Belgium Entrepeneur behind Plans to Buy Holden

[csv8]

http://carsales.mobi/editorial/details/ED-ITM-100380

[b0son]

All well and good if the VE/VF platform was relatively young, but its already getting long in the tooth, and would need an update in the not too distant future. Given development costs are hitting the $1bn mark for an all-new model, surely you would need to be an established global manufacturer to fund it? Ford learned the hard way that you can't fool buyers with ageing platforms.

[Burnout]

Sounds like a bunch of cobblers to me!
(Press release by GM-H marketing office)

[Bossxr8]

GM will not provide the intellectual property. Simple as that.

Every effort Ford Australia made to get more business was sunk by Ford HQ because if the chinese got the products they would then be competitors to Ford in China, and possibly eventually North America.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Story has been updated with Holden saying nobody from Pucnh has spoken with them....

[b0son]

That doesn't mean much ... Punch would need to speak to GM

[JC]

Belgium? Isn't that where all those terrorists are from?

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

GM will not provide the intellectual property. Simple as that.

Every effort Ford Australia made to get more business was sunk by Ford HQ because if the chinese got the products they would then be competitors to Ford in China, and possibly eventually North America.

Don't quite understand how if the Chinese got the products (which products?) they would then be competitors to Ford in China, and possibly North America? You suggesting that if the Chinese somehow got the blueprints to the xr6 turbo, they could cobble together the world's fastest, cheapest, 4 door car in LHD and RHD and export it to the U.S. to compete with Taurus and Lincoln.

[FairmontGS]

I'm calling BS..

[sbutler]

The $100.000.000 question is.. WHY? Holden is loosing money hand over fist, so why woould buy a company that is pretty much dead??

[cheap]

I'd put this announcement in the same category as...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Don't quite understand how if the Chinese got the products (which products?) they would then be competitors to Ford in China, and possibly North America? You suggesting that if the Chinese somehow got the blueprints to the xr6 turbo, they could cobble together the world's fastest, cheapest, 4 door car in LHD and RHD and export it to the U.S. to compete with Taurus and Lincoln.

I think he means Ford didn't want a business unit that would take work away from Ford China/Ford's China market ambitions

[Express]

I thought they were going to make it a shine and turn it into a button factory.

[Express]

Originally Posted by sbutler

The $100.000.000 question is.. WHY? Holden is loosing money hand over fist, so why woould buy a company that is pretty much dead??

There are many multinational companies that make huge profits from purchasing dying companies and either resurrect or asset strip them.

[mik]

Sounds like a long shot, if GM is planning on importing a heap of cars, it is hard to see them wanting more competition .

[GasoLane]

When I read "the locally-developed Zeta architecture that underpins it" my first thought was the Adelaide built Lightburn Zeta.

It never sold well back in the 60's but was right up there in the ugly stakes

[Brazen]

I suppose as the transmission supplier he will want to make it work so he doesn't lose the business . As someone who has bought a GM factory he will know the ins and outs of how to make it work.

Potentially would be a good buy as the cars would make good money and he has a ready made market here and loads of potential overseas.

[FormulaFG]

Of all the pie in the sky ideas of what will happen to Holden this one has probably got the most potential thus far. I'd really like to see his business plan. It MUST have an export program or else it will end the same way.

He has/will have:
reliable supply of gearboxes.
contacts in GM to source bulk cheap LS engines.
huge plant and a bunch of workers.
local auto suppliers that have no one else to service

The only sticking point is that he has no chassis and body to put it into.

[pottery beige]

milk desperate no jobs local govco moneys

business case

win

[jmack]

breaking news.an unconfirmed source from holden head office has just confirmed the ink cartridge has been change in the bull@@@@ printer.anything to keep the name in the press

[Angeldust]

Originally Posted by b0son

All well and good if the VE/VF platform was relatively young, but its already getting long in the tooth, and would need an update in the not too distant future. Given development costs are hitting the $1bn mark for an all-new model, surely you would need to be an established global manufacturer to fund it? Ford learned the hard way that you can't fool buyers with ageing platforms.

Silly question, but why? does it need an update, and update it to what? Sure you can do the usual panel, interior etc changes, but why does the chassis need a update?

[FPV GTHO]

If its not updated, the market will leave it behind.

There's always something to be improved, be it safety, weight etc.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by b0son

All well and good if the VE/VF platform was relatively young, but its already getting long in the tooth, and would need an update in the not too distant future. Given development costs are hitting the $1bn mark for an all-new model, surely you would need to be an established global manufacturer to fund it? Ford learned the hard way that you can't fool buyers with ageing platforms.

Pretty sure Ford didn't learn anything.... they just saved a billion dollars.....plus another billion of ours

[arronm]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

If its not updated, the market will leave it behind.

There's always something to be improved, be it safety, weight etc.

Like the FG-X.........

[MethodX]

Would be great if it happened.... but fat chance.
Zeta platform is still good.... just a tad heavy... would need more lightweight materials.

[Stefan]

Not an altogether dumb idea...established name / business, lots of Holden fanboys. Replace management, and away you go. Turnbull is almost Labor like and given some pressure will probably open govcos wallet to kick the can down the road a bit. Talk gov into giving a tax break to companies that use Aussie made cars.

Lots of companies get restructured and return from the brink of death. Once ford is gone, no competion for Holden, the few that bought hi po falcons will also jump into an Aussie made v8 full size sedan.

Plenty of opportunity that is for sure.

[Express]

This is not a company going out of business, it's a company changing tact.

Why on earth would GM or any company for that matter want to offer tooling to another party to allow them to go into competition with them.

GM wants to introduce a completely new Commodore platform very much divorced from what the consumer it accustom too, so why help someone else produce something that would feed the customer base they are hoping to convert to their new Commodore line.

If I was the CEO of a company that gave the competition a helping hand to supply my customer base with a product they may prefer, I’d expect to be out of work before my coffee has time to go cold.

Sell the premises, maybe.

Sell any intellectual rights or tooling so someone else can manufacturer a product to compete with you, no chance.



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[Struggo]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...-1227626081387

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Struggo

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...-1227626081387

Subscription only.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Subscription only.

Subscription only gives me the even my local paper now is by subscription!!! $6 a week!!!! The only day its worth buying is saturday!!! Paywall has failed around the world and newspaper are taking them down...