Comments on: GM Holden not for sale – spokesman

By: swampdawg

swampdawg — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:59:10 +0000

Hmmm, sounds like the Lion could be a dead kitten in a few years.
Wait until about two years time when fuel (as predicted) goes back to or near two bucks per litre. That will shake out a few more problems.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:52:53 +0000

Just read that Limited Slip, truly staggering loses. Every performance metric is just tanking, profit, revenue, market share, cash burn-through. Does seem hard to see how even if the bankruptcy proceedings go to plan and they shed huge swaths of dealers and debt that they will come out viable.

I do think the best option is if SAIC invests heavily into Holden. I thought that with their part ownership of GM Daewoo Holden could just hypothetically cut away Commodore and remain as a Daewoo reseller, but even GM Daewoo is on the ropes, having posted yet another loss and > 50% revenue decline. You might not agree with this Matthew-Wilson fella, but you need very rose tinted glasses to look at GM’s finances and see a happy ending for Holden.

By: Limited Slip

Limited Slip — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:11:33 +0000

GM just posted a FIRST QUARTER LOSS of 6 BILLION DOLLARS ………….just the First Quarter………now everyone tell me that they wont go into bankrupcy !!! How can they ever hope to survive like that? Another nail in Holdens coffin me thinks……..

By: topdog

topdog — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:37:50 +0000

who realy cares who buys holden so long as thay still survive.I mean most of there cars are dawooes any way so what would be the dif who buys it

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:04:19 +0000

Andrew,
I agree on ford dropping the small car ball when they dropped the “Laser” name plate.

Sure it was a great move as the focus is a great car and a #1 seller in europe, but when it was delivered to OZ, everyone was what the “F” is a focus?????
No problem that they switched to the Focus, but perhaps a bit of holden like expertise in badge engineering it into a Laser would have seen a better sales result.

Nissan did the same by dropping the Pulsar nameplate.
The Pulsar was becoming another aussie favourite until they dropped it leaving the public saying what the “F” is a Tiida and how do I pronounce it????

Both Ford and Nissan handed a large chunk of market share to the Corolla by not keeping with familiar name plates

By: mazdaman

mazdaman — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:54:45 +0000

maybe someone should go out and buy a copy of this fools book so he will stop making up BS to get get publicity.
While he may hate EVERY car made in Australia, I as an Australian hope our car industry does survive, but it obviously needs exports to do so.

By: Shak

Shak — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:41:11 +0000

This may be a gud thing for holden as their new masters would have the money to invest in new techs for holden.

By: Theo

Theo — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:46:35 +0000

The way I see it Clive Matthew-Wilson is a waste of sperm. And I would be saying this if his story was about either Holden or Ford. People working for these companies have enough on their plate, little alone worry what some twat is saying.

By: The Salesman Kung Fu Fighting

The Salesman Kung Fu Fighting — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:11:29 +0000

Makes sense, Holden are already a Korean car company, almost. Barina, Viva, Epica are from Korea. Captiva is from Thailand. Only Commodore is manufactured here and those sales are declining to the point were they will, for the first time since the late 70′s early 80′s manufacture a four in Australia. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Chinese kids who will work in the new Holden Factory are about to graduate from high school. How does the Holden Grasshopper series two sound to you? Of course I hope I am wrong. But if you take off your red lion glasses you can see Holden has steadily declined and is loosing ground to the point were they are shutting down production days. Solution, make a more diverse range of cars here. Do what ever it takes to make it happen and keep jobs in Australia.

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:07:46 +0000

Makes sense Holden are already a Korean car company, almost. Barina, Viva, Epica are from Korea. Captiva is from Thailand. Only Commodore is manufactured here and those sales are declining to the point were they will, for the first time since the late 70′s early 80′s manufacture a four in Australia. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Chinese kids who will work in the new Holden Factory are about to graduate from high school. How does the Holden Grasshopper series two sound to you? Or the jackie Chan signiture series? Of course I hope I am wrong. But if you take off your red lion glasses you can see Holden has steadily declined and is loosing ground to the point were they are shutting down production days. Solution, make a more diverse range of cars here. Do what ever it takes to make it happen and keep jobs in Australia. NOW!!!!!!!