Holden’s strong start to 2010 continues, sales up 28% in March

By Matt Brogan | April 07th, 2010

Holden continues its strong start to 2010 with the Australian company recording a 28 per cent increase in sales for the month of March (as compared to the same time last year).

Today’s monthly sales figures, released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), show Holden sold a total of 11,795 vehicles in March with its popular Commodore model maintaining its position as Australia’s best selling car. The numbers show the Holden Commodore enjoyed its highest March sales volume since 2007.

Strong sellers elsewhere in the Holden lineup include the Captiva SUV, which had its best sales month since being introduced in 2006, and the Holden Barina.

Holden sold 1455 Captiva models in March, a 153 per cent increase on the same month last year, and 1213 Barinas – the small car’s best sales result since 2006.

“March saw us build on the sales momentum generated earlier in the year, to achieve a very strong first quarter for 2010,” said Holden Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr John Elsworth.

“Commodore continues to be mainstay of our range, proving popular in showrooms time after time. “We are also very pleased with the Captiva range which has really found the sweet spot in the SUV market,

“We have some great offers in the marketplace at the moment, right across the Holden range, that we believe will entice customers into our showrooms and continue the sales momentum that we have seen in the first quarter of 2010.”

Tom22

Good work Holden, also with the American Caprice deal for the police this may finally push you back into the green.

D

‘Green’? I think you mean ‘black’- unless of course you’re talking about their environmental credentials or the green colour of that Commodore…

Deco

Let’s talk more about that green colour on the SV6, it’s so nice .

Power windows

Australian Company? Yeah right!! GM is fully owned by the American Government due to the 100 billion dollar bail out loan……..how could you call Holden Australian? It is further from being an australian company than it has ever been!!!!!

Stoney!

Wow sigh.

Holden is a subsidiary of GM, it’s status hasn’t changed! Whether its owned by GM america or The American government, it’s still an AUSTRALIAN SUBSIDIARY of GM.

Stoney!
Mike

Isn’t better to be seeing a company that all Australians have grown up with doing good rather than our kids growing up with the likes of Hyundai or Kia being on top. Sad for Australian if that day comes.

Andrew M

Does Daewoo being on top count??
Is that just sad as if either of the other Koreans you mentioned were on top??

D

That’s not true, Canadian government also has a stack in GM plus a few others.

They’re still an Australian subsidiary though as they build cars here, company tax goes to the Australian government and they contribute to Australia’s GDP.

ABMPSV

Tax goes here Profit to US. I remember in mid 1980′s I worked there. Every 3 months we had a meeting with the CEO he told us!! If they want they can close this place down just like Mitsubishi. Government put so much money in and than still closed down. I would not put a cent in car idustry better to spend on hospitals and schools!

mmmmmmmm

They employ Australian workers
They build cars in Australian
They export manufactured goods and bring money into Australia.

They are Australian enough the rest of us!

and the bail out loans where closer to half of the figure you’re exaggerating

Devil’s Advocate

Just like Ford and Toyota.
The Realist

They also consume Aussie taxes.
They also haven’t made a proft in over five years.

Al Juraj

They borrow American engines.
They get other parts from Lord knows where.
They build LHD G8 better, ship them whole to America and sold much cheaper.
They let America build much cooler Camaro but no RHD version.

They say Commodores are Australian. Voila, people buy them!

Shak

Nothing wrong with borrowing American engines.
They get parts from around the world like every other car company.
How do you know that they build the G8 better. And its not their choice on price.
And America is where Holdens parent is located. The subsidiary doesnt tell the parent what to do. They follow orders. A business case could not be made for the Camaro.

Golfschwein

I’m afraid you’re incorrect on that one. The US administration owns 60% of GM, not 100%.

HSV Owner

Wrong again! As of last week, GM stands alone again!

SUV

You gotta wonder why people would want to spend their hard earned money on anything from Holden when in every class the opposition has much better cars!!

Ultimately though, the fuel economy debate is overshadowed by the inescapable fact that the Falcon is the better car; more comfortable, better equipped, better ride and a fresher look. Why would you buy a Commode?

Stoney!

But they do, end of story lol. There’s no point debating why they buy it because at the end of the day they will and they have.

Stoney!

Al Juraj

Ford – American
Holden – Australian

That’s all people have come to believe. Don’t be surprised when Commodores come fully built from China and still top the sales charts.

Shak

Whoever you are, someone just posted this exact post on another article,word for word. Or are you just patrolling every Holden article and trying to convince us that Falcon is better. Holden fans dont want Falcon, live with it mate.
rentakeyboard

And why do they still but toyotas when you cant trust them to issue a recall when it is necessary
mmmmmmmm

Then why are the falcon sales still on a downward spiral?
The Australian falcon is a ‘dead man walking’
Will you still be so blinded by falcon when its a american front wheel drive?
ha ha ha ha
DnBTavious

What i’m trying to understand is why you are even reading this article if you think a Ford falcon is a better car – why dont you go and help Ford with their advertising campaigns so they actually out-sell Holden one month? I’m sick of Ford huggers commenting on Holden articles and vice versa for the Holden huggers on Ford articles and doing nothing but complaining how their product is so much better – if it is why are you wasting your time looking at the opposition? Both brands have their positives – Holden – Statesman / Caprice / Sports wagon etc.
Ford – Turbo 6 cylinder / Styling cues on the G6E etc. Stick to your own brands and stop wasting peoples time with stupid comments bagging out the other brand – basically – GET A LIFE
Golfschwein

Better proportions?
Dave

All subjective. Both are very close in many resects. Some people will just prefer the look, feel and seating position of the Holden. Holden have done a better job, (in my opinion) of making the models look different from each other. Eg almost every model has its own style tail lights.

lexus-lankan

Holden Commodore is Australia’s best selling car.

That’s like saying milk is australia’s best selling product day in day out. The real question here is how many everyday joes are buying a commie? Not many. Most of these vehicles are bought by fleets. And with the governments 50% investment rebate, more and more fleet managers would have chosen a commie. I understand that that scheme has since ceased.

Volume sales =/= excellent produce

Jack

As far as I know, the fleets cant get the 50% rebate, so in my view, I think alot of average joes are buying Commies, I’m buying a new one soon and im an average joe.

noj

You must be very average you are buying a Commodore. I couldn`t imagine ever parting with my hard earned dollars to spend on Holden crap.

Golfschwein

Well, whoever’s hard-earned it is, more choose Commodore. Hard to take?

Al Juraj

The Aussie Homer Simpson Syndrome:

“Must… buy… Commodore!”

Captain Nemo

@ NOJ

It seems even less people are willing to part with their hard earned cash on your beloved eurotrash 80 cars per month LOL.

How mugh longer are you going to kid yourself that Skoda have a future in Oz bud???. Thats right just put your fingers in your ears LA LA LA Skoda not leaving Australia.

XR6

Fact is Ford and Holden make most sales to fleets. Volume isnt everything unfortunately when they are sold to fleets at a major discount. Volume * Private Purchases > Volume * Fleets.
noj

Well considering I don`t own a Skoda and likely never will, it really doesn`t affect me whether Skoda stays or goes. But the fact is they are here to stay. The fact is they are better quality than anything Australian, the fact is its quite sad your threatened by Skoda because deep down you know, for one they are better than the Australians and two they will be here when the Aussies are no longer. Get used to it the Falcon leaves in 2015 and the Commodore won`t be far behind it.LOL

Mad Max

Hey NOJ you should be in school mate. And since when did you ever part with hard earned for anything. Probably mummy and daddies hard earned. You wouldn’t earn enough in school to buy a car anyway. I loved your comment on the Falcon 6 speed blog.
Very mature. But what would we expect from a 14 year old

noj

Whats this fascination with school boys Max? Your not a priest or scout leader are you?
HSV Owner

NOJ should also remember that a Skoda is now essentially a superceded re-badged Volkswagen Passat! Enough said!

Baddass

Why the sudden interest in Captiva and Barina?

Deco

No idea, but with the New Captiva currently undergoing winter testing and the new Aveo(our future Barina) not far away, sales can only go up from here.

HSV Owner

Interesting you say about the winter testing of the new Captiva Deco, caught one of them heading home Sunday week ago. Was obvioulsy testing up in the Otways. And yes we’ve had a fair amount of rain to simulate winter up there lately!

Golfschwein

Could the Captiva 5 have done the job?
Andrew M

The Barina comes with a free sunroof for a riduculously low price, but the Captiva stumps me, must be price again because the lights on the Captiva 5 looks to me like a stereotypical korean 2000′s design

Publicity machine

The thing is, they arent running like a normal company. The Australian and State Government have been underwriting them with alot of money and sales. No business person in their right mind, would crow about their success, if they were making losses after losses. Its exactly why people are still buying VE commodores after 4 years of being on sale, Holden just dont have the money for any updates. Only an idiot would buy a car thatw as 4 years old, however thanks to government purchasing policies, your taxpayer monies have to go to buy cars, that idiots wouldnt.

Jack

With the intro of the SIDI, it’s a bit harsh to call it four years old.

No facelifts is a good way to retain resale on older ones.

Win-win situation

Al Juraj

SIDI or not, there are still better engines out there.

Shak

Such as…
In this category, how man cars are their in Australia?

Mad Max

Hard to see what you are talking about Publicity Machine. Most cars worldwide are updated in 4 or 5 year cycles. Just look at how long the Europeans run their models for now. In Australia we just got used to the Ford and Holden 12 month updates. Things like Vr, VR series 2, VS the VS series 2 etc are now long gone. What we now get is very minor changes to specification levels every 12 to 24 month and maybe a styling change every 4 years. You will see the same with FG. Toyota have just made a minor change to Aurion (only train spotters would notice it). The tooling costs to change panels and lights is almost prohibitive when your building the low numbers we see with the locals. The other point with these longer model runs is that it helps keep resale values a bit higher.

noj

How stupid are Australians for buying anything from this company. I`m not a Ford fan and you only have to look at previous posts for proof. But their cars are so much better than what this company sells. I mean some of their cars look ok but they are just so cheap and nasty and yeah including the Commodore. If we were to build an Australian car employ the staff at Ford, please. I mean at least than it wouldn`t be entirely embarrassing.

Jack

Yeah, i wonder why the States and other countries want this car so badly and are giving them excellent reviews.

Where has the Falcon gone in its life? No where, and its about to be replaced by the American Taurus.

noj

Who are the other Countries? And the States, have a look at what they have and anything would be better. I agree the Falcon will be replaced by the Taurus but then the Commodore will be too.

Golfschwein

What other countries? VE Commodores and WM Statesmans go (or have been) to South Africa, Brazil, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, China, New Zealand, USA and Korea under an assortment of names. Have a look at dubdubdubdotchevroletdotcomdotbr, for instance.

Just being helpful, okay?

noj

Haha yeah right, they are selling so well, world wide. LOL. What a laugh your a funny guy or girl. Holden are doing so well hey, when was the last year they returned profit?
Golfschwein

You asked which countries they go to, because you plainly didn’t have the knowledge I have. So I told you. Is there still a problem?
noj

I admit I didn`t have the knowledge because I couldn`t be f#cked wasting my time finding out. They are S#IT they have always been S#IT and always will be S#IT, but hey the end is near. LOL
Golfschwein

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Hey, thanks for the win!
noj

Oh I didn`t know commenting on here was a competition. Ah well you can count it as a win if your so insecure about yourself and your life. Sounds like you need to get a win on here to feel good about yourself. But hey my wins are coming, when the Falcon and Commodore F#ck off from this country and stop wasting my money. I don`t see why I need to pay 45 cents in the dollar to keep these maggots afloat.

Mad Max

Another pearl of wisdom from a 14 year old. NOJ go play with Leggo and grow up!

Shak

Its spelt LEGO
noj

Haha one word, TOOL. Hey but at least what I construct out of lego would be better built than a Commodore. LOL

Frenchie

What do you drive NO-Joe?

Captain Nemo

He dosen’t drive Frenchie

Have you noticed a certain 15yo child & Skoda fan girl seems to have disappeared & now has reappeared on this site calling himself NOJ.

I’m sure you know whom i’m talking about.

http://www.caradvice.com.au Keith Davis

SUV,the Falcon has a ‘fresher’ look than Commodore? I don’t think so! The FG is utterly conservative and boring,and marks no real departure from what Ford offered 15 years before. I was massively disapointed by how simular it looked to earlier models at launch. go to OPSM asap!

Jack

Dont get me started on the XT…

FPV

Looks are subjective but just about every review will say the Falcon has a fresher look than the Holden. Lets not be off with the fairies. The Falcon is a newer design in age. The Commodore looks dated as at 7 April 2010. Im sure when the next model comes out it will be the Falcon that looks dated. But at this current point in time, that isnt the case.

Rob

Have you had a close look at a VE and a VZ front on? Cut the oversized guards of the VE and hay presto we have a VZ

Shak

Have you looked at a BF, and an FG, You dont need to cut anything off, because Ford didnt change anything when they made the replacement for the BF. New names and voila.

Byron

What were the figures for: Epica, Commodore Ute, Colorado, Statesman, Caprice & Combo?
http://Audi Robj

We’ll they invested $3Billion in Australia, they deserve some return on that. That equals a lot of jobs. They should be supported. They are not always perfect but it’s a very touch market.

Andrew M

That 3 bill didnt go into the captiva or barina though which are the cars being praised for big growth.

I gotta wonder why Commodore percentages etc werent mentioned, just the Korean mods……

Bent 8 Brigade

Commodore sold 4600 to Falcon’s 2500 and Aurion’s 1000

Andrew M

Yes,
I can read…..

Rob

And yet the vast majority who buy holdens still think they are buying an Australian product. Every other car than the Colorado and the Commonwhore are KOREAN MADE!!
Holden means a great deal to KOREA.
Makes me laugh “We bought the holden(viva)cause it had that holden thud when we closed the door.”
People should also be reminded that when the VE came out journos were only saying it was a bit better than the falcon BF MK11 (driving dynamics) and now with the FG holden are behind yet again with driving dynamics.
Oh whats that. My engine bay is on fire from a dodgy fuel hose in my VE.

Andrew M

Well what are you doing on here then Rob??

Go put that fire out wacko

Rob

Truth hurts

Andrew M

Truth hurts????
So you really were just sitting at your computer doing nothing whilst gazing at a vehicle on fire????

Well im sorry, and I hope the insurance doesnt stuff you around too much

Rob

Yep if thats what you would like to think then sure…

Any one after the most recalled vehicle? Go to your holden dealership now

Shak

I dont have the time, would you enlighten me on the most recalled vehicle? And while you r at it go and put out that fire.

Mad Max

Ford quality? Dodgy ball joints, dodgy brake hoses and yet not a single recall. Add to that the well known paint issues on Falcon and Territory, rusting Territory.
Truth hurts!

HSV Owner

And let’s not get started on Territory front wheel bearings either eh?!

Mc Lovin

They’re not Holden, they’re Daewoo.

If Holdwoo are so good, why don’t they stop taking my hard earned tax $?

Thanks for making me pay for cars I don’t want Rudd!

Al Juraj

We pay for everything we don’t want.

Speeding fine comes in the mail. Pay your day’s worth of salary and then some, or your monthly earnings to a money-hungry lawyer if you want to object. Nonetheless, revenue is used to build even more speed cameras. By the next decade there may be more of these than there are Victorians.

Tax gets deducted from our pay without choice. Even more tax to buy things out of the money that has already been taxed.

But Australians do pay for what they want. Aussies like a big, back-wheel-drive car that doesn’t sound Yankee in brand. Hail the Holden Commodore! Ticks all three boxes perfectly.

Mark

I own an FG Turbo Ute.To me both cars are fantastic.The VE looks a bit better,but has nothing compared to the turbo six.Hence why i bought it.
Also i love the interior in my friends SSV.
Friends of mine have $120000 Mercs which ive driven.You would have to be an idiot to beleive they re worth 3 times as much as my FG.
My mate is selling his E320 and buying an F6 after one drive of my XR6 turbo.
Buy Australian you fools,otherwise we will become a country of waiters and shop attendants.

ABMPSV

We are already. More than 80% of new cars coming from OS. In 1970′s was the other way around. You mist it by 30-40 years. March total sale 92520 minus Holden/Ford sale 19887 = 72633 from OS and not all Ford and Holden is made here so it must be closer to 90%. Australian you mean Toyota too??
john

They are not worth 3 times as much as your F6 Mark. They are only that expensive because Oz is a small marketplace so Euros charge more too get a better return and the government screws them by placing big taxes for importing and selling here etc. Just for comparison in the US a 335i which retails for $120k+ on the road here in Oz retails for $44k AUD on the road in the US. Now if we had the choice between our vehicles for $44k or the 335i for the same price what % of 100 people do you think will choose the Beemer? Of course we all know the answer and so does our government hence car prices for premium brands are alot higher!

Luv Local

Moot point John.

The fact is they are 3 times as much in Australia and not worth the coin.

The Realist

It’s all relative.

A LV bag is not worth the premium over an Oroton bag. A Patek Philippe is not worth the premium over a Citizen. It’s the same with cars.

The only people who think “I could buy two FG G6E Turbos for the price of one 335i” are those who can’t afford the BMW.

Mad Max

Finaly a voice of reason!
The Realist

Your credibility went out the window when you said “i love the interior in my friends SSV”. What a class interior that is, Audi should take note.

“Buy Australian you fools, otherwise we will become a country of waiters and shop attendants.”

Are you one of the fools who has the Southern Cross tattooed on his arm?

Mark

definately dont have the southern cross tattooed on my arm.Im of Greek descent,and have seen first hand what happens when a country looses all its industry and relies on tourism for income.
Guess what the repair bill was for a VW water pump for a friend of mines late model Touereg.$3000

Captain Nemo

Hey Mark

Is your mate one of those VeeDub fanboys who thought nothing of spending $3000 getting the Touereg fixed but would cry if he had to spend $3 on a Falcon getting a light bulb replaced??
The Realist

We will only ever be a quarry or gas field for the developing world.

Take away resources and our economy is a basketcase.

Unions, lazy workers, low productivity, high wages, bureaucracy, and the inevitable diaspora once the upcoming resources boom ends will be the end of Oz economically.

Captain Nemo

Wow you really have issues with Australia & Australians.

WTF has an southern cross tattoo got to do with Mark owning a Ford ute i bet your one of those racist who think your far superior to anglo saxon Aussies.

The Realist

What on earth are you babbling about?
Shak

Yeah what are you going on about?

He wasnt having a go at Australia, rather pointing out facts. Australia’s economy is built on resources, and once China and India have what they need, we are done. Thats why our cars are going up in price. High wages, and non accelerating productivity, and higher resources costs, all couple together to produce higher prices for us consumers.

Mk

Australians should enjoy their big powerfull cars while they can. Support and buy to keep it alive. There are a lot less fortunate carlovers in the rest of the world.
john

Don’t want too pour cold water on car companies sales figures but I will. The corresponding month of March 2009 was right in the heart of the GFC and all car companies sales figures worldwide were being hammered. If a car company did not see any growth in their sales in the month of March 2010 over march 2009 they have too take a serious look at their business going forward because that would be totally unacceptable. 28% growth is excellent, but growth from what I ask? What would be interesting is too see what the numbers were compared too March 2008. I think they would be lineball or lower for this month, hence no growth over 2 years at all. I have just gone back and had a look.
HOLDEN March 2008 12386 2010 11795
Toyota and ford likewise are down around 1000 units or lineball with 2 years ago.
So compared too 2009 just like I said sales are great but compared too previous years they are still lower. Car companies have seen no growth at all over the last 2 years!
Filippo

Holden’s Commodore doesn’t have to be good to be top of the sales charts, it just has to be there. Commodore buyers don’t shop around.

Golfschwein

And Falcon buyers do? Doesn’t leave Falcon in the best of positions.

filippo

I believe they do. As a brand, Holden is slightly more working-class than Ford, so whereas typical Falcon buyers might move up to a Honda or something European, Holden buyers would be as likely to change brands as they would football teams.

Andrew M

I gotta agree totally.
Holden buyers do trend to be more loyal.

Shak

But how many large RWD sedans are out there for 40k. Two Falcon and Commodore. The Aurion is not a real alternative. Falcon and Commodore buyers do not cross shop.

Al Juraj

To sell is not based on what car you build. It’s about whom you can fool.

ABMPSV

I never follow one or other make I always bought a car which was good for my money. If it was a Holden, Toyota, VW..etc I do not care if the car is good quality, reliable, service cost average, resale value..etc. I do a good research on the net. There is so much information from Australia to Europe US and if I can not understand German I translate it on Bing or Google. If you follow only one make than how you know you got the best car if you never look the other brands.

Shak

Thats the way it should be

Shak

CA is is true that the Holden E85 engine will be in a V6 option and not in the V8???

Frenchie

The PPV Caprice to the US are going to be E85 FFV, so I cannot see why V8′s here will be E85′s.

Shak

So you are saying the V8 wont get E85 capability?

Matt

Wouldn’t make me buy one but I do love that green in the picture, so much better than the “Kermit the Frog” green both Holden and Ford have dished up recently