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Thread: Holden to ditch Astra?

  1. #1

    Default Holden to ditch Astra?

    Holden to ditch Astra?

    Richard Blackburn, drive.com.au, April 20, 2009


    Holden is reconsidering the future of one of its best-selling vehicles, writes RICHARD BLACKBURN.

    Holden Astra


    The future of Holden's second-best seller is under review, with currency fluctuations and commodity price increases threatening the future of the European-built Astra.

    Holden has put a stop on imports of the Astra while it conducts price negotiations with Opel, the European subsidiary of General Motors that manufactures the vehicles.

    Company spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale denies the two GM subsidiaries are locked in a dispute but says Holden has cancelled its April and May allocation of Astras until it conducts a review of its price structure. The decision means no Astras will arrive in Australia in June and July and could spell the end of the badge in Australia.

    "The Astra is being studied at the moment and until we come to an agreement with Opel on pricing, we've placed orders on hold," she says.

    The Astra situation is further complicated by the fact Opel is in the midst of a reorganisation that could see the company cut adrift from General Motors in the next couple of months as part of that
    company's restructure.

    Dealers are reporting the supply of Astras is already becoming restricted.

    The situation is a blow to the company, which is struggling to cope with the slump in new-car sales.

    Ms Lonsdale says there are still Astras available but some colours and models may prove hard to get.

    The news comes as photos of the next-generation Astra have leaked to the internet ahead of the car's anticipated European launch at the end of this year.

    Holden has sold a rebadged version of the European Astra in Australia since 1996 but Ms Lonsdale says the company won't reveal its plans for the car until it is ready.

    "For competitive reasons, we'd rather not talk about our small-car strategy.

    "Astra's a great car but it has to make business sense for us," she says.

    The company will launch the Korean-built Cruze small car in the next couple of months and will also build a small car based on the same underpinnings as the Cruze at its South Australian plant from the third quarter of next year.

    In Europe, General Motors sells the Cruze as a Chevrolet and the Astra as an Opel, with the Astra positioned as the more upmarket option.

    The Astra is tipped to have a more sophisticated suspension set-up, more technology and a more up-market interior than the Cruze.

    The same approach is possible for Australia, with Holden engineers and stylists developing a more up-market version to sell alongside the imported version of the Cruze.

    Holden is committed to spending $450million on the Cruze, while the Federal Government will kick in $150million.

    With that type of money, a range could be built on the same line, including a wagon and a small soft-roader. Holden currently sells the imported Astra wagon in Australia.

    Holden's small-car strategy is crucial to the company's future in Australia, as sales of its bread-and-butter Commodore have almost halved in the past decade as buyers shy away from large cars.

    The company's decision to sell a budget-priced, Korean-built Viva small car alongside the Astra has backfired, denting the company's small-car sales.

    The Viva, introduced in 2005, was supposed to increase Holden's slice of the booming small-car market but had the opposite effect, with sales dipping while other brands enjoyed record demand.
    Holden sold more than 30,000 Astras in 2005. Last year, it sold less than 15,000, while Viva sales totalled less than 6000. Sales of both cars are down about 20per cent this year, in line with the overall market downturn. The Viva has been discontinued.

    Holden also replaced the Opel-sourced Barina and Vectra with Korean-built models that have been less than successful.

    As the pictures show, the new Astra five-door looks like a winner.

    With a longer wheelbase and wider stance than the current car, the new Astra looks sportier and is expected to be roomier inside, with improved crash protection.

    In Europe, the Astra will be powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine or a choice of either a frugal 1.3-litre, 1.7-litre or 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with low carbon dioxide emissions.

    The Cruze will use a different 1.8-litre petrol engine and the 2.0-litre diesel.

    The Astra bears a strong resemblance to the larger Opel Insignia, with its high rear end and low nose.

    The range will include a sportier, low-slung and sleek VXR three-door model and a wagon. The VXR will get more aggressive styling and a more powerful 200kW version of the current Astra's 2.0-litre turbo engine.

    Source: drive.com.au

  2. #2

    Default

    I read this on CarAdvice.com.au...


    Big loss for Holden if they can it...

  3. #3
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    Default

    "Astra's a great car but it has to make business sense for us,"
    I would have thought it was the only car that made sense for them to make...

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    Quote Originally Posted by tricache View Post
    I would have thought it was the only car that made sense for them to make...
    Likewise here, I suppose Holden are in the "money is tight" phase and trying to cut costs. Sometimes this can be silly as cutting costs gives the impression of greater profits but in Holden's/Daewoo's case it has had the wrong effect and killed sales. A shame really as I've always thought the Astra's and other Opels that Holden has sold here are pretty good cars.
    R36 - Just like an MPS6 except with a growly V6

  5. Default

    Can you believe it? Blah!

    So Holden is developing their own eco 1.8l 4 cyl motors under the Aus Government's Green Car handout. As a result, I'm really not surprised (not even raising an eyebrow) that they are considering ditching Opel, considering Opel is also in financial trouble in the UK, and is likely to be purchased by a Chinese car manufacturer.

    http://www.themotorreport.com.au/282...-and-vauxhall/

    I am sure its no great loss, as Holden doesn't really make that much $ out of rebadged euros, and they have far more to win if they develop their own vehicle down under - That is if they survive GM's issues. Its just bad news for Opel if Holden decides to run away, as this eliminates a major sales market for them, and weakens their position again for a Chinese buy-out.

    Good news for Holden tho, the US gov just approved a US$5Bn bailout for GM. Lets see how far that goes. The last bailout didnt go very far.

    http://www.dailytech.com/Report+Gove...ticle14930.htm

    While this is just my own opinion, what has happened in the US should be a wake up call for Holden Australia. What is happening now, could very well happen in the future..

    Therefore, If Holden was smart, they should still be considering buying the rights to the Holden name, and becoming an independant manufacturer down under. Aussies will always buy Holdens, thats a fact. But if they are at the mercy of the fcuk heads in the US blowing WADS of cash on FAT pay checks and un-necessary bonuses, then Holden will be at risk again in the future. It also means that they will retain the rights to all of the product development (most of which GM borrows for their own vehicles in the US), and Holden would make more $$ on exports to the US and other countries. GM basically just skims top off the profits & design from Holden in Australia. I feel sorry for these guys, as they must feel like a used condom sometimes, under the thumb of some really dumb a$$ people in the US..

    Sources: TMR & Dailytech
    Last edited by Wardski; 23-04-2009 at 03:03 PM.

  6. #6
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    Default

    meh!!!!

  7. #7

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    The guy is a tard...Opel is not in trouble its the only GM subsidiary in the red...Vauxhall is in big trouble...but they only do like Australia buy and rebadge the opel cars.

    Opel is going to feel the pinch now...Australia not buying cars and Vauxhall also slowing down on imports will have a big effect on production by Opel.

    Opel still has a big market in Africa and Sth America...but not enough to support the company.

    They are exporting to the US...but only the cars...not the running gear.

    Personally I think holden are silly for not keeping the euro range....most manufacturers were seeking cars from korean and thailand...while holden had a euro range.

    How times have changed...now Ford has ditched all the asian cars for a line of euros...while other car makers have followed suit eg Colt, Fiesta, Mondeo etc

    The cars like Viva didnt surprised me for being discontinued...it was around $17000 eating astra sales to start with...and for that money...customers were buying smaller and better built cars from rivals.

    Epica will follow soon enough....the only real daewoo/holden doing well is the Captiva which is sold globally and made in two different countries...Sth Korea and Thailand.

    Australia was lucky to get too different Captiva...the euro spec Opel Antara model ...Maxx here..which ceased to be sold from 2008. Lower models.. SX and LX were typical korean models (interior and exterior) but cheaper and still selling very well.

    We can go on for hours at what we think Holden and GM should do....but its best to leave it up to the CEO and other financial advisors making $20million paychecks to decide the future.

    Happy Motoring
    duglet

  8. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by duglet View Post
    The guy is a tard...
    confirmation you are officially off my Xmas list

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