Holden Working on Hybrid & Diesel
April 19, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Our friends at GoAuto had a chat to GM chief Denny Mooney today and from what can gather he had a lot to say about Holden’s future regarding not only diesel but also Hybrid engines.
We mentioned recently that Ford Australia is working on Hydrogen powered engines, while Holden had not confirmed whether or not a Diesel version of the VE Commodore will ever become available.
Of course, this is a calculated response by Mr Mooney, last week we reported how GM’s vice-chairman of global product development Bob Lutz has pressed pause on the future of GMs RWD programs due to the emission standards set to change to reflect global warming and pollution. In that interview Mr Lutz famously said We don’t know how to get 30 percent better mileage.
We believe a Holden VE Commodore Diesel is going to happen, its now more a matter of when as oppose to if.
“We’re working on diesel – there is an engine that works – but we don’t have a planned production date,” he said.
Mr Mooney was quoted as saying that whilst the technology was there for Holden to put a Diesel (and even Hybrid) into the Commodore, its more a matter of if anyone would buy it.
“Here’s the deal with diesel – and you can put hybrids in the same mould, by the way – you’ve got to have a business case. The reality for diesel and two-mode hybrid is that there is a lot of money that you have to spend to productionise that – (e.g.) you’ve got to do all the crash testing.” he said.
This is a strong argument given that the Commodore is mainly a fleet car. Would Fleet buyers flock to Diesel instead? or Even Hybrid? Of course they would! It would reduce costs.
“But to spend all that money and put it in production, you’ve got to be confident that you’ve got a reasonable business case. And I can tell you that a lot of hybrids don’t generate reasonable income.” he said.
We might have given Mr Mooney less credit than he deserved in the past and he might carry the strongest American accent in the industry, but when it comes to business sense, cost cutting and maximizing profits, its what he does best. Even if it costs thousands of jobs.
The issue with Diesel and Hybrid is simple. Fleet buyers are going to buy the Commodore regardless, if it was Diesel or Hybrid, it would be better, but and the end of the day, the choices are either a Falcon or a Commodore and since Ford is not exactly winning the alternative fuel race, there is no reason to try.
However, then there is the Japanese, Toyota have been using the Hybrid image so well, that when you think of Hybrid or Green cars, the first thing that comes to your mind is a cute little Japanese car, better known as the Prius.
Mr Mooney is well aware of the beneficial image improvement a Hybrid would bring
“From an image standpoint and all the other things it can do for you, you can also look at it as a marketing and advertising move as well – for your brand and your company,” he said.
A big statement from a company that has spent a great deal of time focusing on making bigger engines as oppose to more efficient ones.
All in all, it seems that Holden have been quietly working on both Diesel and Hybrid without much hype. Also there appears to be no set schedule as to whether or not Holden will bring out a Diesel prior to the Hybrid.
You can read the full interview at GoAuto here
Print it: 
god can u immagine the teething issues and recalls to come!
Yeah I think the most valid point is that it doesnt matter if their cars are diesel or petrol from a fleet point of view… idiots still buy these cars. Although I must say I think the major issue for private purchases is fuel consumption and a diesel/hybrid would address this… a fuel efficient yet powerful car – as if that would not be tempting to alot of buyers who currently look at getting small sedans as family cars etc.
Reading the full article, it amazes me that he doesn’t appear to want to follow the Euro or even Aussie market trends. He seems very dependant on what happens in the US. This makes me fell that GMH is more US driven than aussie driven.
A diesel commodore should have been launched already, whats the hold up?
I’m guessing we’ll see a Korean Hybrid before we see a Hybrid Commodore.
Of course its all US driven
Holden has to justify everything it does with a “there is a potential to sell this car in the US” type approach,
after all GM has been on the down for the last 5 years, Toyota is set to finally become the world’s No.1 car manufacturer by years end.
“Toyota is set to finally become the world’s No.1 car manufacturer by years end.”
I thought it already was, as of last year?
[QUOTE] This makes me fell that GMH is more US driven than aussie driven.[/QUOTE]
Finally one person has realised!!! Good luck with the rest though, as long as Holden shove a Kookaburra in their VE Calais commercial (LAME) most idiots still think they actually care about Australia
Put a good modern diesel in a Commodore or Falcon and Australians will buy it but make it a diesel hybrid combo with (god forbid) plug in capability and the world might even buy it, no brainer in my opinion, what’s wrong with these over paid short sighted executives.
GM was still the biggest manufacturer as at 31 Dec 2007 by about 3000 vehicles but the trend is clear and so far this year Toyota is outselling GM. As for fleets; Government fleets are rapidly introducting environmental targets, such as QFleet’s ClimateSmart Action Plan in Queensland. These mandate the purchase of more fuel efficient vehicles thus nudging out most Australian made vehicles.. The manufacturers can only but thank themselves for not keeping up with the times…
This is the main problem at GM – This MORON has way too much power influence or say as to what goes on at Chev; Pontiac; Cadillac Holden Vauxhall Opel and the other GM companies…I mean lets look at his past
As CEO at Pontiac he decided to go with the Sigma Platform for Pontiacs new Sedan which was such a poor performer it almost killed off Pontiacs reputation as a sports car brand in the USA
Then they sent him Over to Holden where he not only realised that the Holden engineers made the right decision in rejecting the sigma platform for the VE – the car which is starting to make Pontiacs popular again…. He took credit for the VEs success which should go to former CEO Peter Hannenberger
And then there was his decision to import Daewoos instead of Opels inorder to increase profit matrgins. Yet the due to the poor sales of all the Daewoos except for the Captiva; dealers are forced to slash prices of the cars thereby eating into the savings they were intended to make.
Now they have given him a rather influential position on the board…. Good one GM [sarcasm]