General Motors to Shutter Australia’s Beloved Holden by 2021
Holden departure is part of GM’s overall strategy to leave right-hand drive markets, follows end of local production in 2017.
Once upon a time, a mighty lion roared in Australia. Its name was Holden, and it proudly held its own against the soaring falcons Ford sent into the Outback. From the Gold Coast to Mount Panorama, along the Stuart Highway and Highway 1, Commodores, Monaros, and Toranas made Down Under their forever home.
Alas, the Red Lion of Australia has been maimed over the past few years. In 2017, local production drew to a close. In 2019, the storied Commodore name left the line after 41 years. And on February 17, 2020, General Motors announced the entire Holden brand would be put to sleep for good by the end of 2021, according to the Associated Press.
“After comprehensive assessment, we regret that we could not prioritize the investment required for Holden to be successful for the long term in Australia and New Zealand, over all other considerations we have globally,” said GM International Operations Senior Vice President Julian Blissett. “This decision is based on global priorities and does not reflect the hard work, talent and professionalism of the Holden team.”
Said global priorities include pulling out of right-hand drive markets entirely, the first of which occurred with the sale of Opel/Vauxhall in 2017 to Groupe PSA. GM is also leaving Thailand by the end of 2020, selling its manufacturing to Great Wall Motors in China. Meanwhile, it’ll focus its strengths on core international markets in Korea, the Middle East, and South America.
“Today’s news is understandably disappointing for fans who have followed Holden’s success in Australian Touring Cars and Supercars since its debut in the 1960s,” a representative for the Supercars Championship series said in a statement. “Holden has been firmly part of the heritage of our sport and has helped shape Supercars to become the sport it is today.”
Holden’s Commodore and Monaro earned the Red Lion 21 championships and 33 victories at the storied Mount Panorama circuit in Australia. This season’s field boasts 16 Holdens, including the two campaigned by the factory Red Bull Holden team.
Supercars says the head of the factory team, Ronald Dane, will speak with GM about the future of the team after 2021. The series adds GM may stay in Australia through a special vehicles division, likely supplying Camaros to Dane’s and other Holden teams.
Photos: Supercars Championship
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