Holden to cut 25 additional production days

By Alborz Fallah | November 19th, 2008

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?

WVB

That’s a really tough question but if anything I guess holdens under a bit more pressure and they don’t appear to the have a saviour in the guise of possible focus production from 2010. Toyota will likely continue to print their own money.
Imagine holden or ford closing its doors in Australia. That’s just amazing and pitiful at the same time.
I can remember being with Mitsubishi in 04 during magna’s painful demise and watching the line getting progressively slower month by month. The barometer in any car plant is the line speed and I can only imagine holden’s is approaching the depressingly slow speed mitsi’s did from 04 thru 380 to the end this year. 40 odd cars a day is in no way profit making.
Wheelnut

WVB – A couple of weeks ago Holden made an announcement that they plan to build a small car at Elizabeth.. just as Ford will be building Focii at Broadmeadows.. which is good news for [fans of] both makes/companies.

Infact there was a blog topic on this site discussing the issue – and overall most people believed it would either be the TT-36 Torana or the Opel Corsa.

Holden will be able to do this particularly if/when [as many on here suspect.expect] production of LHD Commodores does/is moved to Canada; in the same factory where the new Camaro is being built [it uses the same platform].

This will give Holden the extra capacity to build a small car as well as other Commodore derivatives such as a Crewman or even a Sandman Panelvan
Wheelnut

As for Holden approaching a similar situation to thet of Mitsubishi.

On average a Holden Sedan/Ute/Wagon or Statesman rolls off the production line at Elizabeth every 72 seconds.. and they make on average 660-720 cars a day which is a far cry from Mitsubishis 40.

And its because Holden build so many derivatives of the one car; unlike Mitsubishi did which helps them recover the capital investment [of $1bn] quicker than building just one car.

Mitsubishi might still be around if Tokyo let Tom Phillips gdo what he was hired to do and that is turn the Austalian Operations.. just as he did with Toyota a couple of years previously.. [and look where they are now]

Phillips wanted to turn the Magna/380 into a RWD car – which would then be considered more of a competitor to the Falcon/Commodore instead of the Camry.

So yes Holden are closing down for a couple of weeks but unlike Mitsubishi there is still more demand for the Commodore than there was the 380
I expect Holden will probably take the opportunity to do maintenance and repairs of the line as well as prepare for the new VF
chase

Actually wheelnut all I read was they were losing production days due to decline in demand, nothing wrong with that, just a business decision, however it is almost 5 working weeks(mon-frid) and fairly substantial and worrying. Are you with the Holden Lifestyle Magazine?
Frontman

The thing is ALL manufacturers are feeling the pinch at present. It’s just that some are dealing with it differently. I have just asked CA to try to find out about a rumour floating around at the moment. If it is true, then I actually can see the Big T being the first to say “to bad so sad” and bring their cars in from Thailand or Taiwan or where ever.
GM-Holden need to bring another car on line as Corporate (last I heard) are still proceeding with the Chinese factory for LWB. As I have said before, I bleed blue but that doesn’t stop me from wanting team red to still be here.
WVB

^ frontman, ur right
there’s no race without competition
BK

Wont be long when FORD and Holden get taken over by some asian business. The slopeheads are outsmarting us in the car industry in every way. We aint so smart here in aust.
G

I work for a automotive parts supplier, and our company is shutting down for 5 weeks over Christmas (2 extra weeks). It is bad right now for sales, but I see things improving in years to come, but the immediate short term outlook isn’t great.
Frontman

BK Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Don’t think so, the Asians aren’t travelling that well at present either.
Tom

What i’m more interested to see is what will happen to Holden if General Motors goes under, which is looking very very likely.
Alec

BK,
Its not about smarts. Its about labour cost savings and all the other savings you get when you manufacture in some parts of Asia.

I have worked within many components suppliers and their main problem is remaining competitive with the parts made with cheap labour, especially from China.

Of course, they could use more automtation, but when a factory here cost 4 times what it does to set up in Asia, you see that smarts has nothing to do with it!
Tack

It’s all about supply and demand.
How many people working at auto mobile industry in Australia?
And how much percentage of total nation population are they?
Not big number… I think.

Basically right now, they can’t provide products which majority of consumer really wants.
Then they should stop production.
There is no right to receive Government support for no future company or industry.
In fact, Australia does not need Auto mobile company at all.
We can follow New Zealand way, reduce import tax and consumer can buy affordable European/Japanese cars which exactly they want (Energy efficient and good designed cars).
Of course, there Euro/Jap cars are made in somewhere developing countries sometimes…But as long as these company do quality control, their labour cost cheaper than Australians any way.
Frontman

G, I agree the outlook isn’t as bleak as some would have you believe.

I’ll use a clip from another publication (sorry Mods) but it is from Mr Burela’s first press briefing after taking office.
In his fi rst monthly media briefi ng since
assuming the presidency of Ford Australia on
October 1, Marin Burela said last week that
lower fuel prices and interest rates will improve
the fortunes of Australia’s sagging large-car
segment, and in particular the new Falcon,
which he believes will be the biggest winner
to emerge from the federal government’s
increased LPG vehicle subsidy.
Falcon sales were 12.6 per cent up monthon-
month in October, while its nearest
rivals in Holden’s Commodore and Toyota’s
Aurion were down a respective 14.2 and
31.7 per cent on the same month last year

I have a feeling, that whilst we have a lot of pain to go through, the public will start to forego that whim to own a piece of (so called) European excellence which hapens to be usually the french or german equivalent to Falcon or Commodore but smaller with less performance and higher running costs, and come back to the, greatly improved, Australian made vehicles.
Realcars

Read the Colorado review to see why!

Give the press a car to review with a whine in it and bits falling off.

Just feel sorry for the workers that the incompetent management team at Holden is letting then down.

Management idiots will find another company to f#$k no doubt.LOL.
Alec

Realcars,

you do realise that the Colorado is built in one of the countries that so many bloggers on this website believe should be become Asutralias source of vehicles because apparently Asian countries build the best cars.. laugh laugh

Although Holden import them, they don’t build them.
WVB

I’ll likely be moderated for this (sorry mods aswell) but the article at autospeed about the current direction of car making in Australia is interesting if not poignant.
Frontman

I’d just like to brown nose a little and thank the mods for their sensible leaniency when different topics and sites are mentioned relative to the discussion. Well done
Frontman

WVB, interesting article but flawed in so many areas and obviously pushed by someone with their own barrow at heart. Now before everyone gets defensive, I’ll explain my coments. (appologise for the long post )
1st/ it’s all fine and dandy to say we should look at the green industry for a replacement to the Automotive industry, but when BPSOLAR have just announced (18/11/08) that they will close down their manufacturing in Australia because it is cheaper in places like Spain, India & China, and the decision being driven by the knowledge that the biggest turn of to the general public with renewable energy is set up costs can someone explain how we can compete?

2nd/ The article is assuming that the manufacturers are doing nothing about reducing their CO2 & consumption outputs. Isn’t Ford on the verge of commiting mechanical suicide by introducing a V6 in 2010? Aren’t all manufacturers working on Direct Injected LPG motors to reduce consumption, running costs and CO2 output?

3rd/ I’m not sure whether the learned gentleman ctually inderstands the motor industry, as he claims the bonuses given to fleets somehow come from the government. These are straight from the manufacturers. The only bonus the company vehicles get is to claim them as a trade tool and depreciate them as any other tool & also the BAS claim.

4th/ the claim of “large cars using significantly more fuel than smaller cars” is extremely subjective. I have personally witnessed a BF2 Falacon with ZF box average 7.3l/100km travelling on an averagely busy Highway (gold coast motorway on a January Sunday) with four people on board. I can replicate that figure in a Mazda 3 auto with the same people, but not better it. City driving is realistically only 2>3 l different. (9.5 Vs 11.2)

5th/ If we can actually get someone to look at what has happened to the large cars, in the 20 years I have been involved in the industry, they have gotten bigger, safer, more comfortable more luxurious and better built. All the time they have reduced in their consumption and CO2 outputs. In ’89 it was considered good to be getting 12l/100ks out of an SV21 Camry, now that is poor for a Falcomorion??

The green car fund and a lot of the Auto plan are not just handouts to the industry, they actually require significant investment by the 3 manufacturers to be eligible to collect. Things like the Govt will return 1 for every 3 invested in green car developement. Training money is retrospective to dollars invested etc.all stretched out over a 13 year period. Ask the renewable energy groups how much they have recieved in grants each year?
Sorry but diferent perspective.
Bret

“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”

Could that be because they sell less aussie made cars in Australia than the other two?? Dhurr.

And lets not forget that 60% of those sold are classified as “medium” not “large” cars.

Also, month on month, which manufacturer had the largest decline in sales of locally produced cars? Toyota!
Frontman

Tack Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Have you looked at the prices of New cars in NZ and the reasoning behind the proliferation on grey imports?
Also NZ was more an assembly point using TKD vehicles from Australian and English Manufacturers.
http://integra Greeny

Holden dont have a plan in place to produce a small car here like Ford will. Also, after spending so much on VE combined with shrinking sales here and for its exports as well as its parent going broke very soon where will they get the money? The government can help only so much……..so if another car maker was to shut down in OZ it wil most likely be Holden.
Frenchie

Don’t foget the credit crunch hitting dealers at the moment. This maybe attributing to how many vehicles a dealer can get in their show room.
How many potential buyers purchase their vehicles off the floor? How many potential buyers are put off by finding out that they can’t get credit from a dealer?
This is affecting Holden more than the other two as GMAC and GE Money are pulling out of Australia.
Alex II

Ford will be the next to close.

The Falcon is selling poorly at best and the large car market is shrink here at a rate of knots. I read today Ford plan to get the Falcon back to 35% market share, last time I check 35% of nothing is nothing.

Several of the posts here refer to the plan to build Focus here as the Ford Australia saviour, let’s not forget, they are still just plans, while there is still no real investment, Ford can walk away easily and inexpensively.
Frontman

Alex II Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Actually Alex, if you look at it Falcon is the only one of the big three to have shown month on month growth this year. As for the market shrinking, Ve is still the biggest selling vehicle in Aust, and VE FG and the Camry Aurion twins were a total of 9,759 vehicles in a total month of 28,544! That’s just over 34% of the total market and not counting the other vehicles in the same segmant like Accord, Maxima & Granduer.
As for there being no real investment, if Ford has none then what is stopping Toyota, who has taken the biggest hit and doesn’t have the emmotion attached to it’s core buyers, from wlaking out?
Sorry not having a shot just wanting to understand your thoughts
CB

Bret Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
“Could that be because they sell less aussie made cars in Australia than the other two?? Dhurr.”

It’s actually because Toyota export more Aussie made cars than Holden.
Bret

Alex II Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

“The Falcon is selling poorly at best ..”

Alex, Ford sold 4,641 locally made cars in October, Holden managed just 338 more. You’ve got to look at the bigger picture of total sales from the plant, not just Falcon (which is doing OK in a tough market).

The Focus program is much more than “just a plan”, it is part of $1.8Bn worth of investment by Ford Australia.
Bret

CB, exactly, that’s why, if anyone, Toyota will be the next to leave Australia, there’s nothing much keeping them here, other than Govt. handouts.
chase

^^^ SO its good we are losing our primary exporter in this industry?
Bret

Chase, what are you on about?

It’s critical that we don’t lose any of the 3 manufacturers left. Our industry won’t survive with any less, the economies of scale for the supporting component suppliers is just not there.
Frontman

No I don’t want to see any of the exporters / manufacturers go! I have made mention of ths before, but the scenario goes that if we lose our Automotive manufacturers, we will (obviously) be left at the hands of the importers. Prices will go up.
On top of that, the loss of such a major industry would result in depening the recession / borderline depression. This would have a catastrophic effect on our economy causing our dollar to be worth less than Rupee’s. The vehicles from Europe would become too expensive and as their market dried up they would pull out. Same with the Japanese, leaving us with the choice of Indian and Chinese motor vehilces as day to dayers with Hyundai & Kia being the aspired to luxury variants. Or we simply become a dumping ground for the used vehicles from Japan & Korea!
Far fetched? Maybe but probably not. Again look at New Zealands industry and what the majority of carsales are.
Andrew M

dont you just love articles that slag on the aussie two and paint roses around toyota???

first they say ford may have an extended xmas break (nothing confirmed) and put it in bad light.

whereas its put in good light that toyota may have an extended easter.
WTF??? that means they are as badly hit.

and then its also said that toyota is not being affected, yet their large car sales in the Aurion is down 34%
BUT the commodore is only down 15%!!!!!
and the falcon is quoted as not having lifted sales, yet they actually have and are the only manufacturer to have done so with something around the mark of a 12% increase which is bloody good for this current economic climate.

that 12% increase puts it 27% better than its nearest rival, and 46% ahead of the “Unaffected” Toyota

I think they way holden has handled this it pretty good.
if i worked there i would rather lose 4 hours a week than risk my name being drawn out of the hat to lose all 40 of them.

the auto industry has been a victim of rapid growth.
all 3 had systems in place and developed around booming sales. of course when the sales come back to normal there is going to be staff/hours cut.

retailers increase staff to deal with the Xmas rush, and cull them afterwards, its just that the automotive boom time isnt as predictable

The construction industry is the same at the moment.
plenty of companies have expanded or even been created to deal with the construction boom, now these very same companies have gone quieter since the work has slackened off.
no body is out there sparing a thought for that bobcat driver that just invested in a new 60K machine to make hay during the boom time.
its no different really
Realcars

Companies at the top of their game usually provide the best customer experience and the locals don’t do this with the bits falling off a press car to be examined and reviewed an example. GM/Ford factory and dealer network need to get their act together and implement a quality process. Eg u could buy an ef falcon new and as recently buy a bf11 new and have the same problem with the crimped end of the power steering hose leaking and f&^king the alternator.HOLDEN and Ford are renouned for niggly shit like this and buyers go elsewhere as a result.Problems like this go on for bloody decades.
Wheelnut

Greeny: FYI may I direct you to the followingh link http://www.caradvice.com.au/17300/holden-cruising-to-build-smaller-car/

The article starts with the sentence:

Holden has let slip on plans that it will build an all new “smaller” car at its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide.

At this stage it is unknown as to whether the vehicle will be manufactured from the ground up [think Torana TT-36] or assembled from “knocked down” kit using parts made off-shore [think Chevy Cruze or Opel Corsa].

“At this stage management haven’t been too clear in regard to what they are seeking other than to say that they have put a plan in place and it’s only a few weeks away whether they would know that will go ahead or not,”

They’ve indicated that the need to take the plan to Asia-Pacific to speak to the senior GM management at Asia-Pacific and, if they approve it, they then need to go to Detroit to seek their approval in being able to produce the small vehicle at the Elizabeth operation.

My connections at Holden have also alluded to such plans. Not to mention that GM CEO Bob Lutz is a fan of Holdens work and that former Holden Chief designer Mike Simcoe holds a fairly important position in GM as global project design chief.. the likelihood of Holdens plans to build a small car looks pretty good.

I suspect if/when it does happen it will most likely be something like an Opel Corsa as within a couple of years the Commodore is expected to become a “compact RWD sedan [after the upcoming VF]
Wheelnut

Quote [Andrew M]:dont you just love articles that slag on the aussie two and paint roses around toyota???

first they say ford may have an extended xmas break (nothing confirmed) and put it in bad light.

whereas its put in good light that toyota may have an extended easter.
WTF??? that means they are as badly hit.

I agree Andrew….

its all a result of the sensationalist media who have a tendency to take things out of context and blow everything out of proportion [like someone we know]

The current Economic downturn for instance has far more impact if its referred to as a crisis a disaster or even a depression as it makes people think that its worse than it probably/actually is and gets more people interested which sells more newspapers etc..

Yet the economy businesses/industries all go through cycles its just that because of “excessive greed” and lack of foresight etc the problem has compounded so the impasct is far worse than it was before back in the 90s

Same with the environment. the media like you to think that its the “end of the world” when the truth is that the environment goes through cycles as well and what is happening now is similar to what happened 100s of years ago its just that now the global population is bigger and therefore the impact has compounded

However; nature just like the economy will sort itself out as it has in the past – it just may take a while.. there is no quick fix

Nature restores the balance with fires earthquakes and Tsunamis.. and businesses do what they have to to surviv – the only difference being in relation to the economy it has more of a “human” element.

So when the more the media report or speculate about GM-Holden and Fords “financial problems” and that they are “closing down” [etc] it raises peoples doubts about what will happen if they buy a Holden/Ford in the future… so they don’t! which only adds to the likelihood of them closing…. Its pathetic
JEYKL & HYDE

now i could be dead wrong here,but my mail as that holden’s locally built small car will be astra.if anybody has concrete knowledge to say no,speak up!!!i mean,it sounds crazy,opel made and european market taylored,but think about it.its holden’s best small car.solid build quality.reputation.currently very hard to get.range of different models.could it be made cheaper in aus,and sold to asia/china etc from here?
Bavarian Missile

BK…………we are smarter than the Asians,its just we are too honest!
Forza M

bavarian woodduck. Deadset mate you are a fair dinkum wanker with shit coming out of your mouth like that. You and others in here who keep crapping on about The Aussie companies being picked on have no idea. Last time i checked Ford and Holden both had parents in the US of A.

Andrew M as above and also mate you should think about going for a job at BIS Schrapnel your knowledge of the Economic Climate is second to none not. Champ don’t blame the media for GM and the Blue oval going like a busted arse. Once again blame their American parents who have caused this with very bad product planning. One of the big three Americans will close or be bought out by someone. Hopefully its not GM or Ford.

You can pull Vfacts figures out of your bum all day about Aurion being down 30percent bla bla bla, but in the cold light of day Toyota could buy out GM 20 times over with cash they have in the bank. They are obviously doing something right…
Andrew M

Forza,
did you read what i said???

The article relates to the 3 large aussie made competing vehicles.
This is an Australian article relating to Australian production taking place in Australian factories.

What does the price of eggs in china have to do with the Australian market and how does the price of eggs in china make what i said about Australian manufacturers incorrect???

Fair Dinkum mate……….

The article paints an INCORRECT picture, contradicts itself and some facts are wrong, end of story.

you must be pretty silly if you cant see that saying in one sentence
Andrew M

oooops didnt finish it ^^^^^

oh well,
sick of speaking to tools anyway………
http://integra Greeny

Wheelnut…….you are wrong. Holden has no concrete plans for a small car. They only put out a stroy like this when Ford have already released their plans. Fords Focus plan is all go, Holdens is not. This is typical of Holden……they always try to counter other companies news by making up a story themselves. Believe me ….Holden WILL NOT MAKE A SMALL CAR IN AUSTRALIA.
Andrew M

Greeny,
I too have not seen any concrete stuff to say holden is doing a small car.
James

Actually…
-GM-
It will no doubt be great for the industry if GM does decide to manufacture a small vehicle in Australia. But remember, right now they are also planning to make plants in China. Not just them, all manufacturers are in a “race” to build new plants in China as it is “cheaper” to produce vehicles there. GM is currently in a “lowest cost” mode to turn things around. Producing cars in Australia is not “cheap”, we have the skills and knowledge but price is higher also.

-Ford-
Its good that they “announced” the Focus to be assembled in Oz, obviously they plan to cut down on the big 6 production to somehow balance it. Focus is also a global car so exporting is a lot “easier”.

-Toyota-
Sure things doesnt look as bleak, but Toyota along with GM and Ford have signficantly lost heaps of profits in the USA recently. And it will affect all of Toyota. They are also expecting to use China to produce more vehicles. Their stance on Australia is good at the moment, especially with the government’s focus on environmentally friendly cars, Toyota sees eye to eye with them, so its “easier” to negotiate with the head honchos in Japan.
Frontman

Forza M Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Forza, my friend, I think you should read what people write before slagging off at them!

As for BV’s comment about asian business practices, try going over there and setting up a business! You will learn fact from fiction.

Secondly can you please explain the attack on Andrew when he was simply commenting on the media’s reports that Ford and Holden are struggling yet Toyota are un affected! Yet as several of us have pointed out, FG has increased market share (so far every month this year) whilst both Aurion and VE have decreased. That is simple fact and NOT a blight on anyone bar the media. That’s not having a go at Toyota, that is just FACT. As to the dishonesty / differences in reporting the facts, if the rumour I have eluded to earlier is correct you will also understand.

Thirdly, can you PLEASE understand how you can invisage running a multinational company that is (I’ll stick to Ford here due to my history) building the best selling vehilce in one of the largest market places for 15 consecutive years (also the best selling truck for 23 consecutive years) can see a change in buyers appertite that basic took place over an 18 month period? Don’t believe it was that fast, look at the news! Ford NA re-employed some 1000 workers last month as the drop in Oil prices saw an increase in F series sales! (Dumb yes, but they are americans). As for the belief that Toyota had better marketing strategies, again look at their market plans For most of the 90′s they struggled with (and spent billions on) the T100 truck, even to the point that it’s successor was to be called T150 (court action by Ford and then T called it Tundra) just to break into that market, finally getting some success in sales around 2005! The Market failed in 2006!
In finishing, read what others write and learn a little about the market place before running off. Comments about personal preferences on cars are fine but don’t let your prejudices get involved when discussing the companies. (everyone). I can and do pick the S*** out of Ford and it’s marketing prctices and decisions, but I still have a preference for their product.
Silky

AndrewM, just curious, but where exactly did you get the stat that Aurion sales in OZ are down 34%?

Whilst I note that October was a shocker for the Aurion, YTD sales are only down about 11.5% (VFacts).

Sensible decision by Holden and Ford and probably soon Toyota, interesting to see if it will be decreased OZ sales or exports which is the catalyst for reduced production.(For Hold and Toyo anyway, weaker doller etc)
Mick

Well I don’t want to repeat too much what others have said here. But the harsh reality is that the world economy is in big big trouble in all industries, Here in Australia the Building industry is quickly coming to a grinding halt and as mentioned earlier the bloke down the read that bought a new excavator to cope with the extra work he had 6-12months ago is not struggling for work. The mining boom of the past few years that has fuelled our economy to the success we have seen is also quite quickly slowing and this will result in unemployment in the near future.
The car industry is no different, sure the automotive world has done very well for quite a few years, but they have to realise that it wasn’t going to last forever.
People have mentioned GM NA are on the verge of going under which sadly would probably mean Holden will cease to exist also. But Ford NA is in the same boat. The plans to build the focus in Australia are all well and good but will for still exist in Australia in 2011 to be able to actually product the car here?
Toyota are very good at giving the impression to the media and world that everything is rosy. I’m sure there are accountant within the company that could tell a very different story.
The industry will change in the next 6-12 months and im sure it will not be nearly as promising as people will expect. We could loose one if not two of our local manufacturers which would be truly disastrous for the Aussie consumer.
Silky

“Holden has let slip on plans that it will build an all new “smaller” car at its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide.”

That’s hardly confirmation wheelnut. I would like to see Holden build a smaller car in OZ(sounds VERY green does it not)but given the state of GM cannot see this happening. Build a small car? What for, to compete against what exactly?
Smaller car equals smaller margins, Tariffs soon to be gone, compete against the cheaper labour costs of importers? The Focus has a market in OZ and overseas, makes sense, I don’t get a small car from Holden tho
BK

We all need better cars in the world so does it matter that Holden and Ford close up. They been making stink bombs for decades and we all need better cars. Im sure when they close up somebody allready has a plan for a better idea than a gas guzzler Holden or Ford. Its time for change.
Wheelnut

If that’s your attitude BK – I look forward to seeing you in the queue at Centrelink
Bret

Great news:

FORD’S GEELONG ENGINE PLANT TO STAY OPEN

INLINE 6 CYL STAYS AT LEATS UNTIL 2013 – EUROIV COMPLIENT
BK

I do enjoy my days off from work. Does anybody need a job here er(wheelnut).haha More job losses from ford and holden wheelnut. PMSL. We need better cars. Stink bombs out of this country.
James

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.
Bret

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.
Frontman

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.
Frenchie

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.
BK

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.
Andrew M

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
Andrew M

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
tekkyy

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
MAX

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..
Andrew M

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
Mods

Silky, why come back under yet another name? Still embarresed?
Andrew M

have you still got comprehension issues???

WHACK!!!!! (down you go again)
ha ha ha ha ha ha
regie

forz and andrew get a room , 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.
http://www.caradvice.com.au Karl Peskett

Forza and Andrew M, any more of the personal insults and you will be banned.

Keep it on topic. You have been warned.
Andrew M

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
Forza M

Thank you for apologising Andrew. Much appreciated mate