03 9429 3000

The end of an era – Australian Holden production shuts down

They say all good things must come to an end, and so it was with the closure of Holden’s last Australian factory. Workers and fans looked on as a red, manual VFII Redline V8 Holden Commodore – the very last to be produced in Australia – rolled off the production line in Holden’s Elizabeth Factory in Adelaide on October 20. The 7,687,675th vehicle produced by the company, it’s destined for a life on show at corporate headquarters in Melbourne, and was a fitting closure to an iconic period in Australian history.

The end of an era

Holden production began in Australia in 1948, with the first fully Australian made car – the 48-215 – the first off the line. Production soon swelled, and the Australian automotive industry took its first tentative steps into a bold new mechanised world. By the 1970s, local manufacturers were producing close to half a million vehicles a year, with 8 out of 10 cars sold in Australia also made in Australia.

However, the boom times weren’t to last, with production dropping to 5 in 10 by the late 90s and further still to 2 in 10 by 2006. Manufacturers blamed prohibitive local production costs, a breakaway Aussie dollar and low import tariffs for the downturn, which has led in turn to the shutting down of Australia’s once proud car manufacturing industry.

Silver linings

Although the shutting down of production has led to widescale job losses and the culling of 30 dealerships, the President of General Motors, Dan Ammann, assures Holden aficionados that the decision to end manufacturing “was made in the best interest of the business for the long term and we’re committed to making sure Holden is incredibly successful in the future”.

200 showrooms will continue to operate across Australia, making it second only in number to Toyota. Drivers can also expect the same reliable, high quality range of vehicles, with the next-gen German manufactured Commodores set to hit showrooms in early 2018. V8 enthusiasts need not despair either, with plans to import the Chevrolet Camaro V8 by the end of 2018, slightly ahead of the Corvette sports car, due in 2020.

Looking for your next new car?

Whether you’re after a Holden, a Hyundai or a Honda, our team of experts can help you find the right wheels, at the right price. Give us a call to learn how we can help you bag a bargain and potentially save thousands in the process.

Contact Us