Is Holden missing out on a valuable market segment?

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

The GMT-400 Suburban that Holden got were produced in RHD at the factory in Mexico using a modified RHD Blazer IP.

No current North American GM trucks of SUVs are built in RHD, only privately converted. They do sell the SUVs in RHD markets that allow LHD, like Japan.

If it were up to me I'd design all models ambidextrously to sell globally, even if only in small numbers. I can't imagine it would be that costly to swap the firewall, IP and steering rack around and plumb a few brake line extensions. The cost of the parts shouldn't be that much more either since they are all machine made of the same material. Maybe I'm just clueless.

It also looks bad from a PR perspective. It appears that every car producing nation in the world manages to produce BothWD..... except the US. Obviously not for technical reasons, just being insular and traditionally having a large and unique market on their doorstep.

I reckon a range of GMC trucks would sell if factory jobs and decent $.

[nota]

Originally Posted by TDi

If Ford Australia could get RHD versions of the current F Series truck, they would have had them here yesterday. How many second hand F Series trucks do you see sitting in car yards and if you do, they're still fetching top dollar.

According to Chris D'Sousa from Glass' dealer guide...

The 2007 Ford F250 and F350 range recorded a retained value of between 112 per cent and 122 per cent after two years ownership. Mr D'Sousa says these cab-chassis and crew-cab trucks were highly sought after by tow-truck operators and fifth-wheel buyers and, because they were now out of production, the used market has soared.

If Ford Australia could get the F Series truck, Chrysler the Dodge Ram and Holden the Chevrolet Silverado here, they would sell and sell in big numbers!!

Iirc those Brasilian-built F-series of recent years sold modestly ok for a 'niche' product, and to a (very) loyal customer base, but were fairly expensive despite their ostensibly low-cost source.

[schmallz]

Originally Posted by TDi

Ford Australia stopped importing the F Series truck because the factory that supplied our market, along with the New Zealand and South African markets, in Brazil, could no longer meet our new emission laws, that were being introduced at that time, not because of a lack of sales or profitablility. Ford were selling around 350 units of the F Series a month, a nice little number!!

The Brazilian factory, which was the only Ford factory in the world that built RHD F Series trucks, no longer builds them for RHD markets because they're still a generation behind the F Series trucks that are sold in North America.

If Ford Australia could get RHD versions of the current F Series truck, they would have had them here yesterday. How many second hand F Series trucks do you see sitting in car yards and if you do, they're still fetching top dollar.

If Ford Australia could get the F Series truck, Chrysler the Dodge Ram and Holden the Chevrolet Silverado here, they would sell and sell in big numbers!!

From the looks of your post, there are no current offerings of full size trucks available in Oz?

No F-150s, Silverados or Tundras even? I would find that very hard to believe, there has to be some Full Size Trucks offered in Australia.

[schmallz]

Originally Posted by Myke

I guess GM (and Holden) think people in the market for a midsize SUV, aren't likely to take it off road and therefore don't see the point of having a midsize SUV/4WD aswell as a midsize crossover vehicle. I guess it didn't hurt if Holden had a proper 4WD in the market, not that Isuzu though, its a bit oldschool...

The Terrain should have been a real evolution of the Trail Blazer and Envoy.

GM could sell both cars, a FWD based CUV and a RWD SUV for all the off roaders. Quite simply, off roading, for what ever intent, won't go away. What will compete with the Wrangler?

GM plans to sell, what, 40,000 Terrains for every 60,000 Equinoxes(?).

What if they sold 30k RWD/AWD Terrains for every 80k FWD/AWD Eqionoi(?).

110k units sold as appose to 100k.

The actual sales numbers would likely increase and the ratio would probably be much closer, being that two markets are covered, instead of two vehicles in one market...

[mikmak]

Nope, no "full size" trucks are available as factory orders. As has been said already, places like Performax International, do RHD conversions. These also help them sell their 5th wheelers RVs though I saw a Holden Colorado towing one today. It looked.....a little overwhelmed, but seemed to be pulling okay.