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Holden Commodore axed after four decades
It was Australia’s favourite car for 15 years straight, but the closure of the local plant began a downward spiral for the once-beloved nameplate.
Attribution & Credits: Richard Blackburn, News Corp Australia Network
Holden today announced it would no longer sell the Commodore in Australia after 41 years on sale.
At its peak in 1998 the Commodore logged more than 90,000 sales. Picture: Supplied.
The Commodore and Astra will be sold into next year, until stocks run out. Holden has committed to keeping spare parts supply “well into the future”.
Large family sedans, once the dominant sight on Australian roads, have all but disappeared from new-car showrooms in the past two decades.
In 1998, Australians bought 217,882 large cars. This year Holden predicts there will be roughly 8700 sold.
“The SUV segment is approaching half a million units, and (utes) over 200,000 units. That’s where the action is and that’s where we are going to play,” Mr Aquilina said.
He paid tribute to the Commodore’s long history in Australia.
Holden says buyers are flocking to SUVs such as the Equinox. Picture: Supplied.
“The decision to retire the Commodore nameplate has not been taken lightly by those who understand and acknowledge its proud heritage,” he said.
“The large sedan was the cornerstone of Australian and New Zealand roads for decades. But now with more choice than ever before, customers are displaying a strong preference for the high driving position, functionality and versatility of SUVs and Utes.”
Holden will sell current year models of the Commodore and Astra with an extended seven-year warranty as it looks to clear stock.
The decision to retain the Commodore name once the locally-built model was discontinued was a controversial one and buyers haven’t warmed to the imported model.
One Holden dealer, who declined to be named, said the move could be the beginning of the end for the brand in Australia.
He said showroom enquiry was “terrible” and the brand’s intention to purchase was low.
He suggested it could be time to rebrand the company as Chevrolet, as that brand may resonate better with buyers.
“Holden has always stood for locally built cars like the old Commodore. What do they stand for now?”
It was Australia’s favourite car for 15 years straight, but the closure of the local plant began a downward spiral for the once-beloved nameplate.
Attribution & Credits: Richard Blackburn, News Corp Australia Network
Holden today announced it would no longer sell the Commodore in Australia after 41 years on sale.
At its peak in 1998 the Commodore logged more than 90,000 sales. Picture: Supplied.
The Commodore and Astra will be sold into next year, until stocks run out. Holden has committed to keeping spare parts supply “well into the future”.
Large family sedans, once the dominant sight on Australian roads, have all but disappeared from new-car showrooms in the past two decades.
In 1998, Australians bought 217,882 large cars. This year Holden predicts there will be roughly 8700 sold.
“The SUV segment is approaching half a million units, and (utes) over 200,000 units. That’s where the action is and that’s where we are going to play,” Mr Aquilina said.
He paid tribute to the Commodore’s long history in Australia.
Holden says buyers are flocking to SUVs such as the Equinox. Picture: Supplied.
“The decision to retire the Commodore nameplate has not been taken lightly by those who understand and acknowledge its proud heritage,” he said.
“The large sedan was the cornerstone of Australian and New Zealand roads for decades. But now with more choice than ever before, customers are displaying a strong preference for the high driving position, functionality and versatility of SUVs and Utes.”
Holden will sell current year models of the Commodore and Astra with an extended seven-year warranty as it looks to clear stock.
The decision to retain the Commodore name once the locally-built model was discontinued was a controversial one and buyers haven’t warmed to the imported model.
One Holden dealer, who declined to be named, said the move could be the beginning of the end for the brand in Australia.
He said showroom enquiry was “terrible” and the brand’s intention to purchase was low.
He suggested it could be time to rebrand the company as Chevrolet, as that brand may resonate better with buyers.
“Holden has always stood for locally built cars like the old Commodore. What do they stand for now?”