Opel cars could be back in Holden showrooms by the end of this year,

[csv8]

Opel cars could be back in Holden showrooms by the end of this year, starting with the sleek and sexy Cascada convertible priced about $50,000.



In a confidential briefing Holden dealers have been told to make room in their showrooms for the Cascada, which was due to be sold in Australia under the Opel badge before General Motors killed the brand’s aspirations last year, less than 12 months after appointing dealers across Australia.

Holden dealers have also been told to expect more models from the Opel range in future, but declined to nominate which ones.

News Corp Australia understands, however, that the Astra is a strong chance at making a return and could be sold alongside the Cruze at a modest premium as Holden winds down local production of its small car.

The newly-appointed president of General Motors, Dan Ammann, told reporters at this week’s Geneva motor show: “We’re changing the manufacturing footprint of the business (in Australia) but we remain totally committed to Australia and to Holden.

“We’re going to make sure we bring the product portfolio to the market that the customers really want. The Australian market has evolved a lot … it’s going to come back to how do we best meet their needs.”

Mr Ammann, originally from New Zealand but now based in Detroit, has responsibility for managing General Motors’ regional operations around the world, the global Chevrolet and Cadillac brand organizations, and global product planning.

Holden sold rebadged Opel vehicles with success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, until unfavourable exchange rates pushed up prices, forcing Holden to switch to sourcing cars from South Korea.

Today, most cars in Holden showrooms are made in South Korea or Thailand. But reverting to more Opel product is viewed as a way to add some polish to Holden’s image as it winds down local production no later than 2017.
http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and...82392_20140305

[Franco Cozzo]

Imagine if General Motors owned the Windsor Hotel, you'd walk in there, pay $300 for a meal and in the center of a big plate would be a sh#t sandwhich, and you'd tip the waiter and walk out with a smile afterwards.

[XBGTFGGTP]

Rejoice Ford fans as least Fords are all Fords not some rebadged pile of cheap crap.

[Danny]

They need to do this if they want to survive here after the commodore goes. Without commodore, Holden has the worst line up of any Brand in Australia.

Opel Corsa, Astra insignia, and zafira as well as the vxr models (perhaps sold with hsv badges) need to be in the line up if they have any hope of not being completely lauded by the press and shunned by the public. Without the Opels, Holden will be like Daewoo was. Crap.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by XBGTFGGTP

Rejoice Ford fans as least Fords are all Fords not some rebadged pile of cheap crap.

No they are just crap made in Thailand or India.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by XBGTFGGTP

Rejoice Ford fans as least Fords are all Fords not some rebadged pile of cheap crap.

A General Motors product is a general motors product...and opal's will be a step up from what's been on offer...

[csv8]

This could mean..Corsa replace Barina...Astra replace Cruze..Insignia replace Commodore ????

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by XBGTFGGTP

Rejoice Ford fans as least Fords are all Fords not some rebadged pile of cheap crap.

Opel is hardly rebadged crap. And they are a lot better than the crappy barina and cruze we have at the moment.

I reckon its a good move.

[uranium_death]

Agreed - very wise move.
You throw in the "European" badge, and some people immediately change their view.

[Franco Cozzo]

I dont understand their decision process:

They try bring in Cadillac and do a half *** job of it, and it fails soon after

They introduce Opel and then they remove it in under a year.

Now Cadillac is back on the cards the rumour is going?

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Agreed - very wise move.
You throw in the "European" badge, and some people immediately change their view.

Depends what you are chasing, I have been an advocat for EU build cars but I dont know if the sales chart shows that.

Also dont know if FoA's return on an EU Ford is much greater than that of a cheapy GM-Daewoo. If they sell x2 Daewoo's does that equal x1 EU Ford?

Because at the moment "cheap" cars are selling arent they?

Opels are good cars in general.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I dont understand their decision process:

They try bring in Cadillac and do a half *** job of it, and it fails soon after

They introduce Opel and then they remove it in under a year.

Now Cadillac is back on the cards the rumour is going?

Coulda, woulda, shoulda. The Holden propaganda machine kicks into gear once more.

[rancidpunx]

Doesn't matter what they do. For most Australians, if its sitting in a Holden dealership its been made in Australia right?

[zilo]

I will never buy one.

[Mighty Reds]

Bring in the Opel Adam so I can get one, I may look like a twat but hey how often do you get a car named after you.

[Bossxr8]

The problem with Opel, was the cars were overpriced and they couldn't make any money on them due to the competitions sharp pricing. How does throwing Holden badges on them change this, they will still be over priced compared to the opposition and won't sell, or make any meaningful profit.

Have these GM idiots learnt nothing? But then again they continually make the same mistakes and probably wonder why they ended up bankrupt.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The problem with Opel, was the cars were overpriced and they couldn't make any money on them due to the competitions sharp pricing. How does throwing Holden badges on them change this, they will still be over priced compared to the opposition and won't sell, or make any meaningful profit.

Have these GM idiots learnt nothing? But then again they continually make the same mistakes and probably wonder why they ended up bankrupt.

Funny though how they had Daewoo Kalos here and it hardly sold. Put a Holden badge on it and rename it 'Barina' and little girlies go running towards it.

The brand of Holden attracts so many as does poo attract flies.

Though unsure if changing a badge will change anything, they will sell more with the Holden badge than an Opel badge.

[Adamz Ghia]

I'd say the Holden Astra has more brand power than Opel Astra, and as such will sell a lot better than the Opels and will give Focus a run for its money.

[Bossxr8]

That problem though is Opel had to charge premium prices for it to make a profit on it, as in Europe Opel is trying to make themselves a more premium brand and charge higher than it's rivals. Same goes here, its a more expensive vehicle than Corolla, 3, Focus etc.

It's the exact reason Opel gave when pulling out of Oz why they couldn't continue. How does putting Holden badges on it change that?

[Focused]

There's no doubt that the current generation of Opels are good cars, but would selling them here be profitable? I understand the expense of shipping them over from Europe was the reason why Holden replaced them with Korean sourced cars.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

That problem though is Opel had to charge premium prices for it to make a profit on it, as in Europe Opel is trying to make themselves a more premium brand and charge higher than it's rivals. Same goes here, its a more expensive vehicle than Corolla, 3, Focus etc.

It's the exact reason Opel gave when pulling out of Oz why they couldn't continue. How does putting Holden badges on it change that?

(IMO) The Holden brand cachet already exists, and the dealer network is set up and ready to go. It's a much better proposition (to move decent volume) than trying to crack into the market 'cold turkey' with the Opel brand.

There won't be nearly as much profit in it for Holden as selling Daewoo/Chevrolet but at least they'll have some decent cars in their range.

This is why Ford are much better placed than GM: one brand selling one range of cars built in strategically placed factories around the world. It's also why Toyota et al have done so well. The GM tactic of spreading like white ants and consuming brand after brand creates more problems than it solves.

[BHDOGS]

I wouldnt worry joshua downling no doubt has plans to sink any move to save holden in any form in mind.

[russellw]

It will be interesting to watch - realistically, consumer confidence in the longer term future of the brand should be severely damaged by the on-again / off-again presence of Opel cars in this country and we can sit on the sidelines and watch how the Holden marketing machine deals with that one.

Cheers
Russ

[GQ_Smooth]

The only problem I see with Opel is pricing, I would be of the opinion it costs Opel/GM more money to build an Astra, than it costs VW to build a Golf, and the starting price of a low level golf in Australia is 23K (my best friend recently bought a new MK7 for that), I can't imagine the Astra commanding a premium over the Golf, so Holden would need to be making money from a 23K retail price of an Astra. Tough business if you ask me.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

That problem though is Opel had to charge premium prices for it to make a profit on it, as in Europe Opel is trying to make themselves a more premium brand and charge higher than it's rivals. Same goes here, its a more expensive vehicle than Corolla, 3, Focus etc.

It's the exact reason Opel gave when pulling out of Oz why they couldn't continue. How does putting Holden badges on it change that?

I'm not sure how it works, but let's say Opel (for arguments sake) sold 100 per month, and Holden could shift 1000 per month, would Holden be able to source the cars at a cheaper price...? Also no need to start a brand from scratch.

[Bossxr8]

Doesn't change the fact Opel want premium prices for them, they cost more to build.

But possibly Holden could get them slightly cheaper, but the same issue remains as why they sold poorly in the first place, they were expensive compared to rivals. Even the Golf was cheaper.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

Doesn't matter what they do. For most Australians, if its sitting in a Holden dealership its been made in Australia right?

Perhaps once, but the news Holdens production is going, is known by even the least non car people in my office. The 2017 closing dayis also unlikely to go unnoticed by the Australian media.

[Statler]

the TS series of Astra's has a terrible reputation for reliability that has the potential to hurt them in the market place.