Holden
|
Holden
|
| Owned by | General Motors (USA) |
| Introduction | Holden started involving cars
in 1913 as a motorcycle sidecar maker (like Jaguar). A few years later it
also built car bodies and began supplying to GM s cars. The merge with
GM Australia in 1931 formed the Holden we know today, formally assembling
complete cars. Although it launched the first Australian-manufactured car
in 1948, design and technology was copied from other GM s models. Later,
the company gradually (slowly) developed its own R&D ability beside
of its manufacturing ability, thus deviated its models more and more from
GM s. The VT Commodore of 1997 could be said as the first Holden with chassis
designed by itself, yet the styling mirrors Opel Omega and powered by the
Detroit `s power trains. The second model, Vectra, is actually an Opel Vectra
manufactured locally. In short, Holden still does not qualify as a world
class car maker.
However, under GM s strategy, Holden will be responsible for developing the group s rear-wheel-drive platform based on the next Commodore. This indicate that GM is confident at Holden s R&D ability as shown in the VT Commodore. The arch-rival is always Ford Australia, which produces the Falcon to compete with Commodore. Their rivalry arises countless of debate among Australian car lovers. However, Japanese cars are also popular there. |
| Sales figure | 1997 production figures :
92,000 cars and trucks; 338,000 engines (also for GM). |
| Location | Headquarters : Fishermens Bend, Melbourne. |
|
|
 |
|
||