However, the forthcoming light cars previewed by the Chevrolet Beat, Groove and Trax concepts at the recent New York Auto Show have prompted a change of heart.

GM Holden marketing director John Elsworth told GoAuto recently that the company was looking at the Matiz replacement, although he insisted it was not a priority.

"I would never say never, based on our desire and global car industry desire to get cars cheaper in terms of production, and sometimes that means you can pass it on to consumers," Mr Elsworth said.

"The cost of producing cars is coming down and the transaction prices are coming down. All we have said in the past is that light-car segment prices have come down to the point where cars are pretty cheap these days. How low can you go?"

Chevrolet Beat, Groove and Trax concepts

[mikmak]

What a speculator! The Barina is surely smal enough. It just needs to get to the Suzuki Swift standard (inluding GTi )

[ykickamoocow]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Chevrolet Beat, Groove and Trax concepts

Those are some of the ugliest cars ive ever seen.

[paul8488]

I never really thought of it before, but these were simply styling exercices for the next Matiz!

[Bravada]

That's funny you haven't, I thought it was pretty obvious - especially given that the four-doors are quite evidently based on the Matiz...

[Butz]

I thought they were kei-cars, but if they are the next Spark then that's a good sign of them making it to production.

[rsbaker]

I think GM should build all 3 of these madels and sell them in every market that they can. Toyota did well with their Brand within a brand Scion and Chevrolet and/or Holden could Do the same thing. It Seems to me that all of them could sell with a base price of $10,000.00 or less. If they can make them safe and give them a lots of features and customizable options. they'll certainly draw a very young crowd.

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

Well, if Holden gets one, we can almost guarentee that it will be brought here as a Pontiac...... (in addition to the Chevy versions)

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by Bravada

That's funny you haven't, I thought it was pretty obvious - especially given that the four-doors are quite evidently based on the Matiz...

Yeah, and I think I even acknowledged that in one thread! I just didn't forumlate the conclusion that these three cars are almost certainly all being considered as a replacement for the Matiz. I had it in my (thick) head that they were designs for a new car, not replacements for an exisiting one.

[mcool]

Is Holden stretching itself too far and becoming too thin? I'm almost thinking that Holden should focus on the solid middle range of the market a la Opel in Europe. Give it VE and its variants, Rodeo and variants, Astra and variants, green light an Alpha-based Torana range, and in the meantime let it keep the Epica for until Torana arrives.

GM should get Cadillac down under starting with the CTS range and SRX. This would complement the HSV range without overlapping too much.

Chevrolet can come up from underneath Holden and relieve it of the Daewoo models that Holden fans often complain about. The entry portion can largely go to Chevy with a Camaro halo at the top. GM could tap the Holden dealer network to roll these brands out, maybe combine Cadillac and Saab. The H3 can continue to go through Holden as it's priced in their range.

[Butz]

Originally Posted by mcool

Is Holden stretching itself too far and becoming too thin? I'm almost thinking that Holden should focus on the solid middle range of the market a la Opel in Europe. Give it VE and its variants, Rodeo and variants, Astra and variants, green light an Alpha-based Torana range, and in the meantime let it keep the Epica for until Torana arrives.

GM should get Cadillac down under starting with the CTS range and SRX. This would complement the HSV range without overlapping too much.

Chevrolet can come up from underneath Holden and relieve it of the Daewoo models that Holden fans often complain about. The entry portion can largely go to Chevy with a Camaro halo at the top. GM could tap the Holden dealer network to roll these brands out, maybe combine Cadillac and Saab. The H3 can continue to go through Holden as it's priced in their range.

You know what the respond from our Aussie friends will be.
"Ignorant Americans, it just wont work [and then they'll state some weird nonsense reasons]"


What I believe is no matter how small the Aussie market is a multi-brand plan should work. It's working in smaller markets. Australia could have it this way:
Holden: Low to Mid
SAAB and Cadillac: High
Bringing in Chevrolet to the Aussie market might cause a mess, but SAAB and Cadillac make sense. I can't see Holden going after Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, etc..
But before that GM need to get Cadillac and SAAB right.

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by Butz

You know what the respond from our Aussie friends will be.
"Ignorant Americans, it just wont work [and then they'll state some weird nonsense reasons]"


What I believe is no matter how small the Aussie market is a multi-brand plan should work. It's working in smaller markets. Australia could have it this way:
Holden: Low to Mid
SAAB and Cadillac: High
Bringing in Chevrolet to the Aussie market might cause a mess, but SAAB and Cadillac make sense. I can't see Holden going after Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, etc..
But before that GM need to get Cadillac and SAAB right.

So laughable!

Mike

[nadepalma]

I think it would be a good idea for the Lion-Brand to get a version of this. I think that the more models and markets they can put it in, the more successful the program. Honestly it's not too far of a stretch and since they've designed the next generation Gamma platform to be sold in most major markets, it shouldn't be an homologation issue.

I say bring to Aussie-land. Let our outback cousins enjoy it -- then bring it Stateside.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by Butz

You know what the respond from our Aussie friends will be.
"Ignorant Americans, it just wont work [and then they'll state some weird nonsense reasons]"


What I believe is no matter how small the Aussie market is a multi-brand plan should work. It's working in smaller markets. Australia could have it this way:
Holden: Low to Mid
SAAB and Cadillac: High
Bringing in Chevrolet to the Aussie market might cause a mess, but SAAB and Cadillac make sense. I can't see Holden going after Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Audi, etc..
But before that GM need to get Cadillac and SAAB right.

I could see that working, Chevrolet could start with the Triplets then add the Corsa, Cobalt and Malibu (Chevrolet should maintain the U.S. names in new markets).

You are right about SAAB and Cadillac - still some work but when they get them sorted out these moves will work.

[isszy]

Saab is already an established name in Australia. Virtually no Australians would even know Saab is a GM brand. Saab owners and Holden owners aren't generally the same demographic.

I have to say I don't think Cadillac really fits Australia. The Cadillac brand engenders memories of huge befinned monsters from the 60's that really never fitted in. Caddys in Australia tend to be funeral cars or wedding cars.

There would need to be a significant ad campaign to build the brand recognition.

American cars have not fared welll in Australia in the last 30 years or so. Jeep is the only brand to have had a consistent prescence, Ford tried and failed with the Taurus (although the F250 has always had a niche following), and Holden gave the Suburban a go, most of which ended up at mine sites. Chrysler is doing better now, but considering the money they have poured in so they should.

I'm not sure that the Caddy's offer something that Aussies don't already perceive they have ?

As far as Holden are concered, the VE is a BMW/Mercedes chaser. The fact that my brother could convince his wife to buy a Calais V instead of a 3 series suggests they might be right.