Holden to cut 25 additional production days
November 19, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
In another blow to the Australian automotive industry, GM Holden has announced plans to cut production by an additional 25 days, spread across the first three months of 2009. The closures will occur at the company’s Elizabeth plant in Adelaide.
Adelaide has already seen the closure of Mitsubishi’s local production this year, while Holden’s 3,400 workers in South Australia are not new to non-production days, having already had several days off in recent weeks, the news is not promising.
According to sources the cut in production days is a result of slowing demand for Holden’s cars amid the global economic crisis. The 25 days of production loss will mean Holden will make 15,000 fewer cars while its workers will make do on four-and-a-half days’ pay per week during the three month period next year.
“We always say there’s no guarantees in the car industry but what we have preferred to do is introduce these extra non-production days rather than remove jobs, we think our workers clearly prefer this as well. We’re committed to maintaining and manufacturing presence at Elizabeth and confident into the future.” Holden official Andrea Matthews said.
Holden’s rival, Ford, is also expected to make similar moves as the new Falcon has failed to improve sales. The blue oval is expected to announce an extra week off over the Christmas period.
The only manufacturer which seems to be dealing by the current slump in large car sales is Toyota, which says no production shutdowns are planned. However even the Big T concedes there is a chance its workers may have a longer break next Easter.
Do you believe either Ford, Holden or Toyota will shutdown local production next year?
Print it: 
some here dont understand that if Ford or Holden goes down… Toyota suffers greatly also.
The more competitive each company are the better for everyone…. EVERYONE living in Australia, because thousands get to keep their jobs, get to feed their families and get to do “regular” living….
its a very vague statement but thats pretty much the jizz of it.
China is Australia’s biggest threath, the labour there is about 1/4 of that in Australia. Their skills are improving daily, they are “stealing” talent back from USA, Europe, Australia etc…. many manufacturers are willing to invest in China because in the long run it saves them hundreds of millions… quality? well… manufacturers believe that they can simply raise strict policies to rectify them but obviously much more complex than that.
BK, thats great, you’ll be able to get your crppy quality Camry straight off the boat from China – now isn’t that a comforting thought Chinese Camry’s.
BK Says:
November 20th, 2008 at 11:35 am
BK, just what type of full size car is there that is both substantially cleaner, safer, and as “real driving time” economical to drive as the Australian made vehicles??
And now with Ford Australia commiting the dollars to making the I6 EuroIV compliant, (including DLPG) your comments are misguided at best and bordering on just plain silly.
One thing people are forgetting why Ford and Holden are going to a small car is to keep there factories running at capactiy. Yes China could, can and will make cheaper cars than us but its a matter of when, and will the design be to our taste.
At the moment most of China’s capacity is supplying their domestic demand. Most of brands are cheap and quality not so good. This will improve, but will make their vehicles more expensive.
Bring me more BMWs , Mercedes. Audis and lets show these low budget half aussie half asian made cars what the euros are all about. Importin is the way to go.
Silky,
I got my figures from a media report.
perhaps the figures were about a month out of date.
since then petrol has dropped, and increases in large car sales all round have been reported
Oh,^^^
regardless of the figures changing the month just ended, my point was still valid.
the actual percentage figure wasnt important, just the trend that was displayed
James: “China is Australia’s biggest threath, the labour there is about 1/4 of that in Australia.”
well our living standard improved when all these low-tech products became cheaper
our labour force is relatively educated, combined with technology we can have high productivity
Andrew M: “increases in large car sales all round”
really?
check VFacts, Large
Actually Andrew there is a huge difference between a 34% ytd reduction in sales and a 11.5% ytd reduction in sales. The October numbers for Aurion were terrible, but ytd I suspect Toyo would be happy. Also what increase in the sale of large cars are you talking about, across the board they still remain down..
tekkyy and Max,
yes i know overall large car sales are down,
but what i was comparing was month to month, not yearly.
month to month shows immediate trends, yearly does not
Silky, why come back under yet another name? Still embarresed?
have you still got comprehension issues???
WHACK!!!!! (down you go again)
ha ha ha ha ha ha
forz and andrew get a room :P, haha just read GM and Chrysler have told US congres that they could go under within “weeks” ford has said it has enough cash to last through 2009? interesting.
Forza and Andrew M, any more of the personal insults and you will be banned.
Keep it on topic. You have been warned.
My apologies Karl and fellow readers.
im not one to usually use insults, but this time i decided to fight fire with fire.
once again my apologies
Thank you for apologising Andrew. Much appreciated mate