|
On average, over 3800 units of the Holden Commodore, Statesman/Caprice,
and Ute leave the Port of Adelaide for international markets every month.
(View
Image)
Holden's vehicle export program began in 1954, when FJ Holdens were shipped to New Zealand.
(View Image)
By 1966, fully built vehicles and completely knocked down (CKD) packs were exported to 59
international markets and accounted for more than half of our motor vehicle exports.
(View Image)
Aussies abroad took pleasure in spotting familiar family Holdens on the
roads of countries throughout the Asia Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East.
(View Image)
In 1970, seven international plants were assembling Holden
vehicles from Australian- manufactured components and Holden
export revenue totalled $42 million.
The popular HQ Holden was launched in 1971 and over a three-year period became the
most-exported Holden model. 14,558 HQs were exported fully built and 72,290 left
the country in CKD packs.
Holden's peak export year in this era was 1973, when 41,181 vehicles were shipped worldwide.
(View Image)
Following the launch of the Holden Commodore in 1978, completed and CKD vehicles
were exported for the next two decades to markets in New Zealand, Thailand,
Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Malta and Brunei.
(View Image)
In the 1980s, Holden's export emphasis changed from vehicles to engines.
The first exports of Fishermans Bend-manufactured Family II four-cylinder
engines commenced (to the UK) and by 1988 one million engines had been exported
to markets around the world. The three millionth Family II engine was exported
in 1999.
(View Image)
Current four-cylinder engine export markets include Europe, South Korea, China,
Thailand, South Africa and South America.
Exports of Global V6 engines manufactured at Holden's new Port Melbourne V6 engine plant commenced
in November 2003. The 32,000 square metre facility can produce up to 900 engines a day or 240,000
engines a year.
(View Image)
In 2006, four- and six-cylinder engine exports totalled 212,482 units.
Meanwhile in 1998, Holden returned to volume vehicle exports with the commencement of a
major program involving shipments of left hand drive versions of the VT Commodore to Middle East regions.
(View Image)
Today, left- and right-hand drive variants of the Commodore, Statesman,
Caprice and Ute are exported to every continent except Antarctica.
Holden's largest vehicle export market is the Middle East, where the
Chevrolet Lumina (Commodore) sedans and long wheelbase V8-powered
Chevrolet Caprice sedans (based on Statesman/Caprice) are the region's top selling GM models.
The WM Chevrolet Caprice won BEST LUXURY CAR at the Middle East 'Car of the year' awards in 2006.
(View Image)
Commodore is exported to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, United Arab
Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, South Africa, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Fiji, Brunei and Brazil.
(View Image)
The Caprice and Statesman are exported to Middle East regions
and New Zealand.
The Holden Ute is exported to South Africa and New Zealand. In 2004, Holden Special Vehicles,
in conjunction with Holden, commenced its first export vehicle program to the
United Kingdom (HSV Coupe), and the full HSV range is exported to New Zealand.
(View Image)
In 2004, a year that marked the 50th anniversary of Holden's first vehicle
export program, a record single-year total of 52,372 vehicles were exported.
In addition, Holden's engineering expertise generated millions of dollars in
export revenue via specialist engineering services provided to support GM programs
in the Asia Pacific region and in Europe.
2005 and Holden vehicle exports tallied 60,518 units, the best ever Export sales result.
Holden vehicles are designed for every environment, including high temperature and
high humidity, extreme cold, rough roads and corrosive environments. Their reliability,
durability, economy, performance, comfort and value for money are world-renowned.
(View Image)
Holden's Elizabeth plant is one of the most flexible automotive
operations in the world - which is essential to serve diverse markets.
(View Image)
|