Bye Bye Holden

Asthey keep referring to the Colorado as a truck not a ute I guess this can go here.

Holden announced today they are closing the brand down. I wonder if the replacements will be American, European or Asian brands.
It's being reported everywhere but here is the link to the ABC News site.
Holden car brand, maker of Commodore and Barina, axed across Australia and New Zealand

as a fan of the Australian products I am disappointed. People are saying that late model commodores will be worth a packet in years to come but there have been other Australian brands that are now forgotten or have very small followings. It will be interesting to see what happens

Key points:
The majority of Holden's Melbourne-based employees will lose their jobs by June
The company pledged to provide at least 10 more years of customer service for Holden owners
GM executives said the brand was struggling in a fragmented right-hand drive market

and the story contents:
About 600 Holden employees will lose their jobs after parent company General Motors announced it would axe the iconic Australian car brand by the end of the year.

GM said the brand was no longer competitive in the current market and would be "retired" from sales, design and engineering across Australia and New Zealand by 2021.
Holden ended its Australian manufacturing operations in October 2017, forcing hundreds of job losses.
About 800 Holden employees had remained in Australia, including 600 Melbourne workers focused on designing cars for the Australian market.
GM International Operations senior vice president, Julian Blissett, said today's announcement would mean the "overwhelming majority" of Holden staff would lose their jobs by the end of June 2020.
"This was an agonising decision for us and one we didn't make lightly or easily," Mr Blissett told a Melbourne press conference.

Photo: The final Holden, a VF Commodore Redline, at the Elizabeth factory in South Australia in October 2017. (Supplied: Holden)

GM officials said about 600 employees would leave by June, while 200 would remain in ongoing roles connected with the company's pledge to offer at least 10 more years of customer service to owners of the 1.6 million Holdens in circulation.
Work at the carmaker's Port Melbourne site will be wound down by the end of June and the Lang Lang calibration facility will finish up in August.
GM Holden interim chairman and managing director, Kristian Aquilina, said the company had "chased down every conceivable option" to prevent the closure of the brand.
The executives said the business case for the brand struggled due to the small market and global consolidation of the car industry.
Company vows 'fair' transition for workers, dealers
Mr Aquilina said the axing was not a reflection of the "expertise and commitment" of Holden dealers and employees, who were "heartbroken" by the announcement.
"There's lots of tears, lots of hugs. We're a Holden family and we're there for each other," he said.
"We've been there amongst the huggers and tear-jerkers too. So it's an emotional time."
He said those losing their jobs would be offered a "separation package" and a small number of people would be given the option to relocate.

Photo: Holden was an icon of Australian manufacturing for decades. (Supplied: State library of South Australia)

GM said it would now focus on specialty vehicles in Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Blissett said there would be a "fair package" of transition support for suppliers and the 185 Holden dealerships in Australia.
'No notice' of shock announcement, union says
Late last year, the company quietly announced it was axing the Commodore and Astra lines, following dwindling sales.
Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) automotive and transport coordinator Dave Smith said GM's decision was shocking and unexpected.
"It's very disappointing for the workers who will be affected by this decision. It comes as a bit of a surprise," he said.
"There's really been no talk of this and no notice that this might be on the cards.
"And when I spoke to a company representative that rang me today, I very much got the impression it was a surprise for local management as well."

Holden fell out of the top 10 in Australia on the back of its worst sales month since 1948, recording 2863 sales and a 38.4 per cent drop compared to September 2018.

GM are struggling worldwide although retain 5th place on the back of its Chinese companies. From the great powerhouse of the 20th century they have gone down hill. Here are the 10 best selling cars in the world for last year. GM only scrape in with their pick-up. Almost unbelievable that the three great pick-up trucks are in the top ten of all types. Also amazing is there are only 4 "cars" in the top 10.

1. Toyota Corolla 1,236,380
2. Ford F Series trucks 1,070,234
3. Toyota RAV4 931852
4. Honda Civic 821374
5. Honda CR-V 818981
6. VW Tiguan 741895
7. RAM Pick-up 731895
8. Toyota Camry 690729
9. VW Golf 687664
10. Chevrolet Silverado 644013

Once Hyundia & Kia release a Dualcab Ute, Ford will be next...........

The other comment was made about the Right Hand Drive being a limited market

Holden should have been laid to rest with the end of the real commodores instead of being dragged along to die in disgrace.

I wonder if Vauxhall is being closed too......suppose they could say Brexit is the reason there.

Vauxhall is safe in UK as they just market Astra (Opel/Suzuki) and various other Opels under the Vauxhall name to keep the poms happy.

GM sold Vauxhall to the PSA Group some time ago and also Opel. The only vehicles which they actually make are, Chev, Buick GMC and Cadillac. You can add to that Hummer for the time being.

Although a lot of Cadillacs and Buicks are now made in China.

Vauxhall Motors Limited[7][note 2] (/ˈvɒksɔːl/) is an English car company, subsidiary of French car manufacturer Groupe PSA and based in Chalton, Bedfordshire, England.

Vauxhall's vehicle lineup is identical to that of Opel, but the Vauxhall brand is exclusively used in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Vauxhall is one of the oldest established vehicle manufacturers and distribution companies in the United Kingdom.

Vauxhall sells passenger cars and light commercial vehicles under the Vauxhall marque, and formerly sold vans, buses, and trucks under the Bedford Vehicles brand. Vauxhall has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for more than two decades.[8][9]