Στα τέλη του περασμένου έτους έγινε γνωστό πως ο Βέλγος επενδυτής Guido Dumarey ήθελε να κρατήσει το Elizabeth εργοστάσιο της Holden σε λειτουργία μετά το 2017, αλλά τελικά οι συνομιλίες με την GM ναυάγησαν, επειδή υπήρξαν ανυπέρβλητα προβλήματα, με εκπρόσωπο της GM να δηλώνει πως οι δύο πλευρές δεν κατέληξαν σε ένα βιώσιμο επιχειρηματικό μοντέλο.
Ο Dumarey πίστευε πως η πλατφόρμα Zeta, πάνω στην οποία κατασκευάζεται και το Commodore, είναι το κλειδί της επιτυχίας της εταιρίας, κατασκευάζοντας πάνω της πισωκίνητα πολυτελή αυτοκίνητα, ενώ ήθελε στο εργοστάσιο να κατασκευάζει και άλλα μοντέλα, θεωρώντας εύκολο την δημιουργία ενός δικτύου αντιπροσώπων τόσο εντός της Αυστραλίας, όσο και παγκοσμίως. Μια άλλη εταιρία από την Αδελαΐδα, η Ethan Motors αναμένεται να καταθέσει και αυτή σχετική πρόταση για να κρατήσει ανοικτό το εργοστάσιο της Holden.
Στις σχετικές ειδήσεις, η Holden ανακοίνωσε πως ολοκλήρωσε τη παραγωγή του Cruze. H Holden στα 5,5 χρόνια που κατασκεύαζε το Cruze, έβγαλε από τη γραμμή παραγωγής της 125.000 αυτοκίνητα. Από τα τέλη του 2016 το εργοστάσιο της θα κατασκευάζει το Astra.
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Holden Confirms End of Local Cruze Production; To Be Replaced By All-New Holden Astra From Late 2016
- Cruze production to cease in early October 2016; no change to Holden’s commitment to build Commodore until end of 2017
- Holden reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting its people through ongoing transition programs, career counselling, training and job-search assistance
- Ongoing warranty, servicing and parts availability for all Cruze models across Holden’s 230-strong national Dealership network remains unchanged
As GM Holden transitions to its next-generation of global vehicles, the company today confirmed that it will end production of the locally-made Cruze small car at its Elizabeth plant in early October.
Holden Executive Director of Human Resources, Ashley Winnett, said the company’s overriding goal is to support its people through this transition.
“Our number one priority is to support our people – this is a difficult time for all those in the Holden family,” Mr Winnett said. “Every Holden worker has access to a suite of transition services and up to $3000 in approved training; all part of Holden’s $15 million contribution to the Federal Government’s Growth Fund for specific support of our manufacturing and engineering employees. All of our people have counselling services available to them, as well as career counselling, training and job searching assistance. All Holden employees at Elizabeth are entitled to this transition support, both before and after they eventually leave the company.
“Holden is giving our employees and suppliers as much advance notice as possible, and we have openly been discussing this move with our people since 2014. The world-class ‘Transition Centre’ we have established at the Elizabeth plant is open to both our people and employees of supplier companies. We will do everything in our power to allow our people to make considered choices and help them move onto their next opportunity.
“Our people continue to do an amazing job on the production lines and in the offices of our Elizabeth factory. The team is currently building the best quality cars we have ever produced and our people’s dedication and professionalism is unwavering. They have much to be proud of.”
The eventual end of Cruze production was first forecast in 2014, after Holden announced it would cease manufacturing in Australia in late 2017, and this has been openly discussed in weekly staff meetings and forums at the Elizabeth factory.
Holden Managing Director and Chairman Mark Bernhard said this was a very difficult time for employees but the end of Cruze production was always part of Holden’s gradual scaling down of production in Australia while recalibrating Holden’s vehicle portfolio.
“I want to acknowledge first and foremost the impact the end of local manufacturing has on people, and their families, across the country and throughout the industry. Our people remain our number one priority. As I’ve said since the first day I took up this role last year, my most important job is to support our people and I want to reaffirm that commitment to helping them wherever we can. Our focus is to manage the gradual wind-down of manufacturing between now and the end of 2017 in a way that treats our employees with respect and dignity as they leave the company and gives them the best chance at gaining future employment,” Mr Bernhard said.
“In the coming months, we will be helping many in our manufacturing workforce transition to new employment, wherever possible. Holden is committed to supporting staff through this transition process, and all our people have access to career counselling, training and job-search assistance.
“October will bring to an end five and half years of Cruze production that saw nearly 125,000 Cruze models built and sold in Australia. I want to thank our people for the part they have played in Holden’s history, they should be extremely proud of their contribution to our industry. At its peak, 33,000 Cruze vehicles were sold annually in the most hotly contested segment of one of the most competitive car markets in the world.
“The best way we can honour our people and our heritage is to build a bright and successful future for Holden and that’s exactly what we are doing. Through the launch of 24 new products by 2020, a laser-like focus on customer experience and a rejuvenation of the Holden brand we are taking our company forward.
“The cessation of Cruze manufacturing this year was always a key part of Holden’s plan to gradually wind down manufacturing and ensure our people and the supply base have the maximum amount of time possible to transition. There is absolutely no change to our plan to build Commodore until the end of 2017.”
Holden’s Elizabeth plant will continue to manufacture the world-class Commodore range until the end of 2017.
The Cruze will be replaced by the all-new and world-class Astra as part of Holden’s plan to launch 24 new models by 2020, refreshing or replacing every single model in the Holden portfolio to give the Lion brand the best and most comprehensive vehicle line-up in the company’s history.
Ongoing warranty, servicing and parts availability for all Cruze models across Holden’s 230-strong national Dealership network remains unchanged.
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