Breaking News: Holden to cease manufacturing in Australia in 2017

karj · 05-12-2013, 09:36 PM

Breaking News: Senior Government Ministers believe Holden will cease manufacturing in Australia by 2017.

Holden has made the decision to pull out of Australia as early as 2016, according to senior Government ministers.

The ABC has been told the announcement was supposed to be made this week but has been put off until early next year.

Holden says its discussions with the Government are continuing, and it does not respond to speculation.

Despite several of his colleagues believing Holden is leaving, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says that is not his understanding.

The Federal Opposition has been warning Holden would make the decision before Christmas if the Government did not announce an assistance package for the industry before then.

The Government has said it would wait for the findings of a Productivity Commission inquiry, due in March.

MethodX · 05-12-2013, 09:47 PM

Bye any aus patriotism then

zipping · 05-12-2013, 09:49 PM

Bugger but always knew it was coming once Ford got the ball rolling still very sad for the workers involved and the associated suppliers and their employee's

Focused · 05-12-2013, 09:52 PM

Terrible news if true. No surprise but unfortunate for everyone involved.
I wonder if this means Toyota will take off around the same time?

Spammy · 05-12-2013, 09:54 PM

I heard the same story last week from somebody who would know.

Wretched · 05-12-2013, 09:55 PM

Bugger...hopefully with Ford and Holden publicly announcing these shutdowns it will make the whole nation wake up and smell the reality that has dawned upon us all.

Road_Warrior · 05-12-2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched;4****47

Bugger...hopefully with Ford and Holden publicly announcing these shutdowns it will make the whole nation wake up and smell the reality that has dawned upon us all.

Too late for that. The wake up call was in 2008.

mif73 · 05-12-2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Too late for that. The wake up call was in 2008.

Yep. Race on Sunday, buy a Kia on Monday...

flooded one · 05-12-2013, 09:59 PM

you all know my opinion on that bloody company but I do feel bad for the hard working employees that will loose there jobs. I really hope these people find employment. wether or not you hate Holden. its the workers you must feel sorry for.

ozpacman · 05-12-2013, 10:02 PM

The component manufacturers will no longer have a viable business model once Holden packs up so that would certainly leave Toyota in a difficult situation. If this latest news is correct, and I'd suspect it's pretty close to the mark, then Toyota will no doubt leave our shores as well.

I really don't think most people will be taken by surprise with this news though. The writing's certainly been on the wall for a good while when you think about it. It's pretty scary when you think how many industries and large manufacturers have closed down in the last 20 years. Very sad indeed.

Russ.

The Stylist · 05-12-2013, 10:02 PM

Gosh I feel sorry for the poor workers and component suppliers if this is confirmed...

LOWAU · 05-12-2013, 10:06 PM

It's a shame. Toyota won't be too far behind.

Also what happens when our dollar drops are we are paying 10-20% more for imported cars?

jpblue1000 · 05-12-2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOWAU;4****68

It's a shame. Toyota won't be too far behind.

Also what happens when our dollar drops are we are paying 10-20% more for imported cars?

we will pay 10 -20 % more for cars! still cheap.

Spammy · 05-12-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOWAU;4****68

It's a shame. Toyota won't be too far behind.

Also what happens when our dollar drops are we are paying 10-20% more for imported cars?

Importers will cut their margin to some extent. Don't forget 88% of cars sold are imported.

Rico 110s · 06-12-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spammy;4****79

Importers will cut their margin to some extent. Don't forget 88% of cars sold are imported.

I know this is not a popular idea among st many in Australia but we need to have an import duty on all imported cars that is the only thing that is keeping car manufacturing in other countries around the world, why shouldn't we be doing this and argument about how this effects quality in manufacturing is really absurd?

It would not worry me about the import duty as I would always shop Australian first.

I really think we need answers from our governments how they are going to fix this rather than look the other way as they are doing now.

superyob · 06-12-2013, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico 110s

I know this is not a popular idea among st many in Australia but we need to have an import duty on all imported cars that is the only thing that is keeping car manufacturing in other countries around the world, why shouldn't we be doing this and argument about how this effects quality in manufacturing is really absurd?

It would not worry me about the import duty as I would always shop Australian first.

I really think we need answers from our governments how they are going to fix this rather than look the other way as they are doing now.

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

Mulga · 06-12-2013, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOWAU;4****68

It's a shame. Toyota won't be too far behind.

Also what happens when our dollar drops are we are paying 10-20% more for imported cars?

This link below may shed some light on the affect of the falling dollar on car prices. The article is about 6 months old.

http://www.news.com.au/business/comp...-1226667459285

Joe5619 · 05-12-2013, 10:05 PM

I'm sick to death of this crap. This is NOT official!! Ministers of the government should know better. Lets all wait until Holden tell us FFS!!

ryeman · 05-12-2013, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619;4****66

I'm sick to death of this crap. This is NOT official!! Ministers of the government should know better. Lets all wait until Holden tell us FFS!!

It's part of the softening up process, if it wasn't true Holden wouldn't let this run.

P6LTD351 · 05-12-2013, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619;4****66

I'm sick to death of this crap. This is NOT official!! Ministers of the government should know better. Lets all wait until Holden tell us FFS!!

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.

Joe5619 · 06-12-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

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?

P6LTD351 · 05-12-2013, 10:11 PM

Holden obviously didn't want to announce it just before Xmas.

Feel sorry for the workers.

I don't know about the rest of Australia but in Adelaide, Holden is a daily news topic - especially on talk back radio.

It will not be a surprise and to be honest, Adelaideans have already conceded that they will close, so it won't be a shock at all.

Syndrome · 05-12-2013, 10:25 PM

Not surprised at all. Once Ford went the others were bound to follow. With the next generation Camry not due until 2016 or 2017, I expect Toyota will also pull the pin on their local production activities.

fte50 · 05-12-2013, 10:31 PM

No point beating back & forth, best just wait for the official announcement in due course.
Hopefully some yrs away.

P6LTD351 · 05-12-2013, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fte50

No point beating back & forth, best just wait for the official announcement in due course.
Hopefully some yrs away.

My friend is in a middle management position at Holden.

The closure may be 'years away'...the announcement is around the corner.

Elks · 05-12-2013, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P6LTD351

My friend is in a middle management position at Holden.

The closure may be 'years away'...the announcement is around the corner.

Not that far. Last month they laid off some engineers as they was no longer a 2017 Commodore.

Sadly they are gone. So what do we make in this county. ???

MethodX · 06-12-2013, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elks

Not that far. Last month they laid off some engineers as they was no longer a 2017 Commodore.

Sadly they are gone. So what do we make in this county. ???

Latte's

BroadyFord · 06-12-2013, 01:00 AM

Maybe not...?

I guess later today we'll get a clearer picture. If GM have indeed already made a decision they would need to confirm it now given it has already been leaked. Doing otherwise is just plain cruel (to workers) and careless (from a commercial perspective).

Personally, I reckon that they have indeed already made the decision to dice their operations.

Quote:

General Motors to close Holden by 2016, report says - Federal Government denies the claims

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226776502766

THE Federal Government says a report that General Motors in the US has already decided to close its Holden car manufacturing operations in Australia is untrue.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane last night that dismissed the ABC report that Holden would go by 2016.

The report said its sources were other senior Coalition ministers.

"Consultations are continuing in good faith with Australian carmakers, the components industry and workers," a spokeswoman for the minister said.

"The Productivity Commission is continuing its work assessing the Australian automotive industry and will report to the Government. That process is unchanged and will continue."

The ABC report, attributed to senior ministers, last night said the American carmaker had decided to pull out of struggling operations in Australia and had planned to make the announcement this week.

"The ABC understands that Holden has made the decision to cease its Australian productions regardless of an assistance package," the report said.

It saids the announcement was scheduled for this week, but had been put off until early next year.

Holden workers take a summer break over the Christmas period.

Holden refused to comment on the speculation.

However, News Corp Australia is aware that Holden has been debating whether, once a decision was made, to announce the shutdown to workers before or after Christmas.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill last night rang Mr Macfarlane and said he had been told Holden had denied the reports.

Mr Weatherill said Coalition ministers were "briefing against their own colleagues, exposing the deep divisions in the Liberal Party over the auto industry's future".

"It is now time for the Prime Minister to intervene because this cannot be allowed to continue. This ongoing speculation is incredibly damaging to Holden and to the workers," he said.

South Australian senator Nick Xenophon asked how much more we would pay in Centrelink payments than we are paying in industry assistance if Holden closes.

"What the hell is going on? We need to know," he said.

"I believe Ian Macfarlane, I'm not sure I believe other ministers in Cabinet.

"The PM needs to back Ian Macfarlane as a master of urgency.

"This is not just about SA. This is about 50,000 jobs being lost."

News Corp Australia has been told there were rumours on the factory floor this week that Holden was going to announce the shutdown on December 20, the last day of work before the summer break and the same day the preliminary Productivity Commission report on the industry was due to be published.

It is understood there was concern about announcing the shutdown before the summer break because of the personal effect it could have on the workers and their families.

However, historically, car companies have tended to share the grim news with employees soon after a decision has been made.

When Ford announced the 2016 closure of its Australian operations in May, it did so less than a week after the decision was made to prevent any leaks to the media.

A 2016 closure would coincide with the timing of the end of the new Commodore's current lifecycle.

However a secret SA Government document prepared in August floated the idea of a 2018 shutdown by extending the life of the current Cruze and Commodore.

Holden yesterday confirmed boss Mike Devereux was staying on in the role until next February.

Mr Devereux was supposed to finish up this month after being promoted to a senior international role with General Motors, based in China. Mr Devereux made a surprise visit to the Elizabeth Holden factory yesterday to address workers.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union SA secretary John Camillo said Mr Devereux did not tell them when a decision about the carmaker's future in SA will be made.

"He never went to the situation of whether a decision is going to be made before or after Christmas but he did indicate that (Holden's parent company) General Motors will make that decision," Mr Camillo said.

AdamL · 05-12-2013, 10:33 PM

Any of the national newspapers would be proud of this misleading thread title. Lol.

It's just all the same speculation that's been occurring since Ford dropped the axe.

nstg8a · 05-12-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamL

Any of the national newspapers would be proud of this misleading thread title. Lol.

It's just all the same speculation that's been occurring since Ford dropped the axe.

This.... Someone needs to edit the title to better reflect the fact that's it based on he said she said 3rd person Chinese whispers....

Obviously we all know its inevitable, but the title makes out like its official.