Holden gearing up for increased global exports
Nov 24th 2006 5:57PM by Alex Nunez
In the latest hint that the Holden Commodore SS-V is headed to the US to be the new Pontiac Grand Prix, the Australian website GoAuto reports that GM Holden is preparing for a possible future in which it sells more vehicles overseas than it does in Australia. In an interview with the website, Holden chairman and managing director Denny Mooney said of the heavily-rumored Pontiac deal, "You will see an announcement in the next three to four months. Assuming it happens, (shipments) would start a little beyond that. I am not making an official announcement (in this discussion)."
That sure sounds like a "yes" (with a little CYA thrown in at the end), which jibes perfectly with earlier reports that the Holden-sourced GP will be unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February. Mooney expects the Grand Prix to be more successful than the previous Holden import, the GTO because the US has a much greater demand for sedans than it does for coupes. We agree there, but also feel that the next GTO, which will borrow more from Pontiac's heritage than the rebadged Holden Monaro that previously bore the name, should connect better with consumers.
Of course, Mooney's also rooting very hard for the Grand Prix to happen because Australian demand for large sedans is declining. The US export plan, combined with existing exports to the Middle East (around 30,000/yr), would help alleviate the effects Holden would otherwise feel from the downward turn in its home market.
There's a lot to look forward to in the coming months, as it appears more and more like our wishes for a Holden Commodore of our own will be coming true. Of course, nothing's official until it comes across on GM letterhead, but there's more than enough "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" behavior going on to convince us that the Chicago show will be very big for the General, indeed.
Holden gearing up for increased global exports
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