Peugot-Citroen in Talks to Buy Opel Vauxhall.

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by Vormund

I have a prediction: GM will abandon on the remaining RHD markets in around 8 years, and focus only on US and China.

This makes sense to me.

If Opel and Daewoo are their only subsidiaries making RHD cars and they just sold off one of them, it doesn't look good for the RHD markets.

So I imagine there'll still be a few years of Opel Commodores, but what Peugeot decide to do after that is anyone's guess. Do they keep producing Insignias and sell them to GM to rebadge? Do they sell them 508s to rebadge?

Do GM start selling the Malibu out of Korea as a Commodore? (Do they make it RHD?) Develop the Impala into RHD and sell that here?

Even if Holden sticks around importing Daewoos, it could very well be the final nail in the Commodore.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

Even if Holden sticks around importing Daewoos, it could very well be the final nail in the Commodore.

They are not Daewoos, that entity disappeared over a decade ago. They are now just GM Korea, under the control of the Yanks & they build much better cars than in the Daewoo era.

Currently the Barina & Trax, both sourced from GM Korea are at the top of Holden's customer satisfaction surveys & lowest on their warranty costs.

They are like most stuff from Korea, much much better than 10-20 years ago. Have a close look at a Kia or Hyundai, for example. In the 90s you would have given one to your worst enemy, they have changed.

Dr Terry

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Nikked

There could be another, more positive side coming out of this.

Holden have a design & engineering center here, it might receive more work...

Very unlikely. GM are trying to reduce complexity and development costs, hence the sale of deeply unprofitable Opel.

As it stands, PSA will build and supply GM engineered models such as the Astra and Insignia/Commodore under licence until these products reach the end of their life cycle, at which point PSA designed platforms will replace them. By then GM/Holden will have replacement vehicles ready to go.

This will be a 6 to 7 year process so GM and Holden to have plenty of time to plan for the next generation of vehicles. Even if PSA put a stop to Astra & Commodore exports to Holden, GM already has Cruze and Malibu in its stable right now.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Nikked

There could be another, more positive side coming out of this.

Holden have a design & engineering center here, it might receive more work...

Isn't holdens design centre basically down to a near retiree, a caretaker and a lunch lady these days?

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Isn't holdens design centre basically down to a near retiree, a caretaker and a lunch lady these days?

Don't know, hard to keep track of the PR machine

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

They are not Daewoos, that entity disappeared over a decade ago. They are now just GM Korea, under the control of the Yanks & they build much better cars than in the Daewoo era.

Currently the Barina & Trax, both sourced from GM Korea are at the top of Holden's customer satisfaction surveys & lowest on their warranty costs.

They are like most stuff from Korea, much much better than 10-20 years ago. Have a close look at a Kia or Hyundai, for example. In the 90s you would have given one to your worst enemy, they have changed.

Dr Terry

It wouldn't be that hard to be at the top of that range of cars though would it? I mean you are competing against Commodore which always has a big list of warranty issues and other Korean cars.

The customer reviews of the new Barina are pretty bad.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

It wouldn't be that hard to be at the top of that range of cars though would it? I mean you are competing against Commodore which always has a big list of warranty issues and other Korean cars.

The customer reviews of the new Barina are pretty bad.

Because the Thai and indian built fords have been stellar.
Not to mention ---- diff bushes.

Ah well - PSA can have its turn trying to be the biggest in the world only to fail like GM and VW.

PSA are also rumoured to be after Proton now to get their hands on Lotus.

[Gothefalcon]

GM had gone to great lengths to reassure the Oz buying public that Holden is staying.... and that the new Commondore is still a Commondore... just imported from a different GM entity.

It may not make any difference to people who don't care about "car stuff"... and just buy something because they like it.... but I would suggest that those that would have stuck with the all new Commondore because it is still a GM product, may turn their backs on it now !??

It's a big leap from buying an Aussie designed & made RWD Holden Commondore... to a FWD car that's just been rebadged as a Holden (which will no longer be a car company, and just be a brand name) and is also badged as a Commondore (but in essence is totally different)... which is now supplied from a French company that makes Citroens & Peugeots (not GM)

So... Not "really" a Holden.. not "really" a Commondore... and not "really" a GM product anymore ! What's left ?

D

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Gothefalcon

GM had gone to great lengths to reassure the Oz buying public that Holden is staying.... and that the new Commondore is still a Commondore... just imported from a different GM entity.

It may not make any difference to people who don't care about "car stuff"... and just buy something because they like it.... but I would suggest that those that would have stuck with the all new Commondore because it is still a GM product, may turn their backs on it now !??

It's a big leap from buying an Aussie designed & made RWD Holden Commondore... to a FWD car that's just been rebadged as a Holden (which will no longer be a car company, and just be a brand name) and is also badged as a Commondore (but in essence is totally different)... which is now supplied from a French company that makes Citroens & Peugeots (not GM)

So... Not "really" a Holden.. not "really" a Commondore... and not "really" a GM product anymore ! What's left ?

D

FWD and RWD isn't it going to be?
They were always multinational companies, subject to closing at a whim from Detroit.
It happened.
Focus on the good times.

[Gothefalcon]

Originally Posted by MethodX

FWD and RWD isn't it going to be?
They were always multinational companies, subject to closing at a whim from Detroit.
It happened.
Focus on the good times.

Predominantly FWD & there will be an AWD option on some versions (from what I have read !??)

D

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

They are not Daewoos, that entity disappeared over a decade ago. They are now just GM Korea, under the control of the Yanks & they build much better cars than in the Daewoo era.

Currently the Barina & Trax, both sourced from GM Korea are at the top of Holden's customer satisfaction surveys & lowest on their warranty costs.

They are like most stuff from Korea, much much better than 10-20 years ago. Have a close look at a Kia or Hyundai, for example. In the 90s you would have given one to your worst enemy, they have changed.

Dr Terry

The Daewoo nameplate on cars only disappeared in 2011 yes they now wear Chevy badges or Holden for here, but in my mind they are still very much Daewoos - its still the same factory.
And from what I've seen they haven't advanced in quality like the other twop

If they were ok why didn't Holden go to them as first Option for the Commodore replacement?
Epica - malabu? wait its scratched due to poor sales

http://www.motoring.com.au/holden-ma...ine-up-104377/

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Because the Thai and indian built fords have been stellar.
Not to mention ---- diff bushes.

Ah well - PSA can have its turn trying to be the biggest in the world only to fail like GM and VW.

PSA are also rumoured to be after Proton now to get their hands on Lotus.

Falcon isnt built anymore so its irrelevant and yes it did have its issues just like Commodore.

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

May as well ditch the Holden name and make it Chevrolet.

This is a bad idea. Think of all the aftermarket badge manufacturers and sellers who will go out of business once holdens start already coming with chev badges!

However, these same chev badge tossers are probably likely to put a Holden badge on an actual Chev.