Holden rules out local SUV

[Road_Warrior]

Oops

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2013...MEIwJk5uZT0xNQ..

Holden managing director Mike Devereux has put to bed any notion that the Australian car manufacturer will build an SUV in Australia, despite the technical ability to do so.

The second generation Holden Cruze is certain to be locally manufactured at Holden's Elizabeth plant here in Australia from 2015, and the small car's new D2XX underpinnings will form the basis of the next-generation Captiva SUV.

Despite the platform sharing and the huge popularity of SUVs in Australia – the segment grew by 25.3 per cent last year – the GM Holden boss put the kybosh on a locally-made Holden SUV.

"We don't have a plan to build SUVs in this country. We have no plan to do that," stated Mr Devereux.

The Holden Captiva 7 was the highest selling large SUV for the month of January with 1337 sales and 14.9 per cent market share. The second highest selling model in that segment was the only locally-built large SUV, the Ford Territory, which recorded 1161 sales.

It is believed that Holden was seriously considering building an SUV in Australia, largely expected to be a new generation Captiva that will share its D2XX-based architecture with the next gen Cruze being built here. It now seems certain we'll continue to import the Captiva from Korea, a face-lifted version of which is being unveiled at the Geneva motor show this week.

Mr Devereux said Holden was a "niche opportunistic exporter" not a mainstream exporter due to the high cost of building cars locally, and that the only way for an SUV to make business sense would be if an export deal was done.

"Our stated goal for Holden is not [to] be a mainstream high volume exporter from one of the higher cost automotive production sources on the planet.

"This is a relatively high cost place to do business so we have a niche export profile here for our operations," said Mr Devereux.

The GM Holden chief says the company's focus is small and large cars, with the next generation Commodore confirmed for 2017 likely to be based on the Epsilon II platform that underpins Chevrolet and Buick mid-sized and large cars.

"Our stated plan is to build small cars and large cars in this country, same plan as we've got today. And we're going to execute as well as we can, as seen in the new Cruze."

A shame really. SUV’s are where the market is at. Good job Ford has got the Territory on the boil, it’s more important to them now than ever.

[turbodewd]

Holden fans shud buy the Territory, at least its made here. In return Ford fans shud be buying the Cruze. (yes, thats how I spell it)

Imagine how awesome the sales figures and local jobs would go if this was the case.

This would put each of these cars in the top 6

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Holden fans shud buy the Territory, at least its made here. In return Ford fans shud be buying the Cruze. (yes, thats how I spell it)

Imagine how awesome the sales figures and local jobs would go if this was the case.

so when are you placing your order for a cruze?

[turbodewd]

I am a man of my word, if I had to buy a small car Id buy a Cruze.

I fly Qantas and use Telstra. I buy Dick Smith foods whenever I can. Indeed the dishwashing brush I bort yesterday had the 'Made in AU' sticker.

Id like to buy Fisher & Paykel (NZ) but the Mrs insisted on Bosch...and its her thing so I let her.

Buy Australian is a motto I follow a lot.

[BlueOvalPrint]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Id like to buy Fisher & Paykel (NZ) but the Mrs insisted on Bosch...and its her thing so I let her.

Buy Australian is a motto I follow a lot.

Fisher and Paykel fridges used to be made in Brisbane and NZ, with washers, dryers, and dishwashers from NZ. Now all this F&P stuff is made in Thailand; their ovens and cooktops are from Italy.

If you want to support Aussie made appliances buy Electrolux/Westinghouse/Kelvinator fridges (made in Orange) or Electrolux/Westinghouse/Chef cookers and ovens (made in Adelaide). Everything else is Thai or Chinese takeaway...

[Olbucko]

[QUOTE

If you want to support Aussie made appliances buy Electrolux/Westinghouse/Kelvinator fridges (made in Orange) or Electrolux/Westinghouse/Chef cookers and ovens (made in Adelaide). Everything else is Thai or Chinese takeaway...[/QUOTE]

My car was made at Broadmeadows
My stove was made in Adelaide
My fridge was made in Orange
My peanut butter is made by Dick Smith
I shop at the local IGA and the local butcher.

If more people supported Australian manufacturers and busineses the country would be in much better shape.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Holden fans shud buy the Territory, at least its made here. In return Ford fans shud be buying the Cruze. (yes, thats how I spell it)

Imagine how awesome the sales figures and local jobs would go if this was the case.

This would put each of these cars in the top 6

There is no way in id buy a Cruze over a Focus, i dont care if its made in OZ. Ill buy something that i like.

[Wretched]

The cynic in me says I'll believe it when I see it

[2011G6E]

No need for Holden to do so...so many manufacturers do it better for a cheaper price than we could manage, why bother with the massive investment needed to develop a whole new model?

Badge engineer something from a linked maker and be done with it.

[turbodewd]

Originally Posted by Wretched

The cynic in me says I'll believe it when I see it

Oh it wont, merely coz the next most likely thing to occupy my garage is a Terri. I just wish Ford would offer the nice XR colors on the Terri! And maybe give us an XR Terri with a sportier front.

[BHDOGS]

not good news for holden down 20 percent and no suv they will be out of the top ten by the end of this year

[jpd80]

So Holden will stay with sedans for local manufacturing, that's a gutsy move..
Territory supporting Falcon sustainability is a much better prospect than Cruze supporting Commodore sustainability...

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by jpd80

So Holden will stay with sedans for local manufacturing, that's a gutsy move..
Territory supporting Falcon sustainability is a much better prospect than Cruze supporting Commodore sustainability...

Unless the commodore moves to the a streched epsilon platform, and they build the malibu here...

[Thunder]

Do you think its because they know that they cannot build a better SUV than the territory considering the starting platform of the Cruze? I think the imported Captiva is their better option, because they wont be able to make it here at a competitive price, the Territory has had a lot more development and its produced as financially efficient as possible.

[Struggo]

Originally Posted by jpd80

So Holden will stay with sedans for local manufacturing, that's a gutsy move..
Territory supporting Falcon sustainability is a much better prospect than Cruze supporting Commodore sustainability...

They are more than likely banking on exports of the VF to help in the short term before switching to a global platform.

[aZ`]

I've owned more Holdens than i have fords.
The Captiva is not made in AUS and it cant even tow as much as a commodore.

I am a very happy owner of an SZ territory now.

[uniacidz]

Remember they do build the sportswagon so that's aussie built.

Is the only real wagon these days if I'm correct.

But overall not a surprise, they can't make every type of platform in Australia.



Sent from my HTC ARIA using Tapatalk II.IV.X

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by uniacidz

Is the only real wagon these days if I'm correct.

the mazda6 is a wagon
from what i can see it has more capacity than the commode dore hatch

[mik]

I had a look at a cruze wagon today, it happened to be on display in a shopping centre, it looked ok , sorta reminded me a bit of a mondeo, not my cuppa tea though, they put the engine in sideways........... omg !

[The Snout]

^ Didn't know that, thanks for the tip.

[Falcman0o7]

HOLDEN...."We are now getting our SUV's from afganistan"

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Falcman0o7

HOLDEN...."We are now getting our SUV's from afganistan"

All Diesel models come with a free bag of Ammonium Nitrate?