The last of the Sports Cats
The launch of the Series 2 HSV SportsCat was an endorsement of the risky decision to take the performance brand into the crowded high-end ute market.
A few weeks ago, it told us – with a poker face – that utes and SUVs were the future.
However, last week, Holden put its cards on the table, telling us it’s folding by the end of 2021 in both New Zealand and Australia. As the retrieval plans unfolds, it appears that the only staff to remain from the overall headcount of 800, will be those in the aftersales departments looking after service, warranty and parts issues.
Citing a global consolidation of the automobile industry, GM operations senior vice president, Julian Blissett noted that GM had worked through multiple scenarios, but ultimately concluded it was unable to rebrand and remain competitive with a product that only sold in two markets.
A further consideration was the fact that in other parts of the world, GM had removed itself from right-hand drive markets, so it was effectively building vehicles that sold only in Thailand and Australasia – all of which are relatively small markets compared to the rest of the globe.
The company has said that it will honour all service and warranty commitments, alongside making parts available for at least ten years. Existing dealers, 185 in Australia and 31 in NZ, will be offered contracts to become authorised service agents. They will also be helped with compensation packages and ongoing assistance to liquidate current inventories.
It is interesting to note that the manufacturing plant in Thailand, that builds the Colorado ute, has been sold to Chinese manufacturer Great Wall, which has already promised new product for the buoyant ute sector in NZ.
Holden has stated that it will continue to trade until the last unit is sold, while also ensuring ongoing support to the existing 1.6 million vehicles. At this stage, it says it is also in discussions to establish a supply chain to support GM badged, specialised vehicles like Silverado and Camaro.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.