Breaking News: Holden to cease manufacturing in Australia in 2017

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

But seriously, where do buttwipes get off blaming Abbott?

Yeah you have to ignore anything posted by someone who quotes themselves in their sig paying way to much attention to their own opinion.

[Wolfinsheepsclothing]

just typical Holden copying Ford again!

[ebxr8240]

The blame goes back 20-30 years..
It didn't happen overnight !
But it will happen !!

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Spammy

Manufacturing is 7% if the Australian economy - closing the money losing companies in the sector will have very little negative impact.

Considering that as little as 1-2% fall in GDP could send us into recession, I think you underestimate the impact this will have.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Sprint

those greedy greedy bastards, you know we pay these bosses to manage companies and make them sustainable.

No, we pay them to generate a return.

The ******* at the helm of holdens need to stop killing families.

Maybe these families should wise up ... mum should get a job, and dad should be looking elsewhere. How many years has this been coming?

[SS_01]

Poor business decisions, failure to adapt, due to a lack of understanding of the current market, are the only reason's Ford and Holden have failed.

If the Government was to intervene now, at the 11th hour, the things they would have to do would be drastic. I am not talking about tariffs on imports either, I am talking about wage cuts, removal of jobs, lateral thinking, and many things that would affect everyone. But then you would all be complaining about that, and how unfair it all is, or that you aren't allowed to use your own brain. You can't have your cake and eat it too in this instance.

I feel we have become a whinging nation, always complaining, and never taking the time to appreciate everything that we have. The world is not going to end with manufacturing, the sun is going to shine the following day, and new opportunities will present itself. Looking back, complaining, and blaming someone, isnt going to help.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Much as I hate Holden, I’d actually hoped that after the Falcon dies the Commode would pick up a few sales, enough to keep manufacturing ticking along for a bit longer.

But seriously, where do buttwipes get off blaming Abbott? He’s been in charge for all of five minutes. Writing has been on the wall for a few years at least, which means the blame lies fairly and squarely with KRudd, Joolya, and Shorten.

I'm not worried personally, there’s still a lot of WA we haven’t dug up and sold yet, so we’ll be right. Don’t know what the rest of you poor sods are going to do for a crust though.

Maybe there is plenty left to dig up but with 457 visas for mining workers and volatile commodity prices nothing will remain the same for long which is why a balanced economy is essential.
You cannot just lampoon the lefties, Abbott didn't do much to reign in Mirabella when she was industry shadow minister which does not bolster confidence by the manufacturing sector. The decline in our industrial base is due to both sides of politics not taking a leadership role in educating the public in the long term strategic benefit of a strong industry base.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...inquiry-begins

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by Papa Smurf

1. Leyland
2. Nissan
3. Chrysler/Valiant
4. Ford
5. Holden
6. Toyota?

Very impressive, holden being the worst seeing as they got a grant to
start building the "Australian Car"
So many rats leaving the sinking ship and more of a different kind coming here.

And Renault (CKD) assembly in Heidelberg before that.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by superyob

This is a very popular idea amongst many Australians. Unfortunately it's not popular with our elected officials...

I'd say the reason it's not popular with our elected officials is due to it in fact being an unpopular move with Australians...

Pushing import duties up = more expensive cars, both Aussie and O/S built.

[Hulsty]

Thought this was old news?

Originally Posted by Spammy

Manufacturing is 7% if the Australian economy - closing the money losing companies in the sector will have very little negative impact.

You mean closing the revenue adding companies to the economy, everyone will need to tighten their belts as revenue will drop, less cash for the government to spend on other things.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by Kieron

I'd say the reason it's not popular with our elected officials is due to it in fact being an unpopular move with Australians...

Pushing import duties up = more expensive cars, both Aussie and O/S built.

Since when do those that supposedly represent the electorate actually do what the electorate wants???

[Gadgetman]

JEE WIZZ, the responses in this thread so far have been huge!! Like every time someone mentions Holden closing down. We should probably save all our debating skills until Holden themselves announce their much discussed proposed shutdown.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

Since when do those that supposedly represent the electorate actually do what the electorate wants???

Not going into that but in answer, it's self preservation. Jack the price of cars up due to import duties and the punters will be ****ed off. Come next election, they are highly likely to remember...

The other downside is due to the higher cost of cars, less people will buy, making the gain for Aussie built cars minimal.

A better move may be to stop subsidising the industry directly and remove taxes (GST and/or FBT for novated leasing) from locally built cars thereby making them cheaper than the imports. Still costs the govt $$ but it's highly visible to the punter on the street and can be seen as a direct benefit for them - providing the locals build what the punter wants to buy of course.

[tranquilized]

This fixation some people seem to have on import tariffs is misguided.

Back in the day, car import tariffs were up to around 80% On top of this, there were import quota's, so even if an importer could sell loads of cars after adding 80% to the price, they were restricted as to how many they could bring in. That is why so many cars were built here, but the quality and specification was rubbish and the price too high.

The results of that situation were that we were paying way too much for inferior cars, and the industry that we did have here could never compete on a world stage as they were geared towards making significantly inferior products.

The Button plan sought to rectify this, and it was good policy. The two main problems I can see that have led us to this point are;

1. The Button plan was bought in back in the 80's. No comprehensive study or plan has taken place since to take into account the changing world market place. This should have happened, and would have most likely resulted in other, more sophisticated protection methods than tariffs be implemented.

2. The auto makers are all foreign companies who have absolutely no interest in surviving in this country - end of story.

The other aspect to think about is that there were no mega-cheap-labor type countries building cars back then, to my knowledge... could be wrong. Things have changed massively and tariffs wouldn't be as effective now as they were then.

Anyway, its a complex issue with many more aspects than those I've just raised, but at the end of the day import tariffs are the last thing we want or need.

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by tweeked

Yeah you have to ignore anything posted by someone who quotes themselves in their sig paying way to much attention to their own opinion.

Naw I've upset u and crazy dazz I apologise for blaming tiny abbot now u can both get over yourselves and get on with life

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

This fixation some people seem to have on import tariffs is misguided.

Back in the day, car import tariffs were up to around 80% On top of this, there were import quota's, so even if an importer could sell loads of cars after adding 80% to the price, they were restricted as to how many they could bring in. That is why so many cars were built here, but the quality and specification was rubbish and the price too high.

Ford wanted Tarrifs to be held at 10% which would be more then acceptable as other countries have higher import tarrifs (seeing as there is a 25% education tax on imports to South Korea). They said in 2002 that they were going to be done by 2006 if this didn't happen (Terri saved their bacon for a while). No one is asking for 80%.....least I don't think so. The button plan was a good one (remember the car manufactures back then agreed to the plan) it just should have had reviews every few years to make sure that it was fair for the local and the imports.

[Sprint]

Originally Posted by b0son

Maybe these families should wise up ... mum should get a job, and dad should be looking elsewhere. How many years has this been coming?

OMG.... no you didn't just say that.

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Ford wanted Tarrifs to be held at 10% which would be more then acceptable as other countries have higher import tarrifs (seeing as there is a 25% education tax on imports to South Korea). They said in 2002 that they were going to be done by 2006 if this didn't happen (Terri saved their bacon for a while). No one is asking for 80%.....least I don't think so. The button plan was a good one (remember the car manufactures back then agreed to the plan) it just should have had reviews every few years to make sure that it was fair for the local and the imports.

Yes I do agree that a 10% import tariff does seem very reasonable.

But I still think that, being US owned companies, Ford and GM would have wanted out of Australia regardless - there are far more attractive options available to them now.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by P6LTD351;4****83

Granted it is not official. But if you think that the Minister will ad hoc tell a news reporter that Holden are closing, then you have got another thing coming.

These things get announced strategically. Let the workers enjoy their Xmas.

But please, this is a forum, and it's topics like this that are made to be discussed in a forum. We are not an official site, so we don't have to tow the official party or company line.

And if you think they dont you have got another thng coming.. Minister’s telling the media something even the Prime Minister does not know!! Also who are these Ministers? Do they have names?

[barra240t]

This article must sting for Holden fans.

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/578...ms-for-gm-here

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by barra240t

This article must sting for Holden fans.

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/578...ms-for-gm-here

Whoa great article. I hadn't thought of it like that - the difference between Holden and Ford is stark.

When Ford announced its Australian factory closures, a lot of non-car people thought that meant Ford in its entirety - a friend overlooked the Focus and bought a Corolla pre-announcement partly because she'd heard the rumors that Ford were closing and feared she'd be left with an orphan. (the other reason was that hideous dash)

See that kind of ignorance is laughable, and Ford will continue to thrive in Australia after a challenging period around closure time, because it has a strong lineup across the board.

But when Holden stop manufacturing.... they might as well can the Holden name completely! Maybe they can bring over some other rubbish GM brand. Maybe they shouldn't have got rid of Opel - it could have been the sole GM brand in Australia, would have had a few years to establish itself already.

Can you imagine how shattered all the bogans would be. No more Holden, Ford Mustangs everywhere...

I'm not taking pleasure in this, honest, but man, the repercussions are enormous, and interesting.

[ryeman]

Imported V8 Supercars series now?

[mr smith]

2016 recession, guaranteed.........

[Sprint]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

But seriously, where do buttwipes get off blaming Abbott?

Kevin Rudd would of saved Holdens

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by ryeman

Imported V8 Supercars series now?

NASCAR series

Maybe australia can become the 50-whateverth state of USA.

[mr smith]

Originally Posted by Sprint

Kevin Rudd would of saved Holdens

This is pi&& take....right?

[Trump]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Whoa great article. I hadn't thought of it like that - the difference between Holden and Ford is stark.

When Ford announced its Australian factory closures, a lot of non-car people thought that meant Ford in its entirety - a friend overlooked the Focus and bought a Corolla pre-announcement partly because she'd heard the rumors that Ford were closing and feared she'd be left with an orphan. (the other reason was that hideous dash)

See that kind of ignorance is laughable, and Ford will continue to thrive in Australia after a challenging period around closure time, because it has a strong lineup across the board.

Yes the Ford line appears to be strong post-Falcon, but unless FoMoCo pull the dealers into line and improve the post sale experience 1000% (ie no more warranty retorts of "they all do that" and getting rid of the generally poor service experience), their future path is not necessarily one paved with gold.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Sprint

OMG.... no you didn't just say that.

Who buries their head in the sand, knowing their industry is at death's door and makes no plans for how they'll get by when the inevitable happens? As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail.

[Fordman]

Long time coming, as with the Ford announcement it had become somewhat inevitable even though I didn't want to believe it and kept giving hope.

It's sad for Australia.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Sprint

Kevin Rudd would of saved Holdens

KRudd couldn't even save himself from a slow-talking numpty that couldn't walk anywhere without tripping over.