Holden shifting some production to US
Jan 11th 2005, 8:20 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Holden shifting some production to US
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/...423490178.html
Holden's American dream: building the ute in the land of the free market
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor in Detroit
January 12, 2005
The home-grown Holden ute and other iconic Australian cars such as the Monaro and Statesman could be built in the US and imported into Australia under a plan being considered by General Motors.
The establishment of the free trade agreement between Australia and the US has "moved the goalposts dramatically" on where Holden, General Motors' Australian outpost, may build some of its cars from as early as 2007.
The ute has been locally designed and built since the FJ Holden was introduced more than 50 years ago. The Monaro was resurrected after a team of young Melbourne designers created a two-door Commodore at their weekends. Now the Americans want to manufacture both cars, as well as Holden's luxury sedan, for US customers.
During his visit to the North American International Auto Show, Holden chairman and managing director, Denny Mooney, met executives from General Motors about production of the models.
One option is to assemble the Monaro, ute and Statesman in the US where they would be sold under General Motors brands. The Monaro would be sold as the Pontiac GTO, the ute as the Chevrolet El Camino and the Statesman as a luxury Buick. About 17 million new vehicles are sold in the US annually compared to 960,000 in Australia last year.
Holden's American dream: building the ute in the land of the free market
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor in Detroit
January 12, 2005
The home-grown Holden ute and other iconic Australian cars such as the Monaro and Statesman could be built in the US and imported into Australia under a plan being considered by General Motors.
The establishment of the free trade agreement between Australia and the US has "moved the goalposts dramatically" on where Holden, General Motors' Australian outpost, may build some of its cars from as early as 2007.
The ute has been locally designed and built since the FJ Holden was introduced more than 50 years ago. The Monaro was resurrected after a team of young Melbourne designers created a two-door Commodore at their weekends. Now the Americans want to manufacture both cars, as well as Holden's luxury sedan, for US customers.
During his visit to the North American International Auto Show, Holden chairman and managing director, Denny Mooney, met executives from General Motors about production of the models.
One option is to assemble the Monaro, ute and Statesman in the US where they would be sold under General Motors brands. The Monaro would be sold as the Pontiac GTO, the ute as the Chevrolet El Camino and the Statesman as a luxury Buick. About 17 million new vehicles are sold in the US annually compared to 960,000 in Australia last year.
Jan 11th 2005, 8:22 pm
#2
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: Holden shifting some production to US
Sounds more like GM want to scrap some models and sell other models badged as the Statesman and the Monaro. The first casualty of the FTA.
Jan 11th 2005, 9:06 pm
#3
Banned
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,048
Re: Holden shifting some production to US
Originally Posted by bondipom
Sounds more like GM want to scrap some models and sell other models badged as the Statesman and the Monaro. The first casualty of the FTA.
Jan 11th 2005, 9:32 pm
#4
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: Holden shifting some production to US
Originally Posted by Quinkana
Exchange rate.
Jan 11th 2005, 9:49 pm
#5
Banned
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,048
Re: Holden shifting some production to US
"On January 1 the tax on imported cars dropped to 10 per cent from 15 per cent, a windfall many car companies were initially loath to pass on to customers."
"However, most car manufacturers warned the fluctuating Australian dollar and the rising price of steel would feed into new car prices as the year progressed, taking the prices back up."
Car buyers win tariff cuts
"However, most car manufacturers warned the fluctuating Australian dollar and the rising price of steel would feed into new car prices as the year progressed, taking the prices back up."
Car buyers win tariff cuts
Jan 11th 2005, 10:36 pm
#6
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Holden shifting some production to US
Originally Posted by bondipom
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/...423490178.html
Holden's American dream: building the ute in the land of the free market
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor in Detroit
January 12, 2005
The home-grown Holden ute and other iconic Australian cars such as the Monaro and Statesman could be built in the US and imported into Australia under a plan being considered by General Motors.
The establishment of the free trade agreement between Australia and the US has "moved the goalposts dramatically" on where Holden, General Motors' Australian outpost, may build some of its cars from as early as 2007.
The ute has been locally designed and built since the FJ Holden was introduced more than 50 years ago. The Monaro was resurrected after a team of young Melbourne designers created a two-door Commodore at their weekends. Now the Americans want to manufacture both cars, as well as Holden's luxury sedan, for US customers.
During his visit to the North American International Auto Show, Holden chairman and managing director, Denny Mooney, met executives from General Motors about production of the models.
One option is to assemble the Monaro, ute and Statesman in the US where they would be sold under General Motors brands. The Monaro would be sold as the Pontiac GTO, the ute as the Chevrolet El Camino and the Statesman as a luxury Buick. About 17 million new vehicles are sold in the US annually compared to 960,000 in Australia last year.
Holden's American dream: building the ute in the land of the free market
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor in Detroit
January 12, 2005
The home-grown Holden ute and other iconic Australian cars such as the Monaro and Statesman could be built in the US and imported into Australia under a plan being considered by General Motors.
The establishment of the free trade agreement between Australia and the US has "moved the goalposts dramatically" on where Holden, General Motors' Australian outpost, may build some of its cars from as early as 2007.
The ute has been locally designed and built since the FJ Holden was introduced more than 50 years ago. The Monaro was resurrected after a team of young Melbourne designers created a two-door Commodore at their weekends. Now the Americans want to manufacture both cars, as well as Holden's luxury sedan, for US customers.
During his visit to the North American International Auto Show, Holden chairman and managing director, Denny Mooney, met executives from General Motors about production of the models.
One option is to assemble the Monaro, ute and Statesman in the US where they would be sold under General Motors brands. The Monaro would be sold as the Pontiac GTO, the ute as the Chevrolet El Camino and the Statesman as a luxury Buick. About 17 million new vehicles are sold in the US annually compared to 960,000 in Australia last year.
Jan 12th 2005, 7:21 am
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Back in Aus
Posts: 721
Re: Holden shifting some production to US
I saw somewhere that the Pontiac GTO (a.k.a Holden Monaro) wasnt doing too good in the US
