Holden targets premium brands with new Commodore

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by Express

Will it sell?

Probably not but as of yet who knows as with the right marketing and price point consumers will buy anything.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to write them off just yet.
Historically Holden's marketing has always been very strong. Who knows what they'll come up with to convince the average punter they are still buying a traditional Commodore.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

It's still a Holden. Badge-conscious punters who have the money for Audi, BMW, C-class will not be buying a "Holden" when they can get a Euro-badge for same price. As Trump said, epic fail on the way.

Exactly!

Its this very scenario that contributed to the downfall of locally made luxury cars such as Fairmonts/Fairlanes/G6E's and Calais/Caprise.

Why have a Ford or Holden when one can park of Mercedes or BMW on the driveway to impress the neighbours?

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Exactly!

Its this very scenario that contributed to the downfall of locally made luxury cars such as Fairmonts/Fairlanes/G6E's and Calais/Caprise.

Why have a Ford or Holden when one can park of Mercedes or BMW on the driveway to impress the neighbours?

The other angle to look at it is, to compete with the higher end means they will have to either match or better the features. They also will have to try and match the quality and reliability of such features. All this does is push the price up and out of reach of the old demographic (for once I'm not talking about bogans, I'm borderline myself) of the average life in the suburbs family. Mercedes may not sell in huge volumes in Australia, but they do in other countries. Ford sell more over here, but again, they have a global market. If holden go for the premium market their overall sales will drop. We are their only market (and nz). If that happens, does that not make it financially unviable to keep the rebadging going? Then making the head honchos at gm pull the plug on the brand and just re brand the dealerships opel, chev or whatever. Ford did the smart thing and had the somewhat global replacement car for the falcon already established. The mondeo was already here for a long time for another reason, but the release of the mustang before dropping the axe meant people had an option that wasn't a gamble. The size of the mondeo is very similar to the falcon so the family demographic who are more concerned with economy over fanging it everywhere go with that option. I'm waiting for holden to pull the rabbit out of their ar$e and be the top seller off the bat. I somewhat think it will not go well.

[Chopped]

It'll probably be the highest quality vehicle to wear a Commodore badge. I can't see it selling anymore than 500 a month though.

Also I can't see it matching the chassis dynamics of the current one.

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by Trump

Holden will learn a very valuable lesson the hard way soon.

I think this is the most accurate and most concise post in this thread

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Yeah, I wouldn't want to write them off just yet.
Historically Holden's marketing has always been very strong. Who knows what they'll come up with to convince the average punter they are still buying a traditional Commodore.

You use an interesting Term..'Traditional Commodore'...what is a traditional commodore. To most people who bought them they were family sized A-B commuters and carriers for mums and dads across the country, that provided reasonable reliability, comfort and gadgetry for the money, unmatched at the time by the Japanese, or euros. They were even reasonably economical to run in a wealthy country. Sounds like a description of the traditional Falcon too.
So what would a new car have to offer to still be a 'traditional commodore'
The fact that most Japanese can and a wealthier country can afford more euros suggests its not a secret.
To most commodore owners they don't need a 13-14 second car dropping off the kids, sitting in traffic to the office carpark or shopping center, but they do need something they can afford, that works and some worry about if it will on-sell when they are finished with it.
It will sell. Not in Commodore numbers, the market has moved on from there, will it sell sustainably is the question, it seems everyone is bringing a 'large' car to market at the moment, obviously a market is seen, is it big enough? Time will tell.

JP

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Nikked

I think that's got more to do with your spring & shock rates

My Mondeo doesn't do that, and my mates mini certainly doesn't do that when he has his boot jammed in...

Only experience with fwd has been Toyotas and rental Hyundai/kia. RWD experience, Falcons, Commodores and BMW's. Maybe if I try a properly sorted fwd car I may be converted.

[dunga]

Originally Posted by Express

The only people who’ll miss the old local built Commodore is the V8 crowd.

Even though I have no interest in FWD vehicles this new recruit is most likely every bit as good as the outgoing V6 variants.

Will it sell?

Probably not but as of yet who knows as with the right marketing and price point consumers will buy anything.


.

Marketing is one of Holden's strong points if the can sell craptiva they can sell anything

[danzvtil]

What everyone is missing is that new commodore will NOT be replacing the old ones volume.
An Adelaide Holden dealer who had his Holden license taken away stated that "Holden are setting themselves up as a 50000-60000 per year car company, they don't need 235 dealers for that"
They sold 102000 in 2015
Story here....
http://goautomedia.cdn.on.net/gan_pr...letter_025.pdf

[CyberWasp]

I don't think anyone here is thinking the new one will replace the old ones volume.

It is totally dumb to be seen in the market place to be closing down dealerships.
Ford are guilty of this too.
People do not perceive a brand to be going places when dealerships are closing up / and or changing to other brands after many years with Ford / Holden.

[Sprintey]

Let's look for precedent here in Oz:

Taurus
Avalon
Mondeo
Vectra
Epica
Malibu
380
Passat

All large FWD that sell/sold bugger all in Oz. All Hail the Camry!

As for premium, that would be even less sales than reasonably priced large FWD. The only premium FWD success story I can think of is Audi, recent sales growth from SUV and smaller versions, not the FWD large cars... and they've got Quattro Haldex style AWD as well.

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Yeah, I wouldn't want to write them off just yet.
Historically Holden's marketing has always been very strong. Who knows what they'll come up with to convince the average punter they are still buying a traditional Commodore.

Meat pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars.

[Mechan1k]

That new RWD Kia Stinger is looking better and better by the day.

[cobramania]

Originally Posted by blackf6

Meat pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars.

Yeah, most remembered Holden marketing & it wasn't even original.

It was a copy from GM US's: Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pies & Chevrolet marketing campaign.

[bigwil]

Originally Posted by cobramania

Yeah, most remembered Holden marketing & it wasn't even original.

It was a copy from GM US's: Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pies & Chevrolet marketing campaign.

When has Holden ever been original

[bobthebilda]

Holden simply cant continue with their current business model, once they go to full importing. They immediately lose alot of the benefits they get from being a local manufacturer, and of the local commodore (ie government and some non government fleet benefits, Government cash, export credits, local buyer support, smaller high end sales). Whatever hit they will take from lower volumes (imported commodore sales will drop considerably over local made one), will be nothing compared to the hit they will take to the cashflow. This will require big reductions in Dealer Network and other Corporate areas.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by bigwil

When has Holden ever been original

G'day , I agree .. Ford was the same..Have You Driven a ford Lately was in America too..I liked the campaign but it was a copy of the US version..In this clip you see and hear both versions..Both are great...kind of sad to watch actually..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKEeor3kbKM
The Holden/ GM (USA) Meat pies , hotdogs etc is the same as you say..probably find it on YT. On Holden ads , anyone remember this one for Monaro...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oObB6DehViE .. Perhaps a bit more Aussie than U.S. .Cheers Rod

[lra]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Monaro...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oObB6DehViE

Don't remember it, but there is no mistaking what car they are advertising. Unlike most ads today which hardly feature any content about the car itself, but lots of connectivity, funky happenings, and references to good times.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by blackf6

Meat pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars.

Saurkraut, deer and holden cars?

Then it can change to frogs legs, french hens and holden cars?

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Saurkraut, deer and holden cars?

Then it can change to frogs legs, french hens and holden cars?

French hens? By that do you mean women with hairy arm pits?

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Saurkraut, deer and holden cars?

Then it can change to frogs legs, french hens and holden cars?

Frog Legs, Garden Snails and Holden cars

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Frog Legs, Garden Snails and Holden cars

Don't knock the snails untill you have tried them. In garlic butter they kind of taste like steak, but have the consistency of a mushroom. Strange, and I'd take a scotch fillet any day of the week, but it's an experience. Frogs legs, hairy armpits and holden cars.

[Sprintey]

Fetchez la Vache!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV0LGMGuLN0

[ea90gl]

Holden seem to nail the marketing side of things which means that they are able to reach out to most of the buying general public who believe anything they are told.

Most of the general public seem to be the following sheep type and with enough BS fed to them, they will take the bait and believe they have made the right decision after purchasing a vehicle since the Salesman said it was the best car out there.

Of course the more intelligent car enthusiast can see through this however unfortunately they make up a very small minority of buyers these days.

It would probably be best in terms of a business decision to **** of the very small amount of car enthusiasts which they can probably afford to lose sales from instead of spin the web to lure in more of the clueless typical customer to make a quick dollar.

At the end of the day, if Joe Blog can get sucked into the typical advertising and sales pitch and end up purchasing a Holden product for him to boast about and spread the word to all of his other clueless friends who may eventually end up buying another Holden product then so be it.

Marketing spin and BS is the king of business these days which ultimately makes more money for the bigger guys who can perfect this to make the money roll in. It is what it is and if Holden have got this down pat then they will obviously reep the rewards etc.

A real shame for the people who know a thing or two but it is what it is and I suppose we just have to accept it

[TheInterceptor]

Fwd euro style crap. Just like just about everything else on the market.

I'd rather kick and angry tiger in the balls.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Only experience with fwd has been Toyotas and rental Hyundai/kia. RWD experience, Falcons, Commodores and BMW's. Maybe if I try a properly sorted fwd car I may be converted.

Doesn't matter the flavour. All FWD cars are ultimately compromised.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Express

The only people who’ll miss the old local built Commodore is the V8 crowd.

Even though I have no interest in FWD vehicles this new recruit is most likely every bit as good as the outgoing V6 variants.

Will it sell?

Probably not but as of yet who knows as with the right marketing and price point consumers will buy anything.


.

I find it an interesting insight into where Holdens mentality is at the moment.

I can certainly see their point about the luxury makers. Some of the worst cars on our roads are bottom end BMW's and Mercs.

But then they come out with the statement that they are trying to hide the fact that it's FWD.
Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

[Crazy Dazz]

And in related news:
King Gee have announced plans to take on the fashion houses of Europe with their new up-market line of wife-beaters, featuring a diamanté Southern Cross.

[Optional]

I think the car looks pretty good. Aesthetics wise.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

And in related news:
King Gee have announced plans to take on the fashion houses of Europe with their new up-market line of wife-beaters, featuring a diamanté Southern Cross.

Do they come with a sequined leg pocket too !!!!!!!...