Confirmed: Holden plant will shut October 20

[stig_3754]

Confirmed: Holden plant will shut October 20


by Mike Costello Senior EditorToday
3SHARES

Holden has announced October 20, 2017 as the date it will shut the doors of its Elizabeth car plant outside of Adelaide for the final time, and become a full-line vehicle importer.

Holden has assembled vehicles for domestic and export markets at Elizabeth since 1963. Nearly 1000 employees will remain in production, engineering and support roles until production ends. GM says there are no plans for any further workforce reductions ahead of October 20.

Holden also says that, of the nearly 700 people who have left Holden’s Elizabeth plant since 2015, 80 per cent have “successfully transitioned” within 12 months of leaving (69 per cent employed, five per cent in training, three per cent have retired and three per cent are volunteering).

The timing means GM Holden lives up to the promise it made in 2013 that it would make cars until the final quarter of this year. The Lion brand says it will make more than 30,000 Commodore, Caprice and Ute vehicles before the shut down.

Naturally, there will be strong demand for final edition Commodore and Ute models, which will be the last of their kind. Special edition models will also be made available before the end. Holden ceased Cruze small car production late last year.

Commodore and Ute sales still made up about one-third of Holden’s volumes in 2016, and the imported Opel-based front- and all-wheel drive replacement due next year will be hard-pressed to get close to those volumes.

Holden chairman and managing director Mark Bernhard said Holden’s manufacturing workforce had “set new benchmarks for quality and performance in the past four years”.

“They have continually pushed to improve the quality of their work for the benefit of our customers – this commitment, continuous improvement attitude and passion have been exhibited in spades in challenging circumstances,” Mr Bernhard said.

“It’s not surprising that their skills, work ethic and flexibility are highly sought after and they are leaving a legacy for Holden that deserves to be honoured by ensuring this company has a bright and successful future.

“Holden continues to change but we are proud to retain a significant presence in Australia for the long-term that includes more than 300 people across our local design and engineering workforces, in addition to the approximately 700 corporate staff and 10,000 people employed across our [230-site] dealer network.

“Holden remains committed to Australia and our customers for many, many years to come,” he added. We would add that the 10,000 staff in Holden’s dealer network are largely employed by its franchise partners rather than directly.

Holden says it will launch 24 major vehicles and 36 new drivetrain combinations by the end of 2020. Holden vehicles also continue to be tuned and tested for Australian conditions at the Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria.

Holden’s Global Design centre also continues to be based in Port Melbourne, contributing to local and global product programs, especially by designing and fabricating concept cars. Ex-Holden design boss Mike Simcoe was appointed GM’s global design boss, a massive coup, in April last year.

All Holden employees leaving the business have access to transition services and up to $3000 in approved training and $500 for financial advice. Holden has spent $15 million helping a federal government-led Growth Fund for local car workers.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/513626/c...ut-october-20/

[roddy1960]

G'day...We know about how those last days feel don't we ? It's horrible..
As passionate as we are about dissing each other decade after decade , at least it was/is a friendly rivalry that shows respect for Aussie skills on both sides..
When Holden and let's not also forget Toyota go through the final throes of local manufacturing so ends directly that rivalry that most of us grew up with.

Hopefully , albeit via all imported fare , the brands will still have a certain desirability from bog standard and an even still excitement factor for your chosen brand.

If not cars will be just conveyances , nothing more..Boring times..
We are very lucky to have been around when Aussies could choose to buy Australian Made if they wanted to. Our kids and grandkids in the future will not likely ever have that choice again..
Cheers Rod..

[Fordman1]

Holdens are Kingswoods, Toranas, Commodores.

They are setting themselves up to fail.

The brand isn't Barina's, Astra's, Captiva's and others.

It's a sad day for "Red's".

[98TLS]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Holdens are Kingswoods, Toranas, Commodores.

They are setting themselves up to fail.

The brand isn't Barina's, Astra's, Captiva's and others.

It's a sad day for "Red's".

True enough but they will survive,service depts will keep keep em afloat on Captivas alone.

[Trump]

Will the assistance funds set aside for redundant employees from Ford, Holden and Toyota apply to the untold thousands who will be unemployed from the supply chain?

[jandj]

Originally Posted by Trump

Will the assistance funds set aside for redundant employees from Ford, Holden and Toyota apply to the untold thousands who will be unemployed from the supply chain?

That makes for a interesting conversation with the powers to be.

[Syndrome]

Is 20/10/17 before or after TMCA stops local production?

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Trump

Will the assistance funds set aside for redundant employees from Ford, Holden and Toyota apply to the untold thousands who will be unemployed from the supply chain?

It depends on that wall between us and Mexico apparently.

[MITCHAY]

Sad day. Without a 'real' Commodore they are totally ****** unlike Ford which has quality cars without the Falcon.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Sad day. Without a 'real' Commodore they are totally ****** unlike Ford which has quality cars without the Falcon.

Quality cars that aren't selling besides Mustang and Ranger.

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by Trump

Quality cars that aren't selling besides Mustang and Ranger.

That's for the bean counters all I know is the only Holden I'd buy would be the Commodore and nothing else.

The Focus, Mondeo and Ranger are pretty good cars unlike the crap that GMH offer up.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Holdens are Kingswoods, Toranas, Commodores.

They are setting themselves up to fail.

The brand isn't Barina's, Astra's, Captiva's and others.

It's a sad day for "Red's".

G'day I agree , all gone now ..Different times .. Used to be a bit like this ..Wind the clock back 40 years to 1977-78...
Small Car Ford Escort v Holden Gemini
Medium Car Ford Cortina v Holden Torana
Large Family Car Ford Falcon/Faimont v Holden Kingswood then Commodore from 1978
Luxury Car.. Ford Fairlane /LTD versus Holden Statesman/Caprice..

Then on both sides in the large car market with Ford Falcon and Holden Kingswood there were Utes , Station Wagons and Panel vans ..Commodore didn't have a panel van if memory serves correctly .. Escort had a van , Gemini had a two door station wagon and Cortina had 4 and 6 cylinder station wagons , Torana didn't but they had a hatchback coupe and had three 4 ,6 or V8 engine versions...
My point is that in those days right or wrong the local car market covered most bases..You could buy something made here that fitted your needs ether Blue Oval or Red Lion..Ford in particular adapted the European sourced Escort and Cortina specifically for our market too.There may have been other variants I've missed..
On October 20 this year all semblance of Australian Cars inginuity and "for the Aussie market" ceases when the factory doors at Holden close .
ALL GONE NOW.. We're at the whim of the bigwigs at GM and Ford global from now on...The tyranny of a small market , location and our own wealth.

Too bad a few former GHM and Ford Australia engineers couldn't get together and build our own car range to compete with the totally imported market..I think the skills in both camps are there in abundance..Won't happen but it's a nice thought .
If it was to happen though we'd have the perfect name for the company ( Phoenix ).. because out of the ashes rose the Phoenix .. Cheers Rod..

[csv8]

Originally Posted by 98TLS

True enough but they will survive,service depts will keep keep em afloat on Captivas alone.

11,000kms in 7 months with a 2016 Captiva LTZ Diesel, sometimes towing a 1.8 tonne caravan. No issues . Running very well 9.1l around town. Holden claim 8.4l.
Towing 12.9l...Might be a bargain SUV but its value for the money, compared to other SUV's. comparable SUV's are up to $10k more expensive....and the Equinox is coming later this year,,,

[Iggle Piggle]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Is 20/10/17 before or after TMCA stops local production?

When Toyota announced their exit they said November 2017...haven't heard anything since though

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Trump

Will the assistance funds set aside for redundant employees from Ford, Holden and Toyota apply to the untold thousands who will be unemployed from the supply chain?

While I feel sorry for these people, and any person made redundant, I also realise the government can't and shouldn't support them for life they will eventually need to find alternate employment.

In a way they were lucky and had years of warning that their job will not exist in 2017, let's hope they used that time to line up a new career path, learn new skills or qualifications, etc. and those who didn't? Well why not?

[last fairlane]

I watched a show the other night on SBS I think it was about the Toyota Camry hybrid it was an old show as the PM of the day was Julia Buzzard anyway whats going to happen to the millions of dollars they invested in that hybrid
are they sending them back to Japan
and also that factory on the show was huge are they going to be importers again like back in the sixties anyone know
re the hybrids I can count on maybe both hands the number of those Camry hybrids Ive seen and they were all Yellow cabs never seen a private one
just a thought

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

I watched a show the other night on SBS I think it was about the Toyota Camry hybrid it was an old show as the PM of the day was Julia Buzzard anyway whats going to happen to the millions of dollars they invested in that hybrid
are they sending them back to Japan
and also that factory on the show was huge are they going to be importers again like back in the sixties anyone know
re the hybrids I can count on maybe both hands the number of those Camry hybrids Ive seen and they were all Yellow cabs never seen a private one
just a thought

Toyota was and is the most uninspiring of the local production trio. Being a foreign design from day dot, the Camry may as well have been assembled from pallets and boxes imported from Japan and China. I once read that the local Camry and Avalon from circa 2000 were built on some weird Toyota Modular Platform, maybe was some way for Toyota Australia to justify their existence or something. But the result was a Camry indistinguishable from the overseas model and a hideous recycled piece of junk from America called the Avalon. After those models stopped production, Toyota no longer mentioned their Toyota Modular Platform, whatever it was.

[low_72]

Ohh well we will save some tax payer funds that get funneled out of the country.. yes some jobs will be lost... at least they had plenty of warning to up skill themselves

[Trump]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

While I feel sorry for these people, and any person made redundant, I also realise the government can't and shouldn't support them for life they will eventually need to find alternate employment.

In a way they were lucky and had years of warning that their job will not exist in 2017, let's hope they used that time to line up a new career path, learn new skills or qualifications, etc. and those who didn't? Well why not?

I agree with you regarding income support for these people on the public coin.

The problem however is the sheer number of people that won't be able to retrain and get another job. Sure some of those are close to retirement age and won't bother to work again. But the numbers are staggering nonetheless. Hundreds of thousands of people hitting up Centrelink for assistance will cripple the system. The economy won't be able to take such a massive hit, it would be an in-effect 4-5% increase in the unemployment rate.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

....But the result was a Camry indistinguishable from the overseas model and a hideous recycled piece of junk from America called the Avalon.....

The Camry (and other Toyotas) are made in multiple locations around the world, and with the exception of when one market gets a new model release before another, are essentially the same vehicle globally.

What differs most - apart from the trim levels, equipment, and sometimes minor styling - is the source of components. They do try to source as much as possible (economically) from local suppliers - which is why they were important to many sub-tier suppliers in Victoria, and to a lesser extent, other states. Camrys made in Kentucky in the USA would have a lot of their parts manufactured by sub-tiers in the US.

I have a lot of respect for Toyota's continuing use of this business model, which dates back into the 60s when AMI were appointed to locally assemble Toyota models, and because local content was a major factor, tried to source as much as they could locally.

AMI also assembled AMC models, and this is the reason why the Rambler Hornet shares several key parts with local Holden, Chrysler, and even Ford models - because the government of the day gave tax breaks based on local content %. The best Toyota example of this local content was one of the last AMI models before Toyota itself took over AMI's assembly - the early 80s Corona with the Holden starfire 1.9L inline 4, and trimatic trans.

Despite local content rules being all but abolished by the late 80s as part of the Button plan, Toyota still continued to source many components locally, which could have just as easily been manufactured in another region that also assembles Camrys, and sent here - with the associated benefits of the economy of scale probably being better than the cost of the freight.

They may have been making whitegoods, but at least they gave back to the local community, by supporting local business, even when it may have been economically worse off from a volume perspective.

[roddy1960]

G'day all , I've never been inspired by Toyota , not a jot..Regardless of their reputation for reliability etc..they really are as boring as it is possible to be for me. I have a really tidy Sportivo parked next to me at work most days . It's got nice wheels , a spoiler , a bit of a body kit and as interesting as reading a book about sink plugs of the world to this little black duck..
Having said all that , it's still sad to see them close as certainly is the case with GMH...It's another stake in the heart of manufacturing , not least the loss of skills in automotive manufacturing..
Remember when Chrysler/Mitsubishi and Nissan were here too...Soon now nothing at all..Do we even still make ride on lawnmowers ie Cox ? and what about Victa..I don't know..
Even Hills hoists are going..aren't they ?
This is a big deal to me ..Governments of both persuasions should hang their heads in shame and I'm glad John Button is not still around because the Button Car Plan may well have been the catalyst to the demise of our car industry. Someone would have kicked him to Kingdom Come if he hadn't gone first..

Typical Governments pandering to these so called 'good for Australia ' free trade agreements only to see us sell 3.5 billion dollars worth of stuff to Thailand while we buy back nearly 14 billion dollars worth..probably mostly cars in return ..Yeah , that's really fair isn't it ?... Thailand has three times our population too..

Yep , next stop , nanny state in not too many decades when our resources are exhausted because the rest of the world will wipe us like a dirty bum when all the goodies are gone..
Cheers Rod..

[roddy1960]

G'day ...When you have time read this archive http://www.aph.gov.au/sitecore/conte...IB9697/97cib22 and tell us what you think ...and this http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...23e902715aa0f9 and the ideals of what the Button Plan was 'supposed' to achieve.This description https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_car_plan reminds me a bit like bringing in the cane toads or the rabbits or the foxes even the camels and little ol' pussy cats which finished up over running the local fauna..Good intentions , bad outomes.
To be totally fair the Button Plan and some FTA's are not the only reason by any means for no local car manufacturing but it certainly has hastened it's demise that's for sure.....Depressing ... Cheers Rod..

[roddy1960]

G'day..Sorry , hogging the thread a bit BUT "We're all saved".. We do still make something with an engine..Yep, Victa...AND look here , who said ya can't buy a new Corvette in OZ.. Yes you can...Victa Corvette..push button start too come on some of their beasts. https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/home.html ..AND Cox Mowers too.http://www.coxmowers.com.au/range/ ..so who cares about our cars...We've got our mowers..We're right for eternity now so long as a massive drought doesn't kill all the grass or if Thailand or China decides to knock out a few mowers too..Then were cooked.Just the same check out the handling on this baby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCLB-ODdWI . Cheers Rod

[98TLS]

Originally Posted by csv8

11,000kms in 7 months with a 2016 Captiva LTZ Diesel, sometimes towing a 1.8 tonne caravan. No issues . Running very well 9.1l around town. Holden claim 8.4l.
Towing 12.9l...Might be a bargain SUV but its value for the money, compared to other SUV's. comparable SUV's are up to $10k more expensive....and the Equinox is coming later this year,,,

Good to hear they got one of them right then.

[Bossxr8]

Must be the only one. My girlfriends Captiva has already had the window regs replaced and now there is a really loud rattle when the ac goes on. So back to the dealer again. They really are garbage.

[Brazen]

Soon Australia will be the largest car market in the world where there is no local car manufacturing, and the only country in the G20 that doesn't make cars.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

G'day..Sorry , hogging the thread a bit BUT "We're all saved".. We do still make something with an engine..Yep, Victa...AND look here , who said ya can't buy a new Corvette in OZ.. Yes you can...Victa Corvette..push button start too come on some of their beasts. https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/home.html ..AND Cox Mowers too.http://www.coxmowers.com.au/range/ ..so who cares about our cars...We've got our mowers..We're right for eternity now so long as a massive drought doesn't kill all the grass or if Thailand or China decides to knock out a few mowers too..Then were cooked.Just the same check out the handling on this baby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCLB-ODdWI . Cheers Rod

Isn't Victa now owned by Briggs and Stratton now?

[turbo_man]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

Isn't Victa now owned by Briggs and Stratton now?

They've been owned by Briggs & Stratton for a while now, they're still built in Australia thankfully.

[roddy1960]

G'day Bugger....What about Cox then....PLEASE ,SOMEONE STILL BE OWNED BY OURSELVES...Cheers Rod....

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

G'day Bugger....What about Cox then....PLEASE ,SOMEONE STILL BE OWNED BY OURSELVES...Cheers Rod....

As far as I know still Australian owned and made in Qld.....