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Holden will this month mark 50 years of exports representing more than 600,000 vehicles and almost four million engines shipped to all continents except Antarctica.
Australia's largest and longest-running vehicle export program has grown from a handful of FJ sedans sent to New Zealand in November 1954, just six years after Holden produced Australia's first locally built car.
Holden now sends its vehicles to the United States, Middle East, United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and across the Asia-Pacific under General Motors brands including Chevrolet, Pontiac and Vauxhall.
Vehicles based upon the Commodore, Statesman, Caprice, Monaro coupe and Holden Ute are sent to various markets in left-hand-drive or right-hand-drive configuration. In addition, four-cylinder engines produced at Port Melbourne have been exported since 1981.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, today said 50 years was a major milestone to have been delivering cars and engines around the world.
"This is a proud achievement and recognition of the valuable role in design, engineering and flexible manufacturing which Holden fills for GM," Mr Mooney said.
"Holden has supported leading brands in a number of important world markets over five decades. The fact that our products have found popular appeal way beyond the Australian market has helped us to generate critical production levels in our South Australian and Victorian operations.
"We have built exports into a billion dollar business each year which means we can make the size of investment required to stay viable in Australia. Most importantly, Holden has spent 50 years selling Australian know-how, ingenuity and flair around the world which is an extremely satisfying feeling."
A total of 613,126 vehicles and about 3.9 million engines were exported from 1954 to the end of last year. Holden has exported 148,753 vehicles and 838,821 engines in the past five years, contributing almost $5.8 billion to Australia's balance of trade.
Holden last year exported 36,069 vehicles and 137,078 engines and earned a total of $1.24 billion including vehicles, engines and components. The company expects to exceed 50,000 vehicle exports in a single year for the first time in 2004.
Holden's first export program of FJ sedans to New Zealand in late November 1954 was quickly followed by exports of the first completely knocked down (CKD) Holden packs for offshore assembly. By 1966, Holden vehicles and CKD packs were being shipped to more than 60 markets.
Australia's largest and longest-running vehicle export program has grown from a handful of FJ sedans sent to New Zealand in November 1954, just six years after Holden produced Australia's first locally built car.
Holden now sends its vehicles to the United States, Middle East, United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and across the Asia-Pacific under General Motors brands including Chevrolet, Pontiac and Vauxhall.
Vehicles based upon the Commodore, Statesman, Caprice, Monaro coupe and Holden Ute are sent to various markets in left-hand-drive or right-hand-drive configuration. In addition, four-cylinder engines produced at Port Melbourne have been exported since 1981.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, today said 50 years was a major milestone to have been delivering cars and engines around the world.
"This is a proud achievement and recognition of the valuable role in design, engineering and flexible manufacturing which Holden fills for GM," Mr Mooney said.
"Holden has supported leading brands in a number of important world markets over five decades. The fact that our products have found popular appeal way beyond the Australian market has helped us to generate critical production levels in our South Australian and Victorian operations.
"We have built exports into a billion dollar business each year which means we can make the size of investment required to stay viable in Australia. Most importantly, Holden has spent 50 years selling Australian know-how, ingenuity and flair around the world which is an extremely satisfying feeling."
A total of 613,126 vehicles and about 3.9 million engines were exported from 1954 to the end of last year. Holden has exported 148,753 vehicles and 838,821 engines in the past five years, contributing almost $5.8 billion to Australia's balance of trade.
Holden last year exported 36,069 vehicles and 137,078 engines and earned a total of $1.24 billion including vehicles, engines and components. The company expects to exceed 50,000 vehicle exports in a single year for the first time in 2004.
Holden's first export program of FJ sedans to New Zealand in late November 1954 was quickly followed by exports of the first completely knocked down (CKD) Holden packs for offshore assembly. By 1966, Holden vehicles and CKD packs were being shipped to more than 60 markets.