Will the Holden brand survive?

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by Cav

How can Holden maintain the 200 or so dealerships with sales outside the top ten?

I think many Holden dealerships will be looking to take on other car brand franchises to supplement their income stream if they have not already done so.

No longer can a car dealership put their eggs and loyalty all in the one basket with the turmoil in the car industry in the coming years, not to mention the coming electric vehicle revolution.

[Junkyard-Dog]

Even the non-car people I know reckon it's all over for Holden. They no-longer perceive the product as "Australian" any more and their interest in the brand has clearly decreased.

[Cav]

The 7 year warranty on the Commodore is a good initiative in my opinion.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by Cav

The 7 year warranty on the Commodore is a good initiative in my opinion.

Interestingly, the 7 year warranty has not done Kia much to increase its sales.

[Windsor220]

Do new car buyers keep their car that long? Mitsubishi got rid of the 10 year warranty for that reason

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

I think many Holden dealerships will be looking to take on other car brand franchises to supplement their income stream if they have not already done so.

The majority of Country Car dealers have been doing this for some time.

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

The majority of Country Car dealers have been doing this for some time.

Yes .. sad state of affairs where once proud country Ford or Holden dealerships are now selling the likes of Haval ..

[csv8]

My local Holden dealer only sells one other brand, Suzuki. Ford dealer sells Mitsi, Great Wall, Isuzu, Kia.

[BENT_8]

My neighbour works for a Ford Dealer, they also sell Suzuki, Subaru, Isuzu and Skoda.

Nothing new or unique to any brand.

[stevanford]

IMO, the Holden brand will soon be gone and replaced by Chevrolet in Australia. Will make bringing the Camaro and Corvette in much easier and they will come in as a factory RHD car.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by stevanford

IMO, the Holden brand will soon be gone and replaced by Chevrolet in Australia. Will make bringing the Camaro and Corvette in much easier and they will come in as a factory RHD car.

If indeed GM is planning any RWD Performance models, they won't be on these product cycles (inside 2 years)
The whole reason HSV is doing RHDs on Camaro is because GMNA can't make the business case stick right now
but that doesn't mean things won't change - GM gives Ford 5 years head start in HP RHD coupes and mows them down?

[ozrunner]

Originally Posted by Cav

The 7 year warranty on the Commodore is a good initiative in my opinion.

Hmmmm it appears to be another typical Holden classic snow job towards its customers to make you think that. Unless you are lucky enough to score an extension, which is probably highly unlikely. It was a ploy in an effort to increase March sales as they were tanking. It finished as at 31 March

https://www.motoring.com.au/holden-o...-catch-111477/

Now it would appear only the Calais and VXR now get 7 Years.

https://www.holden.com.au/cars/commodore#Design

[hackney]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

My neighbour works for a Ford Dealer, they also sell Suzuki, Subaru, Isuzu and Skoda.

Nothing new or unique to any brand.

They have to survive,just selling Ford would be suicide.My local multi franchises as well.MG, Isuzu Ute.Mahindra,Kia,Proton,Mitsubishi & LDV.Cheers

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

If indeed GM is planning any RWD Performance models, they won't be on these product cycles (inside 2 years)
The whole reason HSV is doing RHDs on Camaro is because GMNA can't make the business case stick right now
but that doesn't mean things won't change - GM gives Ford 5 years head start in HP RHD coupes and mows them down?

It makes sense to phase it in really, the last 12 months of Commodore production saw a large % of V8's sold so the market was saturated in the short term.
HSV will test the waters, albeit with converted examples, but that wont stop the cashed up bogans who paid overs for the current HSV offerings and who will be happy to pay overs to be first in.
If the demand is there, which looking at Mustangs market gains suggests there is, 2 years would be about right for those looking to upgrade their VF2 SS to the factory RHD camaro at a competetive price point to Mustang.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by csv8

My local Holden dealer only sells one other brand, Suzuki. Ford dealer sells Mitsi, Great Wall, Isuzu, Kia.

Yes, interesting times ahead for them. They obviously thought Holden would be around forever.....as did a lot of others.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

It makes sense to phase it in really, the last 12 months of Commodore production saw a large % of V8's sold so the market was saturated in the short term.
HSV will test the waters, albeit with converted examples, but that wont stop the cashed up bogans who paid overs for the current HSV offerings and who will be happy to pay overs to be first in.
If the demand is there, which looking at Mustangs market gains suggests there is, 2 years would be about right for those looking to upgrade their VF2 SS to the factory RHD camaro at a competetive price point to Mustang.

Strong orders for Camaro will also build the case to bring RHD Camaro, maybe Corvette too.

[chizzy86]

Similar issues for Vauxhall in the UK. All contracts with dealers terminated. Business being re-organised. Probably a big cull coming soon.

Probably foreshadowing what will happen here soon

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...-sales-plunge/

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Strong orders for Camaro will also build the case to bring RHD Camaro, maybe Corvette too.

Couldn't hurt that's for sure.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Strong orders for Camaro will also build the case to bring RHD Camaro, maybe Corvette too.

With GM no longer in Europe, I would have though RHD viability would be greatly reduced without the British market in the picture.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

With GM no longer in Europe, I would have though RHD viability would be greatly reduced without the British market in the picture.

Excellent point, how could they possibly justify a fully off tool factory produced Camaro ?

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by stevanford

IMO, the Holden brand will soon be gone and replaced by Chevrolet in Australia. Will make bringing the Camaro and Corvette in much easier and they will come in as a factory RHD car.

GM seem to be pulling out of Left hand drive markets, and I don't think there are any Plans for the US Produced vehicles to have RHD platforms.

We could still transition to the Chevorlet, but They would be all out of Thailand & Korea.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

Excellent point, how could they possibly justify a fully off tool factory produced Camaro ?

Just like they justified 1,000/mth of Cadillac ATS and 1,000/mth of it's bigger brother the CTS...
That Grand River plant could do with more orders you know....

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Strong orders for Camaro will also build the case to bring RHD Camaro, maybe Corvette too.

Dangerous business thinking they will sell in mustang numbers I think.

How many mustangs would be on the road if they were 30-40k more expensive?

Ford absolutely did the right thing building in rhd from the outset.

[roddy1960]

Last night on Southern Cross News was the story announcing Ford's re-entry into Supercars but also the part where new Mustangs are priced at around $50,000 . I thought they were more so it really is a whole lot of car for the money . Surely what they lose in margin , they'll make up for in volume.

RHD Mustang for just over 25 % of the world car market makes sense. That's still a heck of a lot of sales for an iconic car like Mustang .

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Last night on Southern Cross News was the story announcing Ford's re-entry into Supercars but also the part where new Mustangs are priced at around $50,000 . I thought they were more so it really is a whole lot of car for the money . Surely what they lose in margin , they'll make up for in volume.

RHD Mustang for just over 25 % of the world car market makes sense. That's still a heck of a lot of sales for an iconic car like Mustang .

There's a reason for that, those are run out models.

Just heard from my Ford contact in the USA that '18 MY RHD Mustang
has started production and the first few RHD Bullitt have been made.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Dangerous business thinking they will sell in mustang numbers I think.

How many mustangs would be on the road if they were 30-40k more expensive?

Ford absolutely did the right thing building in rhd from the outset.

Never underestimate the wants of HSV and their buyers, they will pay the extra $20K for what they want.
Fortunately HSV can only convert about a thousand Camaros a year, '18 Mustang might do that in one month..

It would be just like GM to give Ford five years head start in RHD sports car and then catch them up...

[Adamz Ghia]

Holden won’t be going anywhere. To kill it off and introduce Chev would cost a bucket load, the ROI wouldn’t be there.

I can imagine all those ‘patriots’ with the southern cross tattoos and stickers on their Chev badged Commodores kicking up a stink.

[ozrunner]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Holden won’t be going anywhere. ....

How so given that the ZB appears to be a sales stinker and if it continues how are they going to sell it for another 2-3 years and what could it be replaced with ?

As indicated above GM are now putting all their focus on China and the US so it is doubtful they will produce a specific RHD replacement for Holden's use.

Also whilst Holden were negotiating with Opel for a rebadged Insignia at the same time GM were negotiating its sale and didn't warn Holden, so it seems obvious that now they really don't give a stuff about Holden.

Holden could be the next Opel !!!!!

[ivorya]

Originally Posted by chizzy86

Similar issues for Vauxhall in the UK. All contracts with dealers terminated. Business being re-organised. Probably a big cull coming soon.

Probably foreshadowing what will happen here soon

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...-sales-plunge/

Also read the South Korean Gov looking like propping up GM there so they don't go Bankrupt....... Haven't we seen this before somewhere???

The cycle continues.......

[csv8]

ozrunner replacement could be a Buick or Malibu.