http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/st...E21822,00.html
Holden has global role
Jaedene Hudson
21jan05
Holden is set to become a true world car company under plans revealed by General Motors boss Bob Lutz in Detroit last week.
All next-generation GM products will be built in both left and right-hand-drive and as part of GM's globalisation plans, Holden will become the home of rear-wheel-drive development for the entire group.
While Holden already imports rebadged European cars, such as the Astra and the Vectra, the new plans see much stronger ties with GM headquarters in America.
"It is an incredible door of opportunity," says Holden spokesman Jason Laird.
"It makes us as clever as possible to deliver the best products as possible."
Lutz made the announcement at a dinner in Detroit for the North American International Automobile Show and says it will take effect in as little as two or three years for some models.
"All future GM products will be ambidextrous," Lutz says.
"This will be in all the segments – passenger, SUV and medium.
"It will follow the product cycle for the cars and will start in two to three years."
The globalisation move will further cement GM's world number one standing and will bring an abundance of new entries into the market.
It will make GM more flexible, efficient and productive. The move means Australia will have access to all GM brand names including Pontiac, Buick and Chevrolet.
Says Laird: "In an ideal world that is exactly what it means.
"The customers will see greater choice.
"There is no question that applies to low-volume vehicles such as the Corvette and the Hummer (H3) – icon cars which we would be able to offer.
Lutz says: "There is a clear intention to go ahead with a right-hand-drive version of the H3."
But whether they will be badged as their US brand names has not yet been decided, because bringing a new brand into the market is a costly step, and as was shown with Daewoo, doesn't always work.
However, it is expected Cadillac will retain its badge. Laird says the strength of the brand will be enough to support it in Australia.
Holden chairman and managing director Denny Mooney says the Cadillac could be here within the next two years.
"It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when," he says. "The Cadillac business case is now on the road."
Lutz also announced Holden will become the home of rear-wheel-drive development for General Motors.
The common platform for rear-drive GM cars is known as the Zeta architecture.
"Australia will be home to the Zeta architecture," Lutz says.
Holden's all-new VE Commodore, due for release next year, will feature the Zeta chassis.
With that work already under way it was a key reason why it was decided to base rear-wheel development in Australia. Lutz says the engineering development program would encompass a wide variety of models for different GM badges.
"Different sizes and different motors – and they will all be built in their own regions as core products," Lutz says.
Holden's engineering team – led on the Zeta project by Canadian Gene Stefanyshan who will arrive in Australia next month – will develop the overall architecture which will then be tailored to suit individual markets.
"'This is a very major step forward in the way GM thinks about the way it produces cars," Laird says.
"Australia is already recognised with GM as the best place to house what is now a global architecture," he says.
While it is a "major undertaking" Laird says with recent expansion Holden's Fishermens Bend production plant will easily be able to cope with the extra load.
While Holden has not revealed a figure, the Zeta deal is believed to be worth multi-millions.
All set for the SUV Cadillac Aussie debut
The worldwide resurgence of Cadillac cool has smoothed the way for the luxury North American brand to return to Australia by the end of the decade.
It is no longer a case of "if" but a matter of "when", Holden boss Denny Mooney said in Detroit last week.
"I'm not saying it's a drop kick, it's going to take some work in our market. [But] the Cadillac business case is now on the road," Mooney says.
Helping the case for the luxury General Motors' brand is widespread success and acceptance of the newest breed of Cadillacs across North America and Europe. The Australian-North American Free Trade Agreement is a bonus.
These 21st century Cadillacs, such as the ST-S sedan and XLR roadster, are long removed from traditional, soft-riding land yachts of the past.
"The brand is now geared towards a younger, more enthusiastic driver," Mooney says.
He has one or two Cadillacs on his wish list for stand-alone Australian dealerships, led by the likes of the ST-S sedan and the SR-X, a full-sized Sports Utility Vehicle wagon selling against the Mercedes M-Class and BMW X5.
The Cadillac SR-X is sold in North America with the choice of 3.6-litre V6 or 240kW, 4.6-litre V8, optional third-row seats and a leather-bound cabin.
Mooney is keen for Holden – with only the Cruze, Adventra and Cross8 ute offering all-wheel drive – to cash in on Australia's love affair with SUVs. He needs to fill out that range with a small, medium and large SUV.
The SR-X could become the top of the range, complemented by the Korean-made S3-X as a mid-sized SUV. If the Cadillac did not make Australia, the next Holden Adventra may become a bigger SUV, along the lines of the SR-X.
Mooney remains amazed by the success of Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the Australian market and does not think Cadillac would need all that much volume to justify the business end of the case.
Rather the luxury brand would be a high margin product, good for the core business by lifting Holden and GM's image.
Among current Cadillacs, only the CTS sedan is built as a right-hand drive model.
The line-up includes the CTS and ST-S sedans, XLR roadster, the DeVille, the Escalade SUV wagon and Escalade dual cab ute, plus the SR-X.
Reply With Quote
