[Rick_VT]

GM will fail slowly all around the world.

I pray that they do.

 

[mikmak]

Umm, can anyone explain this?

https://cadillacaustralia.com/

I wouldn't think too hard on that. Unless Cadillac. Com. AU is taken, why wouldn't you take that if for nothing more than perception.

As for Mr. Butners departure, I hope everything works out for him and any personal issues are remedied.

I was shocked to hear him leave. From what I've heard, he's not one to quit (literally or figuratively).

I don't think Holden is dead. They just have different stuff. The loss of manufacturing was a ****ty and damaging outcome, both for the brand and more importantly the employees.

I don't think it fit into the long term plans 5 years ago, so Holden as it currently sits, is a pale doppelganger of what was intended. There's still a year or two for Mr Corvette (Mark Reuss) effect /response to the closure to be felt. Hopefully his tenure here, gave him a good idea of what is needed.

Julian Blissett (VP GMIO) should have a good understanding of what we can get from where.

Is only been two years. Having said that, it's been six years since the announcement.

Having said THAT GM has closed the SK plant where the Cruze *cough* Astra sedan was bring built and sold the European arm to Europeans. Only a janitor could see that set of events coming...

 

[chinamonty]

I think we will ultimately find out that Mr Buttner is ill. His departure does not follow any pattern of a CEO leaving. If GM was pushing then they would have had a replacement lined up and if he was resigning then he would give notice and it would have been handled differently. If he is ill then I hope he recovers from what his ailment is.

 

[jpd80]

It’s getting to the point where it’s just not worth staying in Australia, everyone is turning their backs on GM, time to just let Holden go.

Or to sale it for a small change like Opel/Vauxhall.

Or to sale it for a small change like Opel/Vauxhall.

They were offered good money for it but GM was too stubborn to sell

Thought they knew better

chicken coming home to roost
I hope someone else picks up the name and does justice to it.

 

[isszy]

I don't share your optimism Mik. Since the closure, I know of only one person who has bought a Holden. He bought an Astra LTZ to replace his Epica. He loves it by the way.

The whole Australian market is stuffed though. Not so long ago Australians bought cars that had power, handled well and were fun to drive. Now we care more about Apple Car Play. I rented a Peugeot 2008 a few weeks ago. Nice enough car, but physics mean that anything more than moderate speeds had the car falling over itself in corners. I haven't driven a high riding car that handles any better than a 1995 Toyota Corolla, and they are usually less fun.

But who cares anyway ? Victorian rural speed limits will soon be 80 km/h, and residential speed limits will be 30 km/h. Doesn't matter if your car can't go round corners then. We can just build cars and speed limits that means that the idiot behind the wheel doesn't have to disrupt their online social life with annoying things like concentrating on the road.

 

[V-Car]

If Australians dont want German Holdens, are they really going to buy Chinese built Cadillac's and Buick's?

 

[mikmak]

The twitters confirmed for me that website has been around since 2005 and is owned by a wholesale domain entity. Its nothing.

With respect to the future of the brand, I think the most damaging thing is an absence of communication of their plan.

I assume they have one, contrary to any evidence.

 

[jpd80]

Top 12 brands in November 2019*

Toyota 16,960 down 7.2 per cent
Hyundai 6830 down 13.2 per cent
Mitsubishi 6825 down 1.8 per cent
Mazda 6170 down 30.7 per cent
Kia 5140 up 10.7 per cent
Ford 4995 down 10.0 per cent
Nissan 4270 down 19.8 per cent
Volkswagen 3920 down 16.8 per cent
Honda 3285 down 12.0 per cent
Subaru 3140 down 19.9 per cent
Holden 2665 down 48 per cent
Isuzu 2160 down 9.5 per cent


Top 12 selling cars in November 2019*

Toyota HiLux 3685 down 21.0 per cent
Ford Ranger 3490 up 0.6 per cent
Mitsubishi Triton 3065 up 27 per cent
Hyundai i30 2340 down 1.6 per cent
Toyota RAV4 2315 up 19.6 per cent
Toyota Corolla 2230 down 16.0 per cent
Toyota Camry 2000 up 54.6 per cent
Nissan X-Trail 1880 down 3.0 per cent
Mazda CX-5 1735 down 13 per cent
Kia Cerato 1640 up 21.3 per cent
Mitsubishi Outlander 1525 up 52.6 per cent
Hyundai Tucson 1445 down 11.0 per cent
EDManual is offline Report Post

 

[AceRimmer]

Geez that is bad sales figures for Holden. You really have to feel for the people still there.

And 309 Commodores. I think there were two VFs in that total as well.

 

[timandhayley]

There's a big push to clear the remaining ZB stocks. Don't be surprised to see the December number being above average and for there to be exceptional deals in the marketplace in the early months of 2020.

I don't believe Holden has a plan, other than downsizing their overheads here in Australia and bringing their cost structure in line with their peers. I think their target next year is still going to be around the 40,000 unit mark. They have no new models in the works other than Corvette, which is still quite some time away from arriving, maybe in 2021 if we're lucky.

It wouldn't surprise me if future products were sourced from China.

 

[carisi2k9]

This is GM setting itself up for more failure as GM have no idea when it comes to Australia. The market is shrinking and people are heading to public transport and they are killing off Holden and if they think cadillac is going to rescue them they are dreaming. GM is dead in Australia. Not just Holden.

 

[carisi2k9]

I wouldn't think too hard on that. Unless Cadillac. Com. AU is taken, why wouldn't you take that if for nothing more than perception.

As for Mr. Butners departure, I hope everything works out for him and any personal issues are remedied.

I was shocked to hear him leave. From what I've heard, he's not one to quit (literally or figuratively).

I don't think Holden is dead. They just have different stuff. The loss of manufacturing was a ****ty and damaging outcome, both for the brand and more importantly the employees.

I don't think it fit into the long term plans 5 years ago, so Holden as it currently sits, is a pale doppelganger of what was intended. There's still a year or two for Mr Corvette (Mark Reuss) effect /response to the closure to be felt. Hopefully his tenure here, gave him a good idea of what is needed.

Julian Blissett (VP GMIO) should have a good understanding of what we can get from where.

Is only been two years. Having said that, it's been six years since the announcement.

Having said THAT GM has closed the SK plant where the Cruze *cough* Astra sedan was bring built and sold the European arm to Europeans. Only a janitor could see that set of events coming...

You are too optimistic Mik Mak. Holden is dying and GM can not save it. I could save Holden but GM isn't about to make me the new Holden GM are they or do the necessary things that I would require to be done to save Holden.

 

[kts3502.0]

Umm, can anyone explain this?

https://cadillacaustralia.com/

Do a Whois search on it and says it was created 2005-05-30
interesting when you do an ASIC search on Cadillac Australia it says
Business name: CADILLAC (GM) AUSTRALIA
Status: Cancelled
Registration date: 10/07/2008
Renewal date: 11/07/2019
Cancelled date: 21/11/2019

 

[Downandout]

There's a big push to clear the remaining ZB stocks. Don't be surprised to see the December number being above average and for there to be exceptional deals in the marketplace in the early months of 2020.

I don't believe Holden has a plan, other than downsizing their overheads here in Australia and bringing their cost structure in line with their peers. I think their target next year is still going to be around the 40,000 unit mark. They have no new models in the works other than Corvette, which is still quite some time away from arriving, maybe in 2021 if we're lucky.

It wouldn't surprise me if future products were sourced from China.

I suspect a Chinese Buick will be the next Commodore and possibly another Buick for an Astra replacement. The Chinese Buicks are getting pretty bloody good.Volvo is sourcing their XC40 from there for the Australian market, consumers will get slowly used to it if there is a value story, it wont work if you are charging German Commodore money.

Regardless Holden needs a broader range, the other brands are have close to double the models that Holden offer now. Id bring back the Spark, those cars are a good hedge for a slowing economy. New baby Trailblazer and Bolt look pretty likely for Australia.

I see a bright future for Holden. I have lived through the rumours around Mitsubishi and Ford leaving Australia. The key difference now is the massive GM investments in VSS platforms across all lines that are designed to be dirt cheap for RHD and the big investment by GM in EVs that could be a huge turning point for vehicle markets everywhere.

The dealers need volume and buyers need reassurance. It would be good to have Mark Reuss or Mary Barra giving a statement of GM commitment to Australia and with a concrete example of a new or replacement model coming to Australia (excluding Corvette). Buyers need to hear it to give them the excuse to go ahead with a purchase or put Holden on the shopping list.

 

[BORG]

Australia is a really small market to invest in. It's easy to become unprofitable in Australia very quickly. It either succeeds on GM's global footprint, or it doesn't.

 

[V-Car]

Australia is a really small market to invest in. It's easy to become unprofitable in Australia very quickly. It either succeeds on GM's global footprint, or it doesn't.

Countless other manufacturers have no problem investing in and selling RHD vehicles in Australia, why is it a problem for GM?

I think we all know the answer.

 

[Self Reliance]

I pray that they do.

Only if it becomes state-owned

1948

 

[VS Ute 5Litre]

Australia is a really small market to invest in. It's easy to become unprofitable in Australia very quickly. It either succeeds on GM's global footprint, or it doesn't.

It's extremely profitable for the other 50 odd manufacturers that sell here

 

[hq308]

Australia is a really small market to invest in. It's easy for GM to become unprofitable in Australia very quickly. It either succeeds on GM's global footprint, or it doesn't.

Fixed it for you, none of the other manufacturers seem to have the issues that GM does.

If it really does rely on "GM's global footprint" we're screwed as that footprint is shrinking every day outside of NA and China

 

[AceRimmer]

Looking at Holden and how it is performing, it is probably how GM would look in the US if the market turned against their pick ups.