Comments on: Australian made cars – Will they survive?

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:56:10 +0000

that must be the exception to the rule

By: Peter Schuback

Peter Schuback — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:02:49 +0000

Holden a name that every person thinks is Australian , I brought three new Holdens thinking that I was createing jobs for Australians , I found out after buying them that not one of them is manufactured in Australia , Is that false and misleading advertising and should manufactures of all imported products have to inform the Australian public where the products they are buying are manufactured .

By: Me.

Me. — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:15:07 +0000

Hope fully not all Australian cars will leave the contry. I think the Dog and Lemon Guide person must be japanese that hates Australian cars or something.
No offense, sorry!

By: Al Juraj

Al Juraj — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:16:56 +0000

Maybe MIVEC will cure 380 sales woes. It’s sold in the US as the Galant, but it has MIVEC back there. Why can’t Mitsu OZ feature that in their midsizer?

The new Falcon looks promising and may well head for the States as a replacement for the Crown Victoria. The Commodore has already been exported to China as Buicks, and in America as the Pontiac G8 soon.

I really don’t think that despite all financial crises, these makers will stop manufacturing here. Australia does care for its people and has pride in everything that is made here and brought worldwide. Many may argue about Holden’s true nationality, but one thing’s for sure – there are still Aussie jobs generated by this company.

Ford OZ, on the other hand, has its own independent designs. The Barra DOHC 4.0 in the Falcon is their own and is not available in American models. The control blade independent rear suspension is also unique downunder. The current Mustang still has the SOHC V6 that used to power Falcons up to the AU, as well as a primitive live axle rear chassis setup. Finally, the Territory is a true Australian, and could have actually been proxied for the Explorer.

Despite the layoff, I believe they’re on the right track. Once they scrap those 4-speed autos and improve on reliability, they can possibly come to the top again. They’ve gotten the recipe for exterior design and handling right anyway.

By: Roy

Roy — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:32:36 +0000

I operate a small fleet of Australian built motor vehicles (all Falcons – 2 utes and one sedan). Two pertol and one dedicated LPG. Most running is highway and the petrol cars return around 10 litres per 100 k’s regularly like clockwork. A 4 cylinder buzz bomb might do about 7 litres per 100. If petrol averages $1.20 per litre that equates to a petrol saving of $3.60 per hundred or $360 per 10000 kilometres. If I tried to do with say a Jumbuck for example what I do with the Falcon utes I would have to travel at least an extra 50% further. How would that save me money? Anyway it is worth a few bucks per week to protect Aussie jobs, Aussie traditions and Aussie made products. Anyone who drives imported cars is not a true Australian patriot. God help us if Aussie made cars vanish. I pray for the industry’s survival. One thing that really irks me are the farmers and manufacturers who bleat about cheap Chinese imports costing jobs and profits but they drive imported cars. What hypocrites.

By: Neddy Smith

Neddy Smith — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:56:02 +0000

By the way I drive a European brand – which is cheaper to service and repair than my 2000 Holden Commodore.

By: Neddy Smith

Neddy Smith — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:52:50 +0000

They will die if they don’t get their act together and stop dishing up badly designed cars that are not fuel efficient, of bad quality, poor resale value, costly to repair.

Why buy Australian?

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:17:53 +0000

Agreed! Ford having territory, falcon and focus assembly here will only help Ford AUs adapt to changing local conditions…

It’s amazing to think that Ford AUS has never had any major exports programs for falcon or territory like Holden and Toyota do, yet manages to do as much as they do…

There was even a rumour going around when territory was released that Holden could figure out how Ford AUS could produce such a vehicle for such a relatively small volume!

I wonder if you took Toyota and Holdens exports away who would actually be the healthier local producer?

By: Jamison

Jamison — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:27:18 +0000

Most have already inputted on the current situations with Ford and GM. I work in the automotive industry in itself, and from what I have learnt so far. Its not very easy to simply start exporting vehicles, as some say Holden should do, yes they are in the process and are planning to increase volume exports, but you have to factor in that cars are engineered and designed specifically for certain areas. Not only that, but agreements and partnerships with suppliers within the countries of assembly will limit the amount of cars being imported from another country. I read someone say, Ford should get rid of Taurus and start importing Australian made cars?… I don’t see anyone benefitting there except the Australian manufacturing plants and workers. Why exactly would Ford stop production of this vehicle in its current plant? Not only is taurus an established car in the U.S, but the plant it is assembled in has much more workers and are bigger than the Australian plant(s). Currently, from information I have learnt, Ford U.S is not exactly over loaded with demands for their vehicles hence manufacturing plants in the U.S are under pressure already. And the U.S market dwarves the Australian market. So yes, decisions are very tough, one reason why you wont see much support from many industrial partners about importing cars, especially suppliers.
However, as most stated, Ford’s plans to produce the focus in Australia, is a good step, its logical. As trends have shown that people are indeed looking into the small to medium car market more rather than the big car market. Sure, Holden is enjoying the VE top the sales chart, but considering that most of that sales go to people upgrading from their previous model commodores, not to mention the tribalist mentality that I think, is a signficant reason why Holden and Ford are still afloat over there.
Also, mind you, that this doesnt just concern Ford and GM, but th Australian automotive manufacturing sector as a whole. China is fast becomming a global supplier option for all manufacturers as the cost of suppliers there are a fraction in comparison to others. And I know that all companies are actually battling to establish their presens over there, so even the Korean manufacturers can easily claim huge dividends. The only major obstacle at this point is the cheap imitators from smaller Chinese manufacturers, I am not too sure on the rules about, exporting there, but it would have to be under a controlled manner, favouring the local manufacturers.

By: Tony M

Tony M — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:39:27 +0000

I might be wrong, but the Mitsubishi 380 is of American design which has been tailored to Australian conditions. So the issue of whether Mitsubishi lasts in Australia has a lot to do with America (I think).