Feds to Replace Holdens with BMW's

[csv8]

THE Prime Minister's flagship fleet of high-security Holden limos is expected to be replaced with bomb and gas proof BMWs after Government sources claimed Holden had failed to bid for a lucrative $4 million plus contract to replace the ageing convoy of armoured cars.

And a further armada of 20 German built cars will need to be leased for the G20 Summit in Brisbane next year - at a cost of $2 million - with foreign leaders prevented from using the Holden Caprice as it didn't meet their standards to protect against terrorist attacks.



Government sources last night claimed that Holden had not submitted a bid for a new construction contract to replace the existing eight-year-old fleet of nine armour-plated Caprices - including the PM's own car "C1".

The Daily Telegraph understands that only four bids were entered, including Audi and Mercedes.

The only options of a semi-local built car was believed to be a newer version of the retrofitted Holden Caprice offered by British Aerospace at a cost of $800,000 each, or a "ground up" model based on a Holden chassis, which cost $1.2 million for just one vehicle.

However, neither option is believed to have been able to meet international standards for protection against attacks.

The Federal Government is now expected to sign a contract to buy cheaper, off-the shelf BMW High Security 7-series vehicles, at a cost of $525,000 each, which meet higher international standards of protection against ballistic and gas attacks - and which can be serviced in Australia.



It has an existing contract through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with BMW for high security cars.

The BMW option would save the government more than $3 million. They would also be available for the 20 strong fleet of security cars required for the G20, saving the Government a further $1 million.

Holden last night denied it had declined to bid for the tender, claiming it had partnered with the two after market companies in bids to supply armoured plated cars.

"We have partnered with two bids from armoured plated companies," a spokesman for Holden said.

"Holden is involved in two bids for this work and we would love to see the PM in a Caprice, and we have obviously provided caprice for this purpose before."

But departmental sources disputed the claim and said Holden had "shown no interest" when made aware the tender was being let.


Prime Minister Tony Abbott in his high-security white Holden limo which will be ditched for a bomb-proof BMW. Source: News Limited

The imminent loss of Holden as the PM's official car was revealed as the Detroit based car giant came under pressure to reveal whether it planned to close its operations in Australia by 2016.

Yesterday thousands of Holden workers were left hanging over Christmas to find out whether they would still have a job with Holden boss Mike Devereux refusing to confirm whether it would continue to make cars in Australia.

Labor has accused the government of trying to kill the Australian car industry by cutting assistance by $500 million and has urged the Government to restore assistance to Holden to protect thousands of jobs.


But Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss yesterday wrote to the company requesting that it reveal its intentions and reminding it that the Government had already committed a further $1 billion to the industry until 2020.

"An immediate clarification of GM Holden's future plans is needed to end the uncertainty for Holden's workforce, its suppliers and the people of Australia," Mr Truss said.

A senior government source yesterday confirmed that Holden "was not interested" in bidding for the government security cars with the contract likely to be awarded to BMW - which once made engines for the Nazi war machine - over the coming days.

The AFP is already using BMW X5s for security support vehicles for the PM claiming there was nothing in Australia built to specifications required for protection.

The Government will need a total of 20 armoured BMW, Mercedez or Audis for the G20 meeting next year.

It could save $1 million in lease fees by sourcing 9 of the vehicles from a new Government fleet of BMWs.
http://www.news.com.au/national/bomb...-1226780185117

[mik]

1.2 million to buy an armoured holden is a lot of lunch money, I would have bought the beemers to I think.

[basteve]

Lets buy things from small business! (Tony Abbott). Lets get rid of big business. Buy Bmw! Support German industries. True blue. ( made in china)

[kaniSS]

Originally Posted by basteve

Lets buy things from small business! (Tony Abbott). Lets get rid of big business. Buy Bmw! Support German industries. True blue. ( made in china)

How is it Tony Abbott's fault when

Government sources last night claimed that Holden had not submitted a bid for a new construction contract to replace the existing eight-year-old fleet of nine armour-plated Caprices

Quick to blame the gubbermint, try reading the article first. blame Holden for not getting of their Lazy Aussie asses.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by basteve

Lets buy things from small business! (Tony Abbott). Lets get rid of big business. Buy Bmw! Support German industries. True blue. ( made in china)

Did you even read the article?
Or are you simply another Holden troll who has infiltrated the forums pushing your particular "Holden is right, you're all wrong 'cause I said so" agenda?
Or are you in fact another member pushing the same barrow because you've had too many bans under your other username?

[Wretched]

A non news item.
I have no issue with them using the BMWs. They're pretty much an off the shelf product and a fraction of the price to commission a bespoke build.

[GQ_Smooth]

It will be extremely weird to see our PM being driven around in a BMW. The times they are a changing.

I would personally prefer a armoured Caddy/Lincoln/Lexus, some links to local manufacturing (while we have it), I'm sure they make an armoured Lexus.

[imugli]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

It will be extremely weird to see our PM being driven around in a BMW. The times they are a changing.

I would personally prefer a armoured Caddy/Lincoln/Lexus, some links to local manufacturing (while we have it), I'm sure they make an armoured Lexus.

How do Cadillac, Lincoln and Lexus have ANY ties to local manufacturing?

Surely you're not using the very very long bow that they are owned by GM, Ford and Toyota respectively to link them to local production?

Cadillac, Lincoln and Lexus have as much link to local production as BMW does.

[GQ_Smooth]

Yeah I am, I'm stretching that bow as far as it will go. At the end of the day if other options were 20%+ more than the Black Mans Willie, then the government has made the right decisions (I don't have to be happy about it though, even if I would have come to the same conclusion).

[ltd]

Very telling that some here are blaming Tony Abbott for this, and that others are implying he should have spent 3 times as much on the local product. Sums up their whole argument on Holdens predicament - to hell with economic prudence and proper planning lets just throw more money at it quickly or else we be crying "they tuk orr jaaahhhbbbss" (South Park reference).

[Smoke Pursuit]

Bout time I say. Those old WL Caprices make our economy look like a 3rd world nation.

Wonder if the Qld premier is going to order one too?

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Wonder if the Qld premier is going to order one too?

His will need to be fully bulletproof.

[Trump]

They want to save some money... don't buy any armoured cars, in fact, scrap the entire fleet of govco cars. The politicans can make their way to work like the rest of us, in their own personal cars or heaven forbid, public transport.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Bout time I say. Those old WL Caprices make our economy look like a 3rd world nation.

The way things are going, we are well on our way to becoming a third world economy anyway, regardless of which cars are used in the government fleet.

[robertjp]

Or Paul Keating's "Banana republic"

[zilo]

What a waste of money...there is no terrorism in Australia.

[Franco Cozzo]

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to repurpose something from Thales in Bendigo? Bullet and bomb proof.

[Mighty Reds]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to repurpose something from Thales in Bendigo? Bullet and bomb proof.

A Bushmaster would do the job well.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Mighty Reds

A Bushmaster would do the job well.

Chuck a recliner in the back for the prime minister and job done.

Its ok guys I'm here all day to sign autographs.

[FGX-351]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

They want to save some money... don't buy any armoured cars, in fact, scrap the entire fleet of govco cars. The politicans can make their way to work like the rest of us, in their own personal cars or heaven forbid, public transport.

From memory Malcolm Turnbull is known for using public transport within his electorate. off topic though.

[uranium_death]

I found it slightly amusing when Julia Gillard turned up to Ford in a Holden Caprice...

How about Abbott rocks up to Elizabeth in four years time in his Beamer?

It's inevitable that as costs rise, businesses look at reducing costs. Australia cannot compete with manufacturing - regardless of quality.

Nobody should have an issue with BMW taking the reins - Holden chose not to bid.

People have moved towards European marques quite enthusiastically in the past five years. The market has shifted.

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by zilo

What a waste of money...there is no terrorism in Australia.

The dictionary describes terrorism as the systematic use of violence, terror or intimidation for political purposes. You forgot we have unions in Australia.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by zilo

What a waste of money...there is no terrorism in Australia.

That could have been said about America until Sept 10, 2011. Unfortunatley the word "terrorism" applies only when it's a foreign attack. For some reason massacres, assasinations, and arson are not given the same label. There is one possibility why. A president can argue that terrorism did not occur under his or her leadership if he or she is able to define what terrorism is.

[whynot]

Some interesting history on Comcars
http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/defa...COMCAR-one.pdf
...
http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/defa...CAR-twelve.pdf

[zilo]

Originally Posted by chevypower

That could have been said about America until Sept 10, 2011. Unfortunatley the word "terrorism" applies only when it's a foreign attack. For some reason massacres, assasinations, and arson are not given the same label. There is one possibility why. A president can argue that terrorism did not occur under his or her leadership if he or she is able to define what terrorism is.

Who cares what happens in America?
They sure don't give a rat's about anything outside of their national interest.