Comments on: SA in bid to build electric Holden Cruze

By: Talen

Talen — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:02:24 +0000

The electric Cruze is a totally different car to the Insight (mild Hybrid) and Prius (Hybrid). The Cruze will able to commute roughly 64km a day on electricity WITHOUT using a drop of petrol.

If you have to commute further a petrol generator will kick in to charge the batteries, so you could drive from Melbourne to Sydney for example.

This technology is incredible complex and much more advanced than the hybrids from Japan which still use a significant amount of petrol in day-day driving. It will be funny to think that little ol’ Australia might have the chance to build one of the most technologically advanced and one of the greenest vehicles on the planet.

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:26:14 +0000

I will put my money on the Cruize never being wholly made in Australia. Daewoo already have a much better infrastructure in place. Why would GM invest in making a car they already make cheaper in Korea? Plus almost every thing else with a Lion badge already comes from there.

Did anyone else note the wording in the article?

“The Cruze, currently imported into Australia but with other versions to be manufactured here from next year”

Key note is “Other versions to be manufactured here from next year”

By: Shak

Shak — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:18:13 +0000

I get what you mean tom, the article said both in the same line. Oh yeah wheelnut your probably right but because Holden has direct control over Daewoo they could decide to change production over when they wanted. In korea theres no shortage of Jobs so youd want to bring them here.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:41:34 +0000

So is it an Australia version of the Volt, or a Electric Cruze, they are two very different things..

By: tekkyy

tekkyy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:47:06 +0000

Doesn’t really matter if holden has to import the batteries.

Add more powertrains to the Cruze line up and you’ll get more interest and sales.

By: Frenchie

Frenchie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:14:10 +0000

If you want to buy the current Cruze, you can expect delivery maybe a week before christmas 2009.

By: Frenchie

Frenchie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:12:01 +0000

I can’t see Holdens making batteries for the cruze. They’ll be imported into Australia, like they import the V8′s. How this is going to create jobs is very sketchy. All it will do is give Australians an opportunity to buy another electric vehicle.

By: Wheelnut®™

Wheelnut®™ — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:18:45 +0000

Shak you;re probably right given that the Cruze is built in Lordstown Ohio in the USA.

However its also being built in St Petersburg [Russia]and Bupyeong-gu Incheon [South Korea]

Therefore; if Obamas top priority isto protect US Jobs surely he would make GM cease production of the Cruze in the other Overseas plants; and transfer it to one of the other GM plants throughout the USA that have been/are operating at less than 75% capacity

Obama would have also told GM to scrap the plan to build the Cruze hatchback at Holden in Adelaide next year.

Yet as I have said before given that the Cruze is built in 3 other countries; it would have made more sense for GM to get Holden to build the Insignia instead which is only being built in Russelheim [Germany]
Particularly as they were/are getting rid of Opel – they need a decent Mid size car throughout their range [Buick Chev Cadillac Holden]

By: Shak

Shak — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:35:41 +0000

the reason GM wont allow Holden to build this here is because it will be taking jobs off Americans, and Mr Obama has made them top priority. I agree with above comments that if marketed properly any Holden electric car will sell. Just look at the Cruze marketing campaign. Holden sold 200 of them in their first month. Thats more than sportwagon sales for its first month. I really hope Holden build something of quality downunder to raise brand image.

By: jtoddy

jtoddy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:44:33 +0000

There is no doubt that cars with architecture similar to the Volt will be the future of the automobile. Whether these cars ultimately get their power from improved internal combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells or the electricity grid is not yet know.

But one can only wonder how much more money will various Australian governments give out for green window dressing. When will the Australian car industry produce real innovation, local IP or at least some jobs growth?
I fear that the only return of investment that the tax payer will receive is another photo-op for Kim Carr.

Sorry for the rant.