Australian Car Industry News

Industry analysts have forecast the biggest fall in new-car sales since the Global Financial Crisis in the US, as Australian dealers report the toughest conditions in memory – however the sharp declines are likely to drive mega deals in April. New-car showrooms across Australia remain open – although some have reduced hours – as the industry has switched to a “contactless” sales model.

For ACDelco – General Motors' in-house parts division – it’s business as usual for the foreseeable future, with the brand reaffirming it’s here to stay and assist with keeping Holden’s existing car park running in the wake of the brand's announcement that it will withdraw from the Australian market.

Japanese car giant Honda is on the brink of making a decision about its future in Australia, secret documents obtained by CarAdvice reveal. Dealers have been told Honda is considering three options: to pull out of Australia and close its national network of 106 dealers, reduce the number of showrooms, or sell cars via an independent distributor. The decision will be made by the end of this month.

EXCLUSIVE A veteran Holden car dealer has been admitted to hospital after reportedly suffering a heart complication on the way to a meeting with General Motors to discuss compensation for axing the brand in Australia. The long-standing Holden dealer, whose identity is known to CarAdvice but we have chosen to not publish, was on his way to find out how much money US car giant General Motors was going to offer after ending its current franchise agreements more than two years early.

Compiled by Joshua Dowling 1948: The year the first Holden-badged car rolled off the production line. 1954: One in three cars on the road is a Holden. 1958: One in two cars on the road is a Holden. 1960: The first Holden left-hand-drive export began when the FB model was sent to Hawaii. 1962: The 1 millionth Holden is made since 1948, an EJ model. 1969: First Australian-made V8, Holden tops 2 million vehicles made since 1948.