Holden Gearing Up For Return To Full Production, With US Ute Export Deal Closer

[JoeT]

VE Ute Export Deal Could Be Close As GM Ramps Up Aussie Production

James Stanford
5 September 2007
www.goauto.com.au

GM Holden has factored a major new export program – believed to be the new VE Ute – into its production plans at its manufacturing plant at Elizabeth in South Australia.

GM Asia Pacific president Nick Reilly yesterday confi rmed that the Australian
production plan included export models that had not yet been announced, before referring to multiple US export models. At this stage, Holden has only announced it will export the VE Commodore to the US to be sold as the Pontiac G8.

The just-released VE Ute is expected to follow and left-hand-drive versions are currently being tested in the US.

In Australia for the APEC conference this week, Mr Reilly said Holden planned to increase annual production at Elizabeth to 147,000 from next month, which would take the plant to full capacity.

When asked by GoAuto if that number would come to include Ute exports to the US, Mr Reilly replied: “Part of the reason we are getting to max capacity is the increased US volume."

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Holden Back To Full Production In SA

Tim Dornin
4 September 2007
www.drive.com.au

Local car producer Holden is gearing up to return its Adelaide manufacturing facility to full production next month.

The company said it had emerged in good shape from a significant restructuring of its local operations and expected to remain at full capacity for several years to come.

When it reaches maximum capacity it will be building about 147,000 vehicles a year, with about half of those destined for export markets.

That will include a version of the locally designed and developed VE Commodore that will be badged and sold in the US as a Pontiac from early next year.

Visiting Holden's Melbourne head office on Tuesday, General Motors group vice president and president of GM Asia Pacific Nick Reilly admitted the past two years had been tough for the local car maker.

"Its old model of business was to produce a majority of what it sold, particularly in the large car segment," Mr Reilly said.

"Holden had to restructure and had to remodel its business approach.

"I'm glad to say after a couple of quite difficult years of restructuring the outlook is very good, very much brighter."

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GMI Exclusive: Holden Ute May Head For The US, But It Won't Be A Chevrolet, Says Lutz
Holden Confirms Two Ute's Testing In The US
All New Holden Ute Is Here!

Pontiac G8 Ute photoshop by Aych Es Vee

[jbernie]

I like the idea of Pontiac getting more rwd V8 vehicles, they really do need new product, I just don't know if this is the way to go. I don't know all the heritage of all the brands, but I would be thinking GMC or Chevy for a ute.

Then again, if they are going more for the lifestyle market than the serious tradesman market then I could see it working as a Pontiac. There have been comments from Holden in the Ute announcement how it is more lifestyle market now than tradesman, though they are still offering plenty of options and accessories for that market.

[KIDDIESEL79]

Nah pass. I could see it as a performance vehicle for GMC. I know Chevy had the El Camino, but they don't have to fill every niche as one brand.

[JoeT]

People have got to stop looking at the new Ute simply as a light Truck. Think more Coupe-Utility.

[TKR]

I would say make it a GMC and keep it in the BPG dealership portfoilo. It is never going to be a volume seller in the US but I think it cuold make a great hero car for the dealerships. The (assumed) low volume pretty much takes it away from Chevy - no?

[CamaroCrazy]

I understand that Chevrolet's portfolio is pretty broad as it is, but why would you import the Ute as anything less than an El Camino? That name and vehicle has so much recognition and brand equity behind it, to slap a GMC badge on it or *gasp* a Pontiac badge doesn't make sense.

[rueben44]

LOL! People keep saying how it will not work for Pontiac but save the Solstice they don't have anything that is not a fleet queen or that you don't have to put cash on the hood to move. This will be great for Pontiac and something from the brand I would actually buy. Like said before I see it as a coupe with utility.

[mikmak]

Perhaps a free mullet coupon would seal the deal


Rate this mullet at ratemymullet.com

[cedarman24]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Perhaps a free mullet coupon would seal the deal


Rate this mullet at ratemymullet.com

That head is a shocker

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by JoeT

People have got to stop looking at the new Ute simply as a light Truck. Think more Coupe-Utility.

It isn't a truck at all, it's a sedan with a bed. However, Pontiac has never had such a vehicle and it really doesn't fit with the working man's BMW image. GMC, however had El-Camino rebadges called the Sprint and then the Caballero for the 5th generation.

[JoeT]

Pontiac will never be any closer to BMW than Holden has even been - a pauper RWD equivalent. Let's not kid ourselves.
If the Ute works so well for Holden as a poor mans Monaro, there is no reason why it wouldn't work in the US as a poor mans GTO.

[tripowergto]

Pontiac often toyed with concept "El Camino's" with early GTO noses, various Grand Am noses and even Trans Am hatch roof 2 door wagons. This isn't as much of a stretch as some may think and avoids the retro EC stigma. I'd be first in line to buy once the dealer markups were off.

[377Z]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Pontiac will never be any closer to BMW than Holden has even been - a pauper RWD equivalent. Let's not kid ourselves.
If the Ute works so well for Holden as a poor mans Monaro, there is no reason why it wouldn't work in the US as a poor mans GTO.

What is the pricing of the Ute relative to the Monaro?

[JoeT]

Similar model descriptions

2005 Monaro $60,490 ($49,527US) Real US price $32,295
2005 Ute $40,940 ($33,520US) Possible US price ???

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by rueben44

LOL! People keep saying how it will not work for Pontiac but save the Solstice they don't have anything that is not a fleet queen or that you don't have to put cash on the hood to move. This will be great for Pontiac and something from the brand I would actually buy. Like said before I see it as a coupe with utility.

I think it would be great for Pontiac, they could market it along side the G8 as sporty lifestyle vehicles, woudl save on advertising to have to do them seperate and GM dont tend to spend alot of money on things that dont sell alot or make them alot of money, im sure there woudl be plenty of people in the US who could use a vehicle like this who dont need a huge pickup truck, Holden market it to guys who want to put a few motorbikes or jetski's in the back for the weekend so Pontiac could do the same and it fits in with there sporty RWD theme, i say wait untill they see how it sells like that before eventhinking of a Chev version, that way they coudl make some upgrades so it can be more of a workhorse type vehicle and they can spend some money on changing the look of it