Holden : First Korea : Now China !!!

[csv8]

General Motors' partnership with China's SAIC has helped the former tractor factory start producing its own cars.


General Motors Corp's partnership with China's SAIC has helped it win an enviable edge over its global competitors in this sizzling market.

That alliance has also helped transform SAIC, a former tractor factory, into a fledgling automaker in its own right - with car models that are competing directly with GM's across the spectrum.

But GM's not worried, says the company's China president, Kevin Wale.

"We've always known that SAIC would develop their own brand. We have spoken of it since we began our joint venture car company," Wale said in an interview Friday. "It's not a surprise to us."

The partnership between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp, or SAIC, resulted from government policies requiring foreign automakers to create joint ventures with local partners as a condition for setting up shop in this potentially huge market.

Beijing's plan all along has been to develop a globally competitive local industry.

"SAIC has a responsibility to develop its own brand. We understand and accept that," Wale said. "We're also confident that our brands and the success of our joint ventures are very important to SAIC."

GM set up its first factory in Shanghai in 1998. At the time, it was a latecomer, trailing behind German rival Volkswagen AG, which began making cars in Shanghai with state-owned SAIC in the mid-1980s, and Chrysler, which partnered with Beijing Automotive.

GM has more than caught up by now. It now operates seven joint ventures and two wholly owned foreign enterprises in the country. Along with five vehicle factories and one engine plant, the company has also launched an auto financing venture and a chain of dealerships.

Its China sales last year rose 32 per cent to 876,747 vehicles, with joint venture Shanghai General Motors Corp. becoming China's top-selling domestic automaker with 365,400 vehicles sold.

GM saw its market share rise to 11.8 per cent last year from 9.4 per cent the year before, despite aggressive expansions by local competitors like Chery Automobile Co, and foreign rivals.

Wale would not give a figure for its projected market share going forward. But he was emphatic about GM's determination to grow faster than the market. Sales of passenger cars in China jumped 37 per cent last year to 3.8 million units, making this the world's third-biggest passenger car market. Including trucks and buses, China is the world's No. 2 vehicle market behind the US

"In the future, as we expand our car portfolio, there may be some conflict," SAIC's chairman Hu Maoyan, told reporters Thursday. But with the market growing at an annual rate of over 30 per cent a year, there's still "space for both our own brands and joint venture brands," he said.

[stevz]

What has this got to do with Holden? I did not see the word 'Holden' anywhere in that article.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by stevz

What has this got to do with Holden? I did not see the word 'Holden' anywhere in that article.

Holden is GM and if Detroit tell HOLDEN to sell those cars here, they will. Time will tell. 3 years ago who would ahve thought HOLDEN would be rebadging DAEWOO's as Holdens ?

[stevz]

Originally Posted by csv8

Holden is GM and if Detroit tell HOLDEN to sell those cars here, they will. Time will tell. 3 years ago who would ahve thought HOLDEN would be rebadging DAEWOO's as Holdens ?

Speculation.. but as you say, time will tell. I think the thread title is a tad misleading.

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by csv8

Holden is GM and if Detroit tell HOLDEN to sell those cars here, they will. Time will tell. 3 years ago who would ahve thought HOLDEN would be rebadging DAEWOO's as Holdens ?

"Exactly"........and everyone here thinks that Ford are just going to sit back and source their cars from countries that are far more expensive to manufacture than China and Korea including, I hate to say it.......Australia!!

If Ford have any chance at all of just staying afloat they will jump on board this re-badged cheap asian bandwagon as a matter of extreme urgency or it's gonna be .........."see ya later ol' Uncle Henry, thanks for the memories."

[DTFRMONT]

Originally Posted by robjh80

If Ford have any chance at all of just staying afloat they will jump on board this re-badged cheap asian bandwagon as a matter of extreme urgency or it's gonna be .........."see ya later ol' Uncle Henry, thanks for the memories."

Ford have already done this - remember the Festiva?

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by DTFRMONT

Ford have already done this - remember the Festiva?

"Of course......forgot all about that one"

Good little seller it was too if my memory serves me correctly, funny they then went on and sourced the European Fiesta effectively as it's replacement, that must have hurt Ford dollar wise, I would have expected them to source another Asian build seeing as the Festiva did so well.

I'm for ford through and through, but it really gets to me when an Australian company has to re-badge a washing machine, put some wheels on it and call it a car.

[csv8]

I agree my post title is a "tad misleading" but lets see...

[FalconXV]

You know, Focus Mondeo and S-MAX are built in China, I wouldnt object if we sourced them from China; becuase they would still be classy Fords, and not Daewoos. As long as it doesnt hurt the Falcon...

[One Drone]

They have been in China/Shanghai for years. There are Caprice's/Statesmens everywhere with the Buick badge.

[bathurst77]

Ford sold rebadged Korean Kias in Australia in the 80s.
holden sell rebadged daiwoos?
wots the difference?

who cares

[flappist]

Herro, herro, you want copy car? Very good only 50 rem...... (If you have not been to China you may not understand this)

There is a huge VW factory in Shanghai, they make very good quality cars there.
The sad thing is that if Holden were to move their whole operation to China the odds are there would be a $LOTs saving. e.g. New SS for $25k. Who would buy one at that price? Many I think.

P.S. for the anal retentive who are starting to proliferate on the forum, the $25k was purely hypothetical and not intended to start the far too common holden bashing, ford are superior, "holden means a great deal to korea" drivel......

[uranium_death]

If GM are able to benefit from this, then good on them.

GM have already been smart enough to confirm export deals with the Middle East. I wish that Ford were a little more proactive, especially the Australian branch.

I hope that with the Orion, the Falcon will be exported elsewhere other than NZ.

[4.9 EF Futura]

Im sure China's production techniques wont be too far behind ours soon anyways... lot of money going into upgrading those factories!!

[XRtowcar]

They have just released there very own Statesman so it wont be too long before we start importing back over here.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/20/s...-its-entrance/