Holden to cut more jobs

[bobthebilda]

Short on facts, but maybe Holden know that things will be alot tighter

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1226718664561

CAR maker Holden is moving to cut more jobs as it continues restructuring its Australian operations in a bid to ensure a long-term future.
The company said on Friday it had taken the difficult decision to axe some of its salaried staff.

Holden hasn't revealed how many jobs will go but says all staff affected will be offered support, including career transition and financial counselling.

"It is never easy to make changes like these but we have to take these steps to protect Holden's long-term future in Australia," the company said in a statement.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

Short on facts, but maybe Holden know that things will be alot tighter

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1226718664561

salaried staff...

sounds like middle management, trim the fat.

[Syndrome]

Not good news no matter who is at risk.

[PepeLePew]

I don't think this will end no matter what assistance is offered. Holden will close but with almost a 'empathy' news story like this it won't be painful for them. They'll manage the shutdown like they manage their advertising, professional all the way.

I hope I am wrong, but it's becoming a pattern of behaviour.

[sbutler]

I predict Holden will shut shop within 2 years..They are being very tight lipped about their position, but I would say its worse than Fords. Just Ford had the guts to come out with it & give all their effected worker plenty of notice, rather than just drop it on them..

[Syndrome]

Once Ford pulled the plug on Australia Holden's position became much more perilous. How can Detroit justify building a unique, low volume car for a small new car market with no direct competitor?

[mik]

Dunno, it could go either way, my bet is the pollies will wait till the last minute then. offer some sort of rescue package.

[Lotte]

Salaried staff is the vast majority of the office at fishermans bend I believe.
That'll include engineers, designers, management etc.

Not good news, got a few mates working as engineers there.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Once Ford pulled the plug on Australia Holden's position became much more perilous. How can Detroit justify building a unique, low volume car for a small new car market with no direct competitor?

The commodore has plenty of competitors, not just the falcons.

[GASWAGON]

Gee's this is getting worse by the month......They will crash within a year or two I reckon... Petrol is still around 1.50-1.60 ltr.....Big cars are finished in Oz!

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Nikked

The commodore has plenty of competitors, not just the falcons.

Which part of direct competitor did you not understand?

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Nikked

The commodore has plenty of competitors, not just the falcons.

Supplier base is hit hard by Fords decision and makes it more tenuous for the other two.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Once Ford pulled the plug on Australia Holden's position became much more perilous. How can Detroit justify building a unique, low volume car for a small new car market with no direct competitor?

Money spent on VF means that Holden needs to recover its investment and get as many sales as possible.
Holden is in the same boat as Ford, while sales are not great enough to support an new Commodore,
there's no problem with refreshing the existing Zeta and keep it going for a few more years..

[jpblue1000]

What better for holden, Ford cancelling the falcon means large car buyers have only one choice. Makes the holden commodore business case at least 20-30 percent better for the remainder of the model run. Unless nobody who would consider a falcon would ever consider a commodore, but faced with no alternate I don't believe many will baulk at buying the only option. A monopoly is the best business case.
JP

[borough]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

What better for holden, Ford cancelling the falcon means large car buyers have only one choice. Makes the holden commodore business case at least 20-30 percent better for the remainder of the model run. Unless nobody who would consider a falcon would ever consider a commodore, but faced with no alternate I don't believe many will baulk at buying the only option. A monopoly is the best business case.
JP

Are you forgetting about the Aurion? If I was to replace my Falcon tomorrow it would be with an Aurion not a Commodore. I was unfortunate enough to drive a work VE Commodore this week and it was a POS to drive.

[jpblue1000]

Im sure there will be a watering down of the numbers but it cant help a business case if the main direct competitor does not exist anymore or has lost the buying public's trust. For those who like the big traditional aussie family car for all the reasons we like them then the aurion may not cut it.
Of course I just googled it and the Aurion matches my AU ute for capacities towed. Of course It cant also carry 3/4 tonne in the boot but I cant carry 5 adults legally. Maybe you are right!
My point still stands, 2 big 6's vs 3 in the market helps the remaining competitors.

JP

[LMW]

i think its disgraceful what holden have been doing all along. ford came out and said they will be cancelling the falcon years ahead of time. holden in the mean time keep getting band aid fixes from the goverment all the well knowing that they are going the same way. i dont know how they keep getting milions of OUR money, make thousands of workers take massive pay cuts and/or sack workers then have the hide to become major sponsers of the state of origin series plus sponsership of an afl club. i am a ford fan at heart but dont "hate" holden but i think its digusting how holden have treated the workers and to a certain extent the australian public...

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Which part of direct competitor did you not understand?

Commodores direct competitors are all the other cars in the top ten... The days of it being falcon vs commodore are long gone.

[BHDOGS]

But thats impossible there FLAT out building cars i dont get it all the money there making i read it on here all the time holden are going gang busters americans and emirates are buying them in droves i just dont understand it all oh thats right its holden ******** and people always buy into it.

[BENT_8]

You cant help yourself can you

Would it be at all possible that, seeing as the next gen local built holdens wont be designed or engineered here, that, with VF in showrooms, design, engineering and the associated management would no longer be required.

Or is that letting truth get in the way of a good story....

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

But thats impossible there FLAT out building cars i dont get it all the money there making i read it on here all the time holden are going gang busters americans and emirates are buying them in droves i just dont understand it all oh thats right its holden ******** and people always buy into it.

How old are you?

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

But thats impossible there FLAT out building cars i dont get it all the money there making i read it on here all the time holden are going gang busters americans and emirates are buying them in droves i just dont understand it all oh thats right its holden ******** and people always buy into it.

Originally Posted by Syndrome

How old are you?

He must be the same age as me.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Which part of direct competitor did you not understand?

It has penlty of direct competitors other than Falcon

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

Supplier base is hit hard by Fords decision and makes it more tenuous for the other two.

Yes/no...more and more parts are being imported these days, parts from the VE come from as far as Canada and Mexico. Same with the Cruze, where basically only some sheet metal is stamped here.

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Which part of direct competitor did you not understand?

The Falcon and commodore are no longer direct competitors with each other, the commodore is sold up against Mazda 3's, Subaru Outbacks and Prados for example. Not every one will base there choice solely on the fact of it being a large RWD sedan, rather its measured on its pricing, features and ability over a hugely fragmented market.

[PepeLePew]

I used to smirk when Aurion is mentioned. Still do really. Toyota is the only business I know that can add a couple of cylinders under a bonnet and the mid size car suddenly transforms to a fullsize. So if that theory fits then Ecoboost Falcon is mid size

Just an aside, I haven't looked sideways at the Camry/Aurion in a long time but the memory always reminds me of Toyotas clout with the press in this country.

Any, I digress.

Can we please keep this thread clean and on track and not turn it into a other dogs breakfast? Stick to facts not sarcasm or deliberately argumentative posts which are against forum T&C please.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

You cant help yourself can you

Would it be at all possible that, seeing as the next gen local built holdens wont be designed or engineered here, that, with VF in showrooms, design, engineering and the associated management would no longer be required.

Or is that letting truth get in the way of a good story....

I agree. Holden are well and truly within their rights to run their business in the most efficient and effective manner possible and your suggestion makes profoundly reasonable business sense. Holden are trying to make their business viable...I don't see why we should be beating them up for that...

[PepeLePew]

Rodge I for one am not beating them up. Holden just have a history of managing everything they do very very well. Between the competitive realities of the Aussie car market, shrinking volumes, cost to manufacture here, dwindling assistance and a seemingly never ending run of cut backs its difficult not to think they will bail, just when.

That said, I'm on the side that says I wouldn't WANT them to close. I'd hope they do become viable, but they'll never be a profit cow for GM. To me Holden closing would close ANY door of Ford resuming local manufacture now or in the foreseeable future.

[Rodge]

Mate I know you wern't beating up on them, my reinforcement of Bent_8's comment was aimed at others who take, shall we say, a less pragmatic view of the current situation.

I agree with you but would hope that will all the R&D money spent on the VF, Holden will ride that model out to its logical conclusion to extract the maximum possible return on investment. Hopefully that gives us another few years.

[Silver Ghia]

According to todays Herald Sun newspaper (can't find it on the net), the staff being made redundant are close to 45 design engineers.

Nothing to do with improving the efficiency of the present operation. They are winding down their engineering capabilities.

Which says to me there won't be any more locally designed Holdens.

Quite different to the Ford situation where they have actually been taking on more design engineers for Fords global engineering.

Holden Commodore as we have seen it, wont exist in a few years. Nor local engineering by Holden, except for maybe tweeking cars designed elsewhere.

[PHawk]

Be a sad day to see both Falcon and Commodore gone within the next few years, we have all grown up with both, loved and hated both, christ how can we live with out them!!!