Special Dealer Network For Hummer, Chevrolet & Cadillac Down Under?

[JoeT]

Hummer Previews Special GM Approved Network?

Joe Kenwright
30 October 2006
www.carpoint.com.au

The unveiling of the Hummer H3 at AIMS potentially has bigger implications than the Aussie arrival of off-road bling.

Holden's unveiling of the Hummer H3 at last week's Australian International Motor Show a full year ahead of the car's likely arrival has some pundits scratching their heads.

At this stage no pricing has been announced and Holden's full plans for sales of the offroader are yet to be publicized.

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Holden To Bundle Premium Brands

Robert Wilson
1 November 2006
www.carsguide.com.au

Holden is planning to wrap Hummer, Cadillac and Saab into a luxury "Premium Channel" division similar to Ford's Premier Automotive Group.

Selected dealers have been approached to join an exclusive network that will sell the military-inspired Hummer H3 SUV, and eventually encompass Saab and US luxury marque Cadillac.

"It's gone beyond the discussion stage. It's been formally talked about to the dealer network," an automotive retail source said. The source said Holden had modelled its strategy for adding two new American brands on Ford's Premier Automotive Group of Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo.

"What they're envisaging is Holden going to do its version of PAG — Hummer being Land Rover, Saab being Volvo and Cadillac being Jaguar," the source said. "It's a lot of money to spend for dealers, but the pay-off is they'll eventually get three brands. They haven't finalised the Cadillac bit of it, but the Hummer plan is a fait accompli."

The longer term intention was to integrate Saab with the Hummer and Cadillac network, the source said.

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GM future specials Down Under: Hummer, Cadillac, Camaro and Corvette

[63GrandSport001]

That is a interesting idea, not a bad idea at that.

They should IMHO start by taking the H3, Corvette, Camaro, and Cadillac CTS/Escalade

They should add more Cadillac's as the newer ones come out as to not let the ones that arent up to par hurt their image.

[SimonDavid]

I dont know why Holden has never imported Cadillac. The Australian prestige market is huge, and the Commodore doesnt cut it - it's way too "normal" to appeal to BMW buyers

[from oz]

Originally Posted by SimonDavid

I dont know why Holden has never imported Cadillac. The Australian prestige market is huge, and the Commodore doesnt cut it - it's way too "normal" to appeal to BMW buyers

How about the fact that they don't (or until very recently) build them in RHD? I think that Cadillac will have the same difficulties here that it had/has in Europe. Trying hard to be something that it is not (yet).

[samkung]

nice nice nice cant wait to see the 2000007 CTS on the street:P love it

[GM-Joe]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

That is a interesting idea, not a bad idea at that.

They should IMHO start by taking the H3, Corvette, Camaro, and Cadillac CTS/Escalade

They should add more Cadillac's as the newer ones come out as to not let the ones that arent up to par hurt their image.

I don't think Cadillac has any sub-par vehicles. One could say the DTS, but on the other hand it is a 40k+ (U.S.) full-size luxury liner; so it is actually cheap for what you get. Though, this is just my opinion.

[kenman923]

That makes for some interesting bedfellows.

[DanCBJMS1988]

Originally Posted by from oz

How about the fact that they don't (or until very recently) build them in RHD?

Umm, the BLS and CTS (if I remember correctly) are also built in RHD.

Originally Posted by from oz

I think that Cadillac will have the same difficulties here that it had/has in Europe. Trying hard to be something that it is not (yet).

What kind of a difficulty is that? You guys have had other GM products built by Holden for years until Holden started to dominate and thus had all the other brands leaving. So, at least some senior citizens or boomers would recognize Cadillac as it would've been sold in Oz way back when, when we were all innocent (only just).

[Martino_z]

I can't imagine the escalade being a good idea for sales down here. I assume they are the size of an f series ford truck and for anyone who has witnessed them (f series) in comparison to other traffic you know the point im trying to make. They are just too big for countries that aren't the USA, canada, mexico, or possibly middle east. I imagine it is hard to understand but 'trucks' as you know them are rare in australia and honestly we see very few outside of motorsport events in our lives. Strange sounding I know but im sure the europeans understand.

The other issue is that should any cadillac car actually sell, it will simply eat into holden sales. Failing that it will eat into HSV sales. I truly wonder whether cadillac can go well with the whole country having no recognition of the brand outside of winged beasts from the 50's and blinged out gangsta pimp mobiles.

Thr camaro I believe would be recieved well if the concept translates well into a production vehicle. As long as the australian platform is pushed and the LS2 factor is advertised heavily. Would hate to see it have more power than the locals though, and I think that would be a mistake.

The H3 I can't see as a long term prospect unless an efficient and powerful turbo diesel powers it. Otherwise bad press and a downturn of initial interest may kill it before it gets to become anything. Keep in mind that we don't have weird cars like this or the toyta FJ cruiser.

I often can't help but think that GM is pushing the wrong cars for the wrong market. Wanting to bring cadillac sedans into a shrinking market which GM already controls, and looking at big american vehicles when clearly the market trend favours smaller cars of which GM Europe has many quality offerings. Who decides that we will get the next cts or sts yet we wont get the new corsa?

These vehciles will all have to be seen as a different stable to the mainstream holden offerings that if for sure, because none of them fit in at all. Im glad that GM knows this at least.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by Martino_z

Keep in mind that we don't have weird cars like this or the toyta FJ cruiser.

Ummm the Holden Ute is about as weird as it gets.

Why would it be bad for the Camaro to come with more power than the Holden cars?

[rsbaker]

Somebody has been reading my mind. I've always thought that GM could have several divisions in Australia. I thought at a minimum they could have:

Chevrolet: Entry level/Sporty coupes
Holden: Mid range levels Same Models that they currently have
Cadillac: Ultra luxury

Now they are finally doing this with the addition of Hummer (makes sense to me) The article says only Hummer for now but that other non-Holden GM Brands may be added. I can't imagine what would be the hesitation. GM could more aggressively attack to market and beat back Toyota down under with more options than just Holden. If GM sends right-drive versions of it's best and brightest models I think they'll all do well.

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

Somebody has been reading my mind. I've always thought that GM could have several divisions in Australia. I thought at a minimum they could have:

Chevrolet: Entry level/Sporty coupes
Holden: Mid range levels Same Models that they currently have
Cadillac: Ultra luxury

Now they are finally doing this with the addition of Hummer (makes sense to me) The article says only Hummer for now but that other non-Holden GM Brands may be added. I can't imagine what would be the hesitation. GM could more aggressively attack to market and beat back Toyota down under with more options than just Holden. If GM sends right-drive versions of it's best and brightest models I think they'll all do well.

Right, that seems to make some sense. I have never been to Aus, but I don't like the concept of badging Daewoos as Holdens, when awesome cars like the Commodore are across the same showroom. If "Chevy" is becoming the entry-level brand across most of the world (already is in North America, becoming the entry level brand in Europe), then why not in Australia, too? Nice idea!

[Mikkoo]

Originally Posted by Martino_z

I can't imagine the escalade being a good idea for sales down here. I assume they are the size of an f series ford truck and for anyone who has witnessed them (f series) in comparison to other traffic you know the point im trying to make. They are just too big for countries that aren't the USA, canada, mexico, or possibly middle east. I imagine it is hard to understand but 'trucks' as you know them are rare in australia and honestly we see very few outside of motorsport events in our lives. Strange sounding I know but im sure the europeans understand.

The other issue is that should any cadillac car actually sell, it will simply eat into holden sales. Failing that it will eat into HSV sales. I truly wonder whether cadillac can go well with the whole country having no recognition of the brand outside of winged beasts from the 50's and blinged out gangsta pimp mobiles.

Thr camaro I believe would be recieved well if the concept translates well into a production vehicle. As long as the australian platform is pushed and the LS2 factor is advertised heavily. Would hate to see it have more power than the locals though, and I think that would be a mistake.

The H3 I can't see as a long term prospect unless an efficient and powerful turbo diesel powers it. Otherwise bad press and a downturn of initial interest may kill it before it gets to become anything. Keep in mind that we don't have weird cars like this or the toyta FJ cruiser.

I often can't help but think that GM is pushing the wrong cars for the wrong market. Wanting to bring cadillac sedans into a shrinking market which GM already controls, and looking at big american vehicles when clearly the market trend favours smaller cars of which GM Europe has many quality offerings. Who decides that we will get the next cts or sts yet we wont get the new corsa?

These vehciles will all have to be seen as a different stable to the mainstream holden offerings that if for sure, because none of them fit in at all. Im glad that GM knows this at least.

I agree with your takes on all the potential American entries into Australia.
I do believe that the Camaro and Corvette have the best chance of meeting
sales goals. The other vehicles are a crap shot at best.
There are always a few people that might want a Hummer in Australia. I do see them here in Finland, but in extremely low volume. The same might be
said of Cadillac. At least give it a go and see what happens. I'd like to be
proven wrong with Cadillac and Hummer sales in Australia, but I'm just
being realistic.

[superstreet]

Originally Posted by samkung

nice nice nice cant wait to see the 2000007 CTS on the street:P love it

[hq308]

Originally Posted by Sinner

Ummm the Holden Ute is about as weird as it gets.

Why would it be bad for the Camaro to come with more power than the Holden cars?

Nothing weird about the Holden ute, it is to Australians what a Chevy/GMC truck is to Americans

It would hurt Holdens image which would ultimately affect GM sales in Australia. Not everyone here wants a 2 door coupe and if you can't by a 4 door Holden with at least the same amount of power then you'll probably consider another brand (Ford?) that will offer a 4 door sedan with more power. Why should the Camaro have more power? It's really going to be the same car with different sheetmetal. The only car that should have more power is the Corvette.