[Holdlion]

I have to agree, that is an impressive accomplishment, one that gives me hope of change.

Also, an olive branch to you,
I hope and pray that you are right, I just think we're gonna have to crack the whip with politicians
to get change happening quicker. 50% of our power from renewables is the minimum we should
be achieving consistently, I know we touch that now but they need to do more.

We need to create an environment where EVs are embraced, not punished by premiums and taxes.
And if Holden ever decided to reinvent themselves as a BEV company, then why not support them
with government incentives and rebates to customers buying them.

It's all good... it's hard to get context and emotion on a forum. I certainly wasn't offended or anything but I appreciate the gesture. :tup:: Apologies if I did that to you.

To be honest with you I think the reality is we will have little choice in the matter anyway. Europe will drive this change - our market is so small it's insignificant. Whether customer demand is there or not or the infrastructure is there or not, and whether we have politicians who agree or not will largely be irrelevant. We will get dragged to a position of acceptance because it will happen regardless of whether we agree or are ready.

That's really the crux of my argument. It's coming. There's no point resisting. Maybe not tomorrow or next week... but it's coming.

And if it presents itself as an opportunity for Holden to shed it's baggage and re-invent itself, even if it does cause short term pain, I just cannot see a single reason for them not to.

 

[Holdlion]

Any reason why you would just categorise something with a political affiliation rather than assessing it on merit?

Some parts of socialism work. Some part of capitalism work. The adjustment of the equilibrium is mostly down to marketing, not merit.
The fossil fuel industry has already been optimised to such a level that it stymies growth. The development and implementation of renewables (irrespective of your or my stance with respect to human influence on climate change) is a freakin gold mine, but requires a kick in the ass to get running. The country would benefit from the growth. When you invest, and get a return (such as a GDP bump), that's good business. Just because the beneficiaries are citizens, doesn't make it socialism. Otherwise you could technically call Mining a socialist industry.

The greatest opportunity with this change as I see it is to disassemble the balance of power and influence that gas, coal and oil currently have around the world.

At least in the short term, the diversity of players in alternatives, renewables, super capacitors, batteries and other tech mean that the concentration of corruptible people and influence will be diluted very quickly. The political system both here and particularly the US will change irreversibly. Of course others will become the same and in the long term a new concentration of power will emerge but hopefully that is decades away.

I truly don't see huge monopolies existing in EV infrastructure simply because we will all have the choice to charge at home most of the time. That single thing reduces any impediment to future changes that's never been seen before. The resistance by vested interests to change will be severely reduced. No longer will we rely on 3 or 4 players who can afford the infrastructure of fuel processing and of a sale and distribution network completely under their control.

Call it socialism, call it capitalism because it really fits either - but when you give power back to the individual to make choices about how they power their home and their cars that becomes a huge amount of freedom. It's sort of crazy that it's seen as a green argument really... it's a democratic one at it's core.

 

[jpd80]

Looks like big oil is already buying up battery makers and associated tech.
Shell owns Sonnen, Total owns Saft and BP buying into fast charging tech
They're up to something alright.

 

[hq308]

While it would be good to see dilution at the top end of town I'm not sure it will happen. Government will bring in taxes and/or red tape to slow down new players. I wouldn't be surprised if the government bought in some sort of "licensing" for the right to build/maintain/operate charging infrastructure and sell it to the highest bidders.

Anyone (not necessarily anyone here) that thinks we'll have this future where you can charge your EV for free from your own solar panels, etc is kidding themselves. Our government will find a way to make us pay for the privilege, there's already been talk of charging home solar users more for times when they draw off the grid.

I hope I'm wrong but I think history shows this is the way things turn out.

 

[mikmak]

Looks like big oil is already buying up battery makers and associated tech.
Shell owns Sonnen, Total owns Saft and BP buying into fast charging tech
They're up to something alright.

Yep, just like big tobacco buying up vape and e-cigarette businesses.

 

[FRENCHY101]

First lot of reports are now coming in, Holden will be no more after 2020. GM to leave all RHD markets.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/827459...motors-gets-out-of-right-hand-drive-globally/
https://www.caradvice.com.au/827278/where-did-it-all-go-wrong-for-holden/

 

[VS Ute 5Litre]

And thats it

thanks for nothing GM

 

[hq308]

First lot of reports are now coming in, Holden will be no more after 2020. GM to leave all RHD markets.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/827459...motors-gets-out-of-right-hand-drive-globally/
https://www.caradvice.com.au/827278/where-did-it-all-go-wrong-for-holden/

Assuming this is true, with no more GM in Europe and possibly now no more RHD markets I don't think GM can really be considered much of a "Global" company anymore.

 

[Col Klink]

Already hit here looks like GM are truly as incompetent as they appear https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12309271 .

GM mismanaging it's brands since the 1980's.


PS Can't help but see the time the first post (about this news)was made at 3.08.

 

[VS Ute 5Litre]

Assuming this is true, with no more GM in Europe and possibly now no more RHD markets I don't think GM can really be considered much of a "Global" company anymore.

I'm prepared to use the LOL emoticon for every "Global" thread on the forum from now until they kick me off this page

GM is a dead brand walking they just don't know it yet

 

[FRENCHY101]

Assuming this is true, with no more GM in Europe and possibly now no more RHD markets I don't think GM can really be considered much of a "Global" company anymore.

I've heard that the Thai factory will have new owners, SAIC/Great Wall, so expect a big push from GW in the next year or two, if that is correct?

I get my Astra serviced at Hamilton Holden here in Adelaide and while they're also a HSV dealer, they've only recently became a MG dealer, so lucky for them they'll still be here to sell MG and the odd Chevrolet. Apparently HSV will be re-branded as 'GMSV' and so the 60 odd HSV dealers will still be selling the Chevrolet converted vehicles. I guess we'll also start to see Chevrolet signage replace the Holden stuff?

 

[hq308]

I'm prepared to use the LOL emoticon for every "Global" thread on the forum from now until they kick me off this page

GM is a dead brand walking they just don't know it yet

If this thing in China goes on for too long and there's some sort of global recession GM could be in some real trouble.

 

[chinamonty]

I've heard that the Thai factory will have new owners, SAIC/Great Wall, so expect a big push from GW in the next year or two, if that is correct?

I get my Astra serviced at Hamilton Holden here in Adelaide and while they're also a HSV dealer, they've only recently became a MG dealer, so lucky for them they'll still be here to sell MG and the odd Chevrolet. Apparently HSV will be re-branded as 'GMSV' and so the 60 odd HSV dealers will still be selling the Chevrolet converted vehicles. I guess we'll also start to see Chevrolet signage replace the Holden stuff?

Our local dealer Booran now sells Holden, HSV, Nissan, Mitsubishi, MG, Hyundai, Kia, Citroen, Puegeot, VW and Skoda. They started expanding from just Holden about four years ago I think but it has accelerated in the last twelve months.

 

[nota]

PS Can't help but see the time the first post (about this news)was made at 3.08.

How poignant, apt even? Thanks Klink for spotting and sharing :sad:

 

[GolfBravo]

The decision was made late last year. Now GM simply confirmed the timing.

Following the disappearance of Astra and Commodore from GM systems, a few weeks later the facelifted Acadia and Equinox dropped off the radar. And I heard about the disappearance of Acadia and Equinox from a number of sources, but nobody could confirm 100%.

Originally the expectation was May-June announcement. I guess the Thai factory sale prompted the accelerated schedule.

PS
Isn't there a large Holden dealer meeting scheduled this week?

PPS
Need to get a large bucket of popcorn asap. John Cadogan youtube channel will be very interesting to watch. I know people either love or hate him, but IMHO he knows the Aussie car business very well, and he's able to spot BS from miles away. His youtube channel is probably more profitable than Holden Australia at the moment.

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

The decision was made late last year. Now GM simply confirmed the timing.

Originally the expectation was May-June announcement.

PS
Isn't there a large Holden dealer meeting scheduled this week?

Are there enough Holden dealers left to hold a large meeting ?

 

[AceRimmer]

I feel like a part of me died today.

 

[timandhayley]

The meeting was scheduled for March 11 (which is now cancelled BTW, along with all other meetings of relevance).

I believe that this wasn't planned. There's Corvette, MY21 Equinox and MY21 Colorado/Trailblazer orders in the system, fully preferenced and scheduled to be built in the next couple of months. Whether these go ahead or not, who knows. Apparently the Corvette will still arrive, it wouldn't surprise me if these are sold by HSV dealers exclusively.

It has been a sad day, a bit of shock that it's come this soon, however not unexpected by us.

 

[nota]

Are there enough Holden dealers left to hold a large meeting ?

Too many dealers, apparently..




Thanks GMNA, a terrific result!




Vale Holden (personally 8 Holdens owned and enjoyed, plus around 20 buy-sell traded)

 

[GolfBravo]

I believe that this wasn't planned. There's Corvette, MY21 Equinox and MY21 Colorado/Trailblazer orders in the system, fully preferenced and scheduled to be built in the next couple of months. Whether these go ahead or not, who knows. Apparently the Corvette will still arrive, it wouldn't surprise me if these are sold by HSV dealers exclusively.

Probably wasn't planned by Holden locally, but the wheels were in motion in Detroit for weeks.

MY21 already scheduled for build? That's a very early model year change, most unusual by GM standards, I think they were in a hurry.