GM Detroit to Holden "No more Excuses"

csv8 · 05-10-2017, 09:15 PM

"As Holden prepares to close its Elizabeth production plant in Adelaide on October 20, the iconic Australian brand admits it is looking to move on quickly from the emotional moment as parent company General Motors continues to wait for sales to pickup.*
Speaking to media today, GM president, Dan Ammann, said that Holden is now in a position where it needs to move on from its local production past and bring results from a new product strategy: “We are at the point now with the portfolio and with all investment in future technology and so on that there are no more excuses,” he said.
“We are going to get through this important event coming up on the 20th*and that will be significant but done. Now it’s back to business with a forward-looking perspective on the future and it’s time to put up the results.”
But asked if GM would be patient, Ammann said “I think we have to be”.
“With everything that we’re bringing into the market – with OnStar, Maven and everything we’re putting around that – the work the team is doing in repositioning the brand and appealing to new customers that are not traditional to the brand, I recognise that that takes time”, he added."
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/h...rticleResults6

Brazen · 05-10-2017, 09:17 PM

GM have been a hindrance to Holden, so it's a bit rich

**FormulaFG** · 05-10-2017, 10:25 PM

So what is the consequence if sales don't pick up?

Kill the brand and relaunch as GM? Why wait?!

danzvtil · 06-10-2017, 12:10 AM

We've been loaned the new Astra while our work cruzes are being serviced, really, really nice, everything the original Cruze should have been. It's just that I think no one really cares anymore.

BENT_8 · 06-10-2017, 12:59 AM

A bit rich of GM to put that on Holden when blind freddy can tell you Holden buyers buy V8's and its GM who wouldn't produce a RHD V8, like the current Camaro, for our market.
Holden can only market what's already in the GM stable and that appears to be rebadged Daewoo's.
If that's what they're banking on selling, they might as well pull the pin now.

The good 'ol boys might realise that Aussies wont just buy what they tell them to.

Romulus · 06-10-2017, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

A bit rich of GM to put that on Holden when blind freddy can tell you Holden buyers buy V8's and its GM who wouldn't produce a RHD V8, like the current Camaro, for our market.
Holden can only market what's already in the GM stable and that appears to be rebadged Daewoo's.
If that's what they're banking on selling, they might as well pull the pin now.

The good 'ol boys might realise that Aussies wont just buy what they tell them to.

As stated by Michael Moore "What really went wrong is that General Motors has had this philosophy from the beginning that what's good for General Motors is good for the country. So, their attitude was, 'We'll build it and you buy it. We'll tell you what to buy. You just buy it.' "

I guess their attitude hasn't changed much at all and look at where that got them on the 20th of this month.......

csv8 · 06-10-2017, 07:21 AM

Bent-8 Daewoo hasn't existed for quite a few years. GM bought the factory and build cars based on original Daewoo cars but improved the design.

OzJavelin · 06-10-2017, 08:56 AM

From my perspective .. nothing in the Holden lineup which stands out anymore than any other manufacturer. They are an "also ran" without the Commodore platform, and likely based on price they will be undercut by the Koreans (with more kit), and won't sell to the brand snobs. I feel they will sink .. but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

Dr Terry · 06-10-2017, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Bent-8 Daewoo hasn't existed for quite a few years. GM bought the factory and build cars based on original Daewoo cars but improved the design.

Correct ! You hear this cr@p all the time. Daewoo was purchased by GM in 2001. The brand name itself was discontinued in most countries by 2004/5 & even on the South Korean market by 2010/11.

The only cars in Holdens line-up which can even trace their lineage to GM South Korea are Trax, Barina, Spark & Captiva.

Of these, the oldest one (about to be replaced) is the Captiva. It is the only one that could be considered to be a Daewoo design in any way.

The others have proved to be very good quality, market competitive cars.

Any Daewoo DNA disappeared from these cars years ago.

It's very similar to Kia, they went belly up in the late 2000s & the remnants were picked up by Hyundai. Like Daewoo these cars were considered to be a joke in the 1990s (remember the Ford Festiva ?) but these days are serious market contenders.

Getting back on topic, it is a bit rich that GM US want GM-Holden to perform after stripping the company drastically over the last 10-15 years. Look at what they did to our export markets, where is our 6/V8 RWD family car that we've had since 1948 & where do we source our Euro cars since they dumped Opel/Vauxhall ?

Dr Terry

**Burnout** · 06-10-2017, 11:52 AM

Holden is just about, an import company.
They will look like FoA sales wise shortly. Sedans/hatches will be competing against vehicles form all over the world, most of which are better appointed and a better drive.
Will the seppo V8 to be converted by HSV do the job, with some yes, but not in a general V8 market. Will it compete with mustang - perhaps.
The Coloardo isn't in the same class as Ranger, it's more a competition for Triton & co.

There are problems ahead for GM-H. Perhaps survival problems.

Bossxr8 · 06-10-2017, 03:17 PM

Laying the seeds for bailing out of Australia just like they have in Europe and India.

BENT_8 · 06-10-2017, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Bent-8 Daewoo hasn't existed for quite a few years. GM bought the factory and build cars based on original Daewoo cars but improved the design.

Umm, yeah I know, they're still Korean built **** boxes though, so were splitting hairs over the official name, they still wont turn around their sales slide now will they and that was the gist of my comment

BENT_8 · 06-10-2017, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

Correct ! You hear this cr@p all the time. Daewoo was purchased by GM in 2001. The brand name itself was discontinued in most countries by 2004/5 & even on the South Korean market by 2010/11.

The only cars in Holdens line-up which can even trace their lineage to GM South Korea are Trax, Barina, Spark & Captiva.

Of these, the oldest one (about to be replaced) is the Captiva. It is the only one that could be considered to be a Daewoo design in any way.

The others have proved to be very good quality, market competitive cars.

Any Daewoo DNA disappeared from these cars years ago.

It's very similar to Kia, they went belly up in the late 2000s & the remnants were picked up by Hyundai. Like Daewoo these cars were considered to be a joke in the 1990s (remember the Ford Festiva ?) but these days are serious market contenders.

Getting back on topic, it is a bit rich that GM US want GM-Holden to perform after stripping the company drastically over the last 10-15 years. Look at what they did to our export markets, where is our 6/V8 RWD family car that we've had since 1948 & where do we source our Euro cars since they dumped Opel/Vauxhall ?

Dr Terry

Hmm, isn't that 3/4 of their line up though?
Or is that 3/5ths, wouldn't want to be out by a fraction...

Either way, they're still fragile ****boxes with the occasional success story.

csv8 · 06-10-2017, 06:57 PM

Bent 8 "Either way, they're still fragile ****boxes with the occasional success story"
My 2016 Series 3 Captiva LTZ diesel has done 34,400kms in 16 months. 14k/kms has been towing a 1.9 tonne caravan. Hasn't missed a beat. That's fragile ?
My other Korean XXXxbox Hyundai i20 is now 3 years old. Apart from regular servicing, hasn't missed a beat...cannt compare latest Korean cars with the earlier ones....

Dr Terry · 06-10-2017, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Hmm, isn't that 3/4 of their line up though?
Or is that 3/5ths, wouldn't want to be out by a fraction...

Well no, their range is evolving (as is Ford's), but they have the Commodore (soon to be replaced), Sportwagon (about to be replaced), Ute (to be discontinued) Astra (hatch & sedan here, wagon coming very soon), Colorado, Trailblazer, Equinox (will replace the Captiva very soon), Acadia (next year), Caprice (discontinued soon, to be replaced date TBA).

So 3/4 or 3/5 is a bit of an exaggeration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Either way, they're still fragile ****boxes with the occasional success story.

No more fragile than other ****boxes on the market, like Focus, Fiesta, Corolla, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, VW, Audi etc. etc.

As far as "success stories", go I have plenty of clients who are very happy with their Trax, Barina, Captiva or whatever.

There are always plenty of horror stories no matter what the brand. As a matter of fact some of the so-called prestige brands (you know the ones) have some of the worst stories that I've heard.

Is this a good time to mention the Ford power-shift transmission debacle ?

Dr Terry

BENT_8 · 06-10-2017, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Bent 8 "Either way, they're still fragile ****boxes with the occasional success story"
My 2016 Series 3 Captiva LTZ diesel has done 34,400kms in 16 months. 14k/kms has been towing a 1.9 tonne caravan. Hasn't missed a beat. That's fragile ?
My other Korean XXXxbox Hyundai i20 is now 3 years old. Apart from regular servicing, hasn't missed a beat...cannt compare latest Korean cars with the earlier ones....

Lol, I know, that occasional success story was aimed at you.

prydey · 06-10-2017, 08:50 PM

Fish are biting well tonight.

Daewoo owners nearly as defensive as Jeep owners

BENT_8 · 06-10-2017, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

Well no, their range is evolving (as is Ford's), but they have the Commodore (soon to be replaced), Sportwagon (about to be replaced), Ute (to be discontinued) Astra (hatch & sedan here, wagon coming very soon), Colorado, Trailblazer, Equinox (will replace the Captiva very soon), Acadia (next year), Caprice (discontinued soon, to be replaced date TBA).

So 3/4 or 3/5 is a bit of an exaggeration.

Lol, the Commodore and its variants Sportswagon, ute and Caprice wont exist in 2 months, GM aren't expecting Holden to turn their sales around based on discontinued models now are they, so what they have now that they wont have then is irrelevant.
What is relevant is that in 2 months time, Holdens lineup will be predominantly Korean manufactured ****boxes that no one wants which is why they are in the predicament they're in.

You can sugar coat it with unsubstantiated feel good story's all you like, no ones buying it, or them, for that matter...

**Dave R** · 06-10-2017, 11:08 PM

I guess you can say what you want when you're GM, but the reality is they're still largely the same pack of imbeciles pushing that classic pre-chapter 11 GM mentality. They've been ramming unashamedly price-point stuff like Barinas, Cruzes, Malibus, Captivas etc down Holden's throat for years. Then when it came time to exit Australian manufacturing they outsourced their strategy to the cast of Sesame Street. Now they're all sitting around a conference room with the Seinfeld theme playing softly, wondering why the Holden brand is in such deep trouble.

Remember in 2014 when GM appointed the ex-boss of VW India to run Holden, who promptly claimed they'd outsell Toyota by 2020, before resigning 6 months later (to presumably focus on finishing kindergarten)? GM's policy in action: only hire the best. Or when they made a song and dance about Holden's relationship with Opel for the new Commodore flagship, shortly before selling Opel. It may have made sense to sell Opel, but long term it was also a great opportunity to troll Holden and we all know that's GM's favourite thing to do between bankruptcies.

MITCHAY · 06-10-2017, 11:33 PM

If Holden fail it will be entirely on GM with the crap they have to try to sell. Like I said many times before, without the Commodore, there is nothing else I would consider in their range.

UTXR8 · 07-10-2017, 12:07 AM

GM is used to stuffing things up...look what happened to Saab...

Dr Terry · 07-10-2017, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

You can sugar coat it with unsubstantiated feel good story's all you like, no ones buying it, or them, for that matter...

Are you talking about Mondeo, Focus & Fiesta here ?

Dr Terry

BENT_8 · 07-10-2017, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

Are you talking about Mondeo, Focus & Fiesta here ?

Dr Terry

Blah, blah, blah, stop trying to draw attention away from your beloved Holdens predicament, last I heard, Ford are content with their results in Australia, Aussie's have spoken and they want tough looking off road dual cabs and that's something the Ranger has covered.

roddy1960 · 07-10-2017, 02:56 PM

G'day all . This time last year we all recall the day when that last XR6 and Territory rolled off the assembly line . Twelve months on I think Ford have done okay overall without an Australian built offering. Mustang is selling pretty well , Ranger is right up there Everest etc and one or two other products a selling a few.
Not sure what'll happen with Focus , Fiesta and especially Mondeo though over time.
Holden may be a different thing . Hope they keep going and retain some semblance of the 'Holden' link but the big companies are ruthless and that would not be guaranteed most probably.
General Motors Holden may well become just General Motors Australia one day and it'll be interesting to see if the Holden Lion emblem is retained if things don't go so good . Who knows. Cheers Rod .

lra · 07-10-2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Not sure what'll happen with Focus , Fiesta and especially Mondeo though over time. .

I read 'somewhere' within the last few days (this forum ?) that Ford are going to concentrate on 'SUVs and trucks', and less on designing and selling 'cars'.
That seems to me as another USA only focussed decision.

As for General Motors Australia, they are stuffed after the real Commodore is sold out. I can see a role for RareSpares as a parts distributor soon.
Why is distributor in red ? I mean as in seller, not a car part.

Windsor220 · 07-10-2017, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lra

I read 'somewhere' within the last few days (this forum ?) that Ford are going to concentrate on 'SUVs and trucks', and less on designing and selling 'cars'.
That seems to me as another USA only focussed decision.

As for General Motors Australia, they are stuffed after the real Commodore is sold out. I can see a role for RareSpares as a parts distributor soon.
Why is distributor in red ? I mean as in seller, not a car part.

Mitsubishi is following this plan. The only normal cars they have are Lancer and Mirage. The Lancer is 10 years old, barely selling and no replacement in site. They are still doing reasonable in total sales though.