Comments on: Pontiac G8 not yet dead – GM boss

By: DesignEngr

DesignEngr — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:43:50 +0000

Duck, but that was the Australian Holden, before GM bought the whole thing, turning it into the US owned GM-H and then started to make cars.

By: Mumble Duck

Mumble Duck — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:14:40 +0000

Andrew M, Ford did built cars before Holden, from the year 1925 with the Model T in Geelong. But, Holden were doing plenty of other things in Australia way before Ford did as a company.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:13:23 +0000

Frosty,
I am aware of Holdens heritage.

The name has nothing to do with it.
In a nut shell GM bought the name and started producing their existing models here.
Holden is Really no more Australian than Ford.
Both Ford and Holden have unique models to Australia that ensure many jobs in Australia, and design and develop their models in Australia for Australians.
If you want to get technical, Ford have actually been doing that for much longer than Holden.

By: Yianni

Yianni — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:12:33 +0000

I wouldn’t look in to currencies too much as they’re changing day by day.

I’m sure GM aren’t really worried about the currency exchange when they looked in to getting the G8 since our dollar was extremely strong at the time yet they still went ahead with the G8.

The AUD is already up above .80 USD and is tipped to rise over .90 USD in 12 months. This then opens the road for parity once things stabilise and economies start to boom after the crisis.

If they want the car get it regardless.

By: Sam-R

Sam-R — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:48:40 +0000

IMO the stronger US$ compared to our AUS$ makes it viable for GM to import the G8 in the short term. If sales skyrocket due to the quality and performance the G8 has over the lame US built cars then I see production start in the US because I can’t see the AUS Holden factory keeping up with the demand.

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:36:08 +0000

Will seems you know nothing about Australian cars going on that comment.

Ford have a diesel its testing currently for its models and have you heard of a little in-line 6 tucked in the engine bay of the F6….. Lacks performance does it ?

By: Will

Will — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:26:53 +0000

Australian designed cars look sooo ugly, eek, and they don’t even have a diesel, let alone one in their performance line up. Got the Klutz alzheimers bug.

Anyway, to the subject at hand…this brand is being bolstered for a fire sale, one of the pitches that it potentially has access to a lucrative market.

Doh.

By: B-Man

B-Man — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:14:21 +0000

I know what you are trying to say Frontman but that post made absolutly no sense.
I am not ‘anti-holden,’ but people with blind faith in a brand that they perceve as ‘Australian’ are mistaken.
Either way, if Holden can find a way to continue export of the commodore than it can only be a good thing for local industry.

By: Frontman

Frontman — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:53:39 +0000

Ferchrissakes people, who gives a toss if they are owned by Australians or not!! They employ Australians directly and indirectly. IF you were only going to by Australian stuff if it came from Australian owned companies then everything you buy would come from overseas…

By: B-Man

B-Man — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:22:59 +0000

So the name is Australian. So what? The company is American, all holden vehicles except commodore and caprice are imported, and the V8’s for those vehicles are imported from mexico. That does not an Australian company make.

By: Frosty

Frosty — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:44:57 +0000

Andrew M, dou you not really know the History of the Holden nameplate prior to it being put in as part of the G.M empire? You will find that the Holden nameplate is Australian unlike Ford or Toyota who are not even Australian names. Do some reading up on the Brand Holden and you will find its not a American name that G.M decided to take to Australia. So basically in Name Holden is the Only Australian named one so its right for it to be called Australia’s own. The Commodore export program I believe will continue until the time is right for the U.S to retool for the Commodore’s platform. This will now be a few years away so a few years of U.S exports is better than none and along with exports to Europe which will come, will secure the Commodore for its new generation due sometime around 2012.

By: Frenchie

Frenchie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:47:11 +0000

I think they will sell the G8 badged as Buick. The new G8 will be different, it will be based more like the Calais.
Holden will also export the sportswagon aswell under the Buick banner.
If everything goes to plan I think GM will be selling them February/March 2010 (MY10).

Also they could revitilise the Ute and sell that under the GMC banner. This would satisfiy their CAFE laws. The vehicle was going to be exported but stop at the last minute.

The other rumour I heard is that Holden is to export the WM Caprice as a Caddy.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:37:38 +0000

Shane,
Im calling for them to build it in the US AND still here in OZ.
Australias market is big enough to still support commodore manufacturing, but simply sharing the development costs with the US would be a great help to the balance sheet.

Building it in the US wouldnt mean they have to cut the production line here for it in return

By: Shane

Shane — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:31:24 +0000

Shak,

That is not the case, I would prefer to boost Aussie jobs at the expense of any other nation, but every other nation has that same view. The US will do what they can to boost their economy and create jobs. An example of this would be for GM to build the Commodore in the USA and export to Australia (I am not saying this is the case). It would create jobs in the USA and the car could be sold for less in the USA. That’s two big reasons to why GM would build a RWD sedan in the USA.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:37:59 +0000

Wheelnut,
cant understand why they will build the Cruze here instead of insignia???

Well they need a big volume seller.
The medium segment isnt really fairing any better than the large segment.
Small cars are where the masses are.
Holden and the whole GM empire needs to build mass sellers.
Cruze will sell plenty more than the Insignia.

IMO Cruze = right choice

By: BK

BK — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:27:10 +0000

Cant GM make up there mind with the G8. Seems to be more stupid publicity stunts by GM. Hurry up and die cause we dont need this junk.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:18:49 +0000

As for importing cars.. I still don’t understand why Holden is building another version of the Cruze which is already being built in 4 other countries from which its cheaper for them to import from
Instead of building the Opel Insignia which is only being built in more expensive Germany – They can do it as GM still own the rights to “intellectual property” such as the design and the platform of the Insignia which was developed under GM ownership

If Holden were to build the Insignia they could help meet demand from overseas whereas given the Cruze is built in 4 other countries I doubt supply will ever be a problem

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:15:42 +0000

The main reason you import a car is either because:
a) its cheaper to do so or
b) you don’t have the facilities etc to build the car in your own country [which then relates back to a]

At the moment GM doesn’t have the facilities in the USA or the tooling to build the VE and I they’re unlikely to fork out the dosh required to remove the current robots from one of their under performing facilities and install the same robots etc that build the VE at the Holden Factory

So until their financial situation improves and/or their restructuring process is complete they will most lkely continue to import the VE from Holden in Australia

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:03:07 +0000

If GM do decide to continue selling the VE in the USA it will still keep some americans in a job.. not in the factory but in the dealerships because as the article says Buick hasn’t had a decent RWD performance car in its line up since the mid 80s.. so its just what Buick needs

The only problem being is that the reason they offered the VE as a Pontiac was to try and improve Pontiacs image. Unfortunately though there wasn’t any other cars of equal “quality” in the Pontiac line up to support it – and the same applies to Buick.

If they are serious about keeping the VE they should offer it as the new Chevy Impala – which is what a number of US based car magazines websites and enthusiasts would like to see it sold as

Because unlike a number of ‘Aussies” on this site they love the VE and see it as a real performance sedan particularly in terms of bang for your buck.. which it is.
They would also like to see the Ute and the Sportwagon over there

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:51 +0000

Shak,
I agree that Holden deserve to stay on, but I’m a little puzzled as to why you called it Australias only true brand…..