Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > General Topics > The Pub

The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-08-2013, 03:43 PM   #1
BroadyFord
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 470
Default Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

LOL! That didn't last long!

Just now via Dowling on Twitter:

BREAKING: General Motors' European brand Opel shutting down in Australia immediately, one year after arrival. Dealers and staff told today.

BroadyFord is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 03:45 PM   #2
Brazen
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Brazen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

One less piranha in the tank.

Good cars though, but a very competitive market and they had very lacklustre marketing.
Brazen is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
3 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 05:49 PM   #3
DanielXR8
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,451
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brazen View Post
One less piranha in the tank.

Good cars though, but a very competitive market and they had very lacklustre marketing.
Aren't Opel owners going to be thrilled when they have to pull up at a Holden dealer for warranty and service.
DanielXR8 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
2 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 05:58 PM   #4
jpd80
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
jpd80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,412
Valued Contributor: For members whose non technical contributions are worthy of recognition. - Issue reason: Thoughtful contributions to our community 
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielXR8 View Post
Aren't Opel owners going to be thrilled when they have to pull up at a Holden dealer for warranty and service.
Let alone the trade in values......
jpd80 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 03:47 PM   #5
KIWI-1
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Victoria
Posts: 907
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

FBT (not).
__________________
Fords the family have owned:
Model T, Model A, Fordson truck, 105E Anglias, MkI Escorts, MkI Cortinas, MkII Cortina, Zephyr Six, ZC Fairlane, AUII Ute manual, BA XT sedan, Territory TS SZ RWD.
KIWI-1 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 03:51 PM   #6
Brazen
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Brazen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by KIWI-1 View Post
FBT (not).
It would not have helped. Crappy marketing, no SUV at all (crazy) and a falling Australian dollar probably all conspired against them.
Brazen is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:05 PM   #7
karj
XY Falcon
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 413
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brazen View Post
It would not have helped. Crappy marketing, no SUV at all (crazy) and a falling Australian dollar probably all conspired against them.
Changes to FBT, announced 2 weeks ago, would not have had any impact on this decision. It takes more than a couple of weeks weeks to plan and announce an exit strategy.
__________________
_________________
1971 XY Falcon 500
karj is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
2 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:12 PM   #8
Brazen
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Brazen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by karj View Post
Changes to FBT, announced 2 weeks ago, would not have had any impact on this decision. It takes more than a couple of weeks weeks to plan and announce an exit strategy.
Sometimes decisions can be made very quickly (not saying FBT was the reason though).
Brazen is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:03 PM   #9
KIWI-1
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Victoria
Posts: 907
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by KIWI-1 View Post
FBT (not).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brazen View Post
It would not have helped. Crappy marketing, no SUV at all (crazy) and a falling Australian dollar probably all conspired against them.
Someone will blame it on the FBT for sure.
Bloody good cars but one of those 'wonder why' scenarios? Australia is a market with hundreds of choices and less than 1% of world car purchases.
__________________
Fords the family have owned:
Model T, Model A, Fordson truck, 105E Anglias, MkI Escorts, MkI Cortinas, MkII Cortina, Zephyr Six, ZC Fairlane, AUII Ute manual, BA XT sedan, Territory TS SZ RWD.
KIWI-1 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:14 PM   #10
neptune blue
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
neptune blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Victoria
Posts: 2,182
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by KIWI-1 View Post
Someone will blame it on the FBT for sure.
Bloody good cars but one of those 'wonder why' scenarios? Australia is a market with hundreds of choices and less than 1% of world car purchases.
Well spoken
Less than 1%
I wonder how they managed to get there business case up in the first place
Why would you bother
neptune blue is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:20 PM   #11
Brazen
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Brazen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by neptune blue View Post
Why would you bother
They also came in at the most competitive points at the market (light, small and mid), where the competition is fierce.

If you are going to start up in Australia start in a segment where you can make a buck, like dual cab utes. Where people pay up to 50 grand for those Thai-made things.
Brazen is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
4 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 03:53 PM   #12
Wretched
Render unto Caesar
 
Wretched's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,236
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

:( that's disappointing.
__________________
"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Wretched is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:05 PM   #13
Franco Cozzo
Thailand Specials
 
Franco Cozzo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,827
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

They advertised heaps, I saw a lot of their ads.

Maybe too late? Look at the Australian dollar.
Franco Cozzo is online now   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 08:20 PM   #14
CFOUR
The Destroyer
 
CFOUR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 2,261
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Damo View Post
They advertised heaps, I saw a lot of their ads.

Maybe too late? Look at the Australian dollar.
i never saw 1.
__________________
Toy- Blown XR8 Ute. Black on black
"Front-drive cars are for children"
CFOUR is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 08:37 PM   #15
DFB FGXR6
Donating Member
Donating Member3
 
DFB FGXR6's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,973
Valued Contributor: For members whose non technical contributions are worthy of recognition. - Issue reason: For the excellent car-care guide 
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

The launch of Opel in Australia was in response to the massive downturn in sales in Europe. They were trying get rid of excess volume by setting up in Australia and cash in on all of the work done by Holden establishing names like the Astra.

They assumed they would fool buyers into thinking their cars were prestige just because they are made in Europe. In their home markets, Opel's/Vaxhaul's are the seen as a mainstream brand like Toyota or Mazda are to Aussies. This same thing applies to Citroen and Peugeot, bottom feeder brands in their own market sold as 'Prestige' brands here.

Good(ish) cars, but not at the prices they sell them here for.
__________________
The Fleet -
2016 PX MK II Ranger Cool White
2008 FG XR6 Sensation Blue
2014 FG X XR8 Emperor Red
2024 Mustang GT Race Red

The Departed -
2002 T3 TS50 Blueprint
2017 Mustang GT Race Red
DFB FGXR6 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
3 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 11:52 PM   #16
fte50
T3FTE -099. OnTemp Loan
 
fte50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,506
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6 View Post
The launch of Opel in Australia was in response to the massive downturn in sales in Europe. They were trying get rid of excess volume by setting up in Australia and cash in on all of the work done by Holden establishing names like the Astra.
.
Couldn't be further from the truth - GM Holden actually did away with them with the introduction of their Daewoo made Holden range.
Then with the 2008/9 GFC impact GM nearly sold Opel off as was originally planned to do so before the governments stepped in.
After 2010 and no selling of Opel, they now cant have Holden selling the Daewoo range of Holdens alongside with Opel Holdens so the Opel brand is established as a separate entity to not cannibalise showroom sales.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6 View Post

They assumed they would fool buyers into thinking their cars were prestige just because they are made in Europe. In their home markets, Opel's/Vaxhaul's are the seen as a mainstream brand like Toyota or Mazda are to Aussies. This same thing applies to Citroen and Peugeot, bottom feeder brands in their own market sold as 'Prestige' brands here.

Good(ish) cars, but not at the prices they sell them here for.
Just like every other imported car the other side of a Great Wall, they are prestige.
The Merc that outsold our own grown Falcon taxi is itself a taxi in Germany but still considered prestige here, then you get people paying in excess of 50K for a bmw corolla etc. go figure.

With the exception of stupid Australia, its natural for a manufacturer to dominate sales in their homeland, and that certainly does not translate to being a bottom feeder brand.
__________________

Warning - This users posts are classified (G).

G (General) – Contains material intended for general viewing. The content is very mild in impact.
IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED SENSITIVE ADULTS VIEW IN THE COMPANY OF CHILDREN
fte50 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
6 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:08 PM   #17
revcore
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
revcore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mildura, Victoria
Posts: 2,425
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

It was doomed from the start. Their Australian marketing team were worse than useless then throw in to the mix the ailing automotive industry here in Australia and you have to ask what on earth were they thinking?
__________________
My Ride...
2005 BA2 XR6 Magnet Ute.
revcore is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
3 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:25 PM   #18
Iggle Piggle
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,547
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by revcore View Post
It was doomed from the start. Their Australian marketing team were worse than useless then throw in to the mix the ailing automotive industry here in Australia and you have to ask what on earth were they thinking?
They sponsored the Melbourne Footy Club

Iggle Piggle is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
4 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:10 PM   #19
BroadyFord
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 470
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Seems strange. They're in the middle of building a new dealership in Armadale (Melb). Be interesting to see what happens with that.

I reckon this is more of a positive than a negative; one less brand for local producers to compete with.
BroadyFord is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
5 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 06:00 PM   #20
Spammy
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,094
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by BroadyFord View Post
I reckon this is more of a positive than a negative; one less brand for local producers to compete with.
You serious - they sold 2/5 of nothing ...Toyota prob lose more cars off the back of semi trailers each week than these guys sell.
Spammy is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 06:05 PM   #21
olds
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 513
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

All importers are going to be in trouble AUD 90 - 80 -70 cents US in the future a change in Gov. might even see it back to 55.
olds is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 08-08-2013, 06:32 PM   #22
2011G6E
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
2011G6E's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Very very popular brand overseas, and have been for many years.

However, they're virtually unheard of here in Oz. Given the huge choice of very good cars from all over the world we have access to at the moment anyway, it was probably a bit foolish to try and jump in with something middle of the range. Most of the success stories lately have been new models that are cheap and packed with features.

Quote:
Originally Posted by fte50 View Post
Bluntly, a big fat YES, let everyone buy a car they don't want so long as you know your children will have jobs.

Honestly, it was good enough for our forefathers to drive local made, were they lesser of a human being than the population of today?
I remember a generation of people who weren't concerned of brand image, and yuppy statements.

In hindsight though, people must be hard pleasers if they cannot find any compromise within them to drive a local, be it on size, efficiency quality, performance etc.

I know plenty here will disagree, but if we all drove a falcadore would we be any worse off?

Yes, we would. Once you let the local players know that they had no competition, why try harder to build better cars? It's like restaurants overseas that automatically add the tip to your bill...what incentive is there to try harder when you know you're going to get the money anyway? That's what killed the American industry back in the seventies and eighties...shoddily built lumps that Yanks honestly thought were :the best in the world", even as it fell apart around them.

Do you honestly think people should "compromise" and put up with whatever they have dished out to them, ignoring the best the world outside has to offer? That they should pay more and use patriotism as a reason to buy cars that they DON'T want?
Obviously by your post, you do.

Our "forefathers drove local" because they were virtually forced to...they had been lied to that our local cars were the best, couldn't be equalled, and until they actually were exposed to foreign cars, they didn't know what they'd been missing. It was a real culture shock to find out that what you believed were expensive options were merely standard features on them funny foreign cars. That's one way that history is repeating itself today. We see foreign cars coming out with all sorts of features and fitments that are either optional or just plain not available on Australian built cars like the Falcon and Commodore.

Don't believe that back in the 1970's people didn't want foreign cars...they wanted them alright, but strong tariffs and import duties kept people out of them, meaning they had to grudgingly drive whatever the local makers dished out and told them to be happy with. They'd been brainwashed by advertising that honestly made them believe that they were lucky that they were buying primitive sedans with gas guzzling engines and rudimentary suspension and lack of standard features.

Why do I mention the old days? Because it's true...if you don't remember the past, you are bound to relive it...and we pretty much are in some ways. Ford didn't accept that the public had changed it's needs...not "wants", but needs...and the Falcon just wasn't part of it any more. There were and are plenty of better packaged better equipped cheaper cars that do the same job.

Last edited by 2011G6E; 08-08-2013 at 06:48 PM.
2011G6E is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
3 users like this post:
Old 09-08-2013, 01:28 PM   #23
castellan
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,215
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2011G6E View Post
Very very popular brand overseas, and have been for many years.

However, they're virtually unheard of here in Oz. Given the huge choice of very good cars from all over the world we have access to at the moment anyway, it was probably a bit foolish to try and jump in with something middle of the range. Most of the success stories lately have been new models that are cheap and packed with features.




Yes, we would. Once you let the local players know that they had no competition, why try harder to build better cars? It's like restaurants overseas that automatically add the tip to your bill...what incentive is there to try harder when you know you're going to get the money anyway? That's what killed the American industry back in the seventies and eighties...shoddily built lumps that Yanks honestly thought were :the best in the world", even as it fell apart around them.

Do you honestly think people should "compromise" and put up with whatever they have dished out to them, ignoring the best the world outside has to offer? That they should pay more and use patriotism as a reason to buy cars that they DON'T want?
Obviously by your post, you do.

Our "forefathers drove local" because they were virtually forced to...they had been lied to that our local cars were the best, couldn't be equalled, and until they actually were exposed to foreign cars, they didn't know what they'd been missing. It was a real culture shock to find out that what you believed were expensive options were merely standard features on them funny foreign cars. That's one way that history is repeating itself today. We see foreign cars coming out with all sorts of features and fitments that are either optional or just plain not available on Australian built cars like the Falcon and Commodore.

Don't believe that back in the 1970's people didn't want foreign cars...they wanted them alright, but strong tariffs and import duties kept people out of them, meaning they had to grudgingly drive whatever the local makers dished out and told them to be happy with. They'd been brainwashed by advertising that honestly made them believe that they were lucky that they were buying primitive sedans with gas guzzling engines and rudimentary suspension and lack of standard features.

Why do I mention the old days? Because it's true...if you don't remember the past, you are bound to relive it...and we pretty much are in some ways. Ford didn't accept that the public had changed it's needs...not "wants", but needs...and the Falcon just wasn't part of it any more. There were and are plenty of better packaged better equipped cheaper cars that do the same job.
If you look at our aussie cars in the past you will see the fact is they were made for us aussies in this land.
Look at the USA cars pre 80's they were to big.
The jap cars to small.
European cars to weak.
And if you buy utes, we made the best.
Look at the first falcons no problems in the USA but hear fell apart and the commodore did as well, so they had to make them for aus conditions.
One has to remember the roads we had back in the day and not just your city driving hacks.
castellan is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:11 PM   #24
Wretched
Render unto Caesar
 
Wretched's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,236
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

more info

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...802-2r4ch.html
__________________
"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Wretched is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:11 PM   #25
DJM83
Barra Turbo > V8
Donating Member3
 
DJM83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 26,202
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

What a shame. I came close to an OPC Astra too.
__________________
-2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Lux Pack - M6
-2022 Hyundai Tucson Highlander Diesel N Line
DJM83 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 03-08-2013, 05:49 PM   #26
JC
Miami Pilot
Donating Member2
 
JC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ACT
Posts: 21,704
Tech Writer: Recognition for the technical writers of AFF - Issue reason: Writing tech articles 
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Quote:
Originally Posted by DJM83 View Post
What a shame. I came close to an OPC Astra too.
Hope you had some Kleenex handy......
__________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Hammer: FG GTE | 376rwkw | 1/4 mile 11.793 @ 119.75mph 1.733 60' (4408lb)
1 of 60 FG MK1 335 GTEs (1 of 118 FG Mk 1 & 2 335 GTEs).
Mods: Tune, HSD/ShockWorks, black GT335 19” staggered replicas with 245 & 275/35/19 Michelin Pilot sport 5s

Daily: BF2 Fairmont Ghia I6 ZF, machine face GT335 19” staggered Replicas with 245s and 275s, Bilsteins & Kings

FPV 335 build stats: <click here>

Ford Performance Club ACT
JC is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
3 users like this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:24 PM   #27
superfly
Go the Hogster!
 
superfly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,518
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Wow, didn't see that coming. I did see plenty of ads on TV though.
__________________
Nitro XR50 - the last brand new one in OZ
first registered Oct 2011.
superfly is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:26 PM   #28
XRtowcar
Mustang GT mmmmmm......
 
XRtowcar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Mornington Peninsula
Posts: 1,459
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

Has taken years for Renault to re-establish itself and Opel want to do it in twelve months.
__________________
I have become a Mustanger.
XRtowcar is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 02-08-2013, 04:27 PM   #29
Struggo
Regular Member
 
Struggo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Old Sydney Town
Posts: 440
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

What a waste of money
Struggo is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 02-08-2013, 04:29 PM   #30
karj
XY Falcon
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 413
Default Re: Opel shutting down in Australia effective immediately

I just read the news article posted by Wretched a couple of posts ago.

Opel only managed to sell 1530 vehicles in the year they've been here.

My crude calculations indicate that is roughly 127 a month nationally, or 4 per week per mainland state/territory (including Tas).
__________________
_________________
1971 XY Falcon 500
karj is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply


Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 04:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL