Sunday Herald Sun - News.com.au

Holden to lose $1 billion a year if GM dumps Pontiac

By Carly Crawford

Sunday Herald Sun

April 26, 2009 12:01am

• GM expected to dump Pontiac this week
• Holden will lose $1 billion a year
• GM hoping to stave off bankruptcy

Embattled car maker Holden stands to lose up to $1 billion a year when its ailing US parent dumps major brand Pontiac.

General Motors is this week expected to announce plans to ditch or sell the brand as it desperately works to stave off bankruptcy.

That means the maker of Australia's most popular car could be in for more pain, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.

Holden had been banking on exporting 30,000 VE Commodores each year to the US, where the model is sold as the high-performance Pontiac G8.

World VE Commodore exports began last year in a deal worth about $1 billion annually.

Holden manufactures the left-hand drive VE Commodore - with help from a $6.7 million Federal Government loan - at its plant in Elizabeth, South Australia.

The company spent $77 million preparing the plant for the vehicle's production, hailing the project as the future of the Elizabeth plant.

The deal was expected to lift Holden exports to 70,000 a year - half its total production.

Although the car was well-received by US auto critics, the world economic crisis meant the G8, which retails for $53,000 in North America, has failed to achieve strong sales.

Only about half the 25,000 G8s delivered to the US have been sold.

Holden, which has not made a profit since 2004, had hoped VE Commodore exports would reach up to 50,000 a year.

It is Holden's second blow this year over Pontiac's demise.

In January, Pontiac shelved plans to import a G8 ute from Australia as its performance sports truck.

Very Sad, I think Chevy could benefit by bring the Ute back as the ElCamino. But I dought it right now due to to many Bean Counters and stupid Granola Munchin Tree Hugging morons that will influence the loss of quality Auto's.

It would make perfect sens to bring the Ute here as the El Camino. The work was already done...just take out the split grill.

Holden doesn't deserve this treatment.

Isn't Holden going to be building GMDAT FWD generic sh*t soon?

This Toyota-chasing has got to stop!

This Toyota-chasing has got to stop!

It's already too late.

GM managed to $h! on someone else again!

Isn't Holden going to be building GMDAT FWD generic sh*t soon?

They already offer their lack-lustre engines, so why not?

It's already too late.

Someone once taught me that it's never too late until you're dead.

Of course, that person didn't work for or follow GM, so....