Holden expands exports to Canada
31 Jul, 2008
11 Comments 
Following four months of Pontiac G8 sales in the United States, Holden has expanded its exports plans to Canada - the first time the company has undertaken a major export program to the country.
The Pontiac G8 and V8-powered G8 GT models are on sale now through dealers across Canada - meaning our humble Commodore is now driven on roads in the USA, Canada, the Middle East, Brazil, South Africa and the UK.
Canadians have apparently welcomed the arrival of the Pontiac G8 with open arms following US sales in March of this year.
“Initial media coverage from the recent Canadian G8 launch event has been highly positive,” said Tony LaRocca, manager of product communications at GM of Canada.
Unfortunately for them however, the US flagship LS3-powered GXP model will not be included in the Canadian model line-up.
“We expected the powerful GT model to be popular and that was definitely the case, but we’re particularly pleased with the high praise for the fun, yet fuel-efficient V6 model which will represent the majority of our volume.”
The VE Commodore derived G8 is also maintaining strong sales in the US, with the average time on a dealer’s lot standing at just 27.6 days - making it one of the top selling models in GM’s range.
“The Pontiac G8 is currently the most powerful vehicle for the dollar in the US. It is faster 0-60mph than a BMW 5 series and has greater horsepower. This makes it a fantastic proposition for drivers looking for style and substance that isn’t going to break the bank.”
Currently over $532 million has been spent upgrading the HSV plant in South Australia, while GM Holden remains the country’s largest private spender on R&D with $2bn invested over the past 7 years.
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July 31st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Good stuff Holden, but to no suprise Canada would be a taker for the commodore.
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July 31st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Well it wont last long as GM is about to go bankrupt…….
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July 31st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Thanks for that incisive comment Ute Tray. Better throw half a dozen other car companies into that pool too then mate! It’s not just GM buddy…
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August 1st, 2008 at 12:26 am
Ute Tray Says:
Well it wont last long as GM is about to go bankrupt…….
One can only hope, the company truely deserves it :)
However with the oil companies standing by I don’t think they can watch one of thier two biggest money makers just throw in the towel. They have already created working Electric Vehicles and will have a solution for Hybrids (Due to MPG efficiency requirements) so it’s only a matter of time before they pull the rabbit out of thier hat.
Good on Holden anyway for being able to push thier product, it’s nice when you travel to other countries and see Aussie Cars (which is rare).
Except it’s not like my trip to Spain where I kept spotting heaps of Astra’s and Barina’s till I worked out that they are OPEL cars and GMH just import and re-badge them :D
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August 1st, 2008 at 2:26 am
Saw Pontiac presenting this in Whislter when I was ther in April this year. Had a good look myself not bad. Hear the other day that Candians are now worse polluters per capita than the USA now. So the days are numbered for large engines there as well.
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August 1st, 2008 at 6:36 am
Well done Holden.
It’s easy to put down a company with a glib one liner, but it’s a serious accolade to get an Australian designed and built car on sale in so many different markets, particularly the US and Canada.
Not only that, they’re selling well and they’re winning praise from the experts.
Now I hope with the expanded markets it means Holden can upgrade the drivetrains to where they should be and polish the dashboard on the first facelift - the LCD system needs to be competitive with Falcon.
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:31 am
Yep, the primary school intellect is always on display here.
Well done to Holden and GMH.
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August 1st, 2008 at 10:04 am
Kinda like rice exports in this development eh? (pardon the ‘eh’ - it’s a canadian thing)
We export rice to India so they can bag it and send it back to us (otherwise the indian expats here wont buy it)
They export us the V8 GenIV we package it and send it back…
Why then, do they like the V6???(It’s made here)
Weird, but good on Holden for signing up another influental market hopefully it boost them back into the black.
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August 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Now if only the falcon could get a passport, show the world what this old colonial outpost can do!
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August 1st, 2008 at 7:13 pm
NICE LOOKING CAR.
Good on Holden.
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August 1st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Falcadore, I think the world is starting to move into the econo culture, so I think its kinda too late for Ford to start building a global platform for the falcon. should rather concentrate globalising their smaller more economical cars, time to make it more appealing to the asian countries.
Ra - I just noticed…”However with the oil companies standing by” and “They have already created working Electric Vehicles and will have a solution for Hybrids”
I can see both contradict each other as its in best interest for oil companies and nations to see Hybrids and electrics rolled out slowly, real slowly… you get what i mean :P.
And if you read the news, did you hear what how much ExxonMobil made in the last quarter!!! biggest in US all time too!
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