Holden closes factory

On Friday, executives confirmed that production will cease at Holden’s Elizabeth plant on October 20, 2017. Over 1000 Australians are employed in production, engineering and support roles at the South Australian factory. This follows the loss of 320 jobs last October, when production of the Holden Cruze ended. GM first estimated a closure date for the final quarter of 2017 in December 2013, forty years after the plant opened in 1963, citing the low Australian dollar, rising manufacturing costs and stiff competition in the international car market. The Elizabeth factory is expected to be sold shortly after October 2017, although GM is yet to source a buyer. The VF Commodore will be the last iteration of Holden’s flagship make to be produced in Australia, and from 2018 onwards, the Commodore will be manufactured by German company Opel. The SS and SS ute range, however, will cease final production in October, and special commemoration editions are set to be announced on January 19. The Holden Commodore remains highly popular amongst New Zealand car buyers, with 2458 new vehicles imported in 2016. The final run of Australian-made Commodores is expected to hit the market later this year.