Zeta - Back On !!!!

[Patrick]

Guys, just read today's edition of "Go-Auto" and according to Denny Mooney, Chairman and Managing Director of Holden, in an exclusive interview with Go-Auto, the rear-wheel drive program for North America is not dead nor is Holdens role in it !!!!!!

Here is the story http://www.mellor.com.au

[Ryzz]

Linkie no workie

[jneil]

oh, the linkie, he workie!

Try this one! (http://www.mellor.com.au/mellor/enews.nsf/edition/4A38683013861376CA256FFD0037D93B/$file/GoAuto_enews286.pdf)

[Patrick]

oh, the linkie, he workie!

Try this one! (http://www.mellor.com.au/mellor/enews.nsf/edition/4A38683013861376CA256FFD0037D93B/$file/GoAuto_enews286.pdf)

Thanks jneil :o

[evil_ss]

intersting read!

[dominik]

Site is working for me however I can't see anything in the May 6th copy (8.7MB download),
http://www.mellor.com.au/TheMag/2005.05.06_TheMagazine.pdf and I can't see anything about Zeta.

I did find this article however which echos what Patrick was talking about:
Holden looks for overseas production drive (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Holden-looks-for-overseas-production-drive/2005/05/09/1115584906012.html)

Holden and parent company General Motors are still working on a plan to cut
complexity at the Elizabeth assembly plant in South Australia by putting the
Commodore platform into production in another country.

The plan received a major setback a month ago when GM, under financial
pressure because of sagging sales in America, cancelled the US introduction
of the so-called Zeta platform (a car's basic body structure) designed and
developed by Holden.

But Holden chairman and managing director Denny Mooney is certain the
Zeta platform will go into production outside Australia.

"Our architecture will be built somewhere else in the world within the next two
years," Mr Mooney said. "There will be an expansion of Zeta products."

Holden exports to more than 20 countries, including sending the high-profile
Monaro coupe to the US, and Mr Mooney said the pessimistic conclusions
drawn about Zeta, Commodore and Holden after the GM announcement were
untrue.

The creation of another production base for Zeta/Commodore is important
because the Elizabeth plant is on the verge of becoming dysfunctional as it
struggles to produce about 30 variations of the Commodore.

"We might have too many models for one assembly plant because we have a
lot of export business," Mr Mooney conceded.

"We're proud we can do that but there is a line where, for the added 1000
cars, you have to ask, is it worth the effort?"

Holden recently launched the Statesman luxury car in Korea with a Daewoo
badge and is also selling the Statesman in China as the Buick Royaum.

As well, Mr Mooney said the Holden engine plant would in future be exporting
V6 engines to both Korea and Europe.

While the Daewoo version is only slightly modified, the China model has been
changed a lot to make the rear seat area much more luxurious as Chinese
owners will not be doing the driving. Another factor in favour of making the
Statesman offshore is that projected sales volume in China is "four to five
times" local sales.

"It could dwarf our Statesman volume here," Mr Mooney said.

He would not be drawn on whether Elizabeth would be further expanded.

The complexity got Holden into deep trouble earlier this year when an upgrade
of the production line, necessitated by the need to make the current model
and the new model side by side for a time, went badly wrong.

"We probably took on more than we should have," Mr Mooney admitted. "We
are still having challenges."

A second Zeta production base would allow Holden to swap models and
simplify its production line.

Mr Mooney would not be drawn on where the second plant might be, but
Korea would be a likely location, and not only because Holden holds a 43 per
cent stake in GM Daewoo Automotive Technology.

[dominik]

oh, the linkie, he workie!

Try this one! (http://www.mellor.com.au/mellor/enews.nsf/edition/4A38683013861376CA256FFD0037D93B/$file/GoAuto_enews286.pdf)Bingo. Where was that thing hiding? :)

Edit: I see it now... under e-news. I was looking at the magazine.

[Lees]

I think Zeta was never dead as some people thought, it was just put down the priority list as GM in America concentrates on it's GMT900 trucks and turning the Titanic around.

What does that mean now for Holden?

Is the Commodore destined now for American consumption?

;)

[dominik]

Not a bad newsletter/magazine whatever it is. Thanks for posting the article... interesting read. I thought I'd been hiding under a rock to have missed it (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=38716) but it turns out it's only its 3rd edition :) Then again, 3 weeks is a long time online.

[Patrick]

[QUOTE=dominik]Site is working for me however I can't see anything in the May 6th copy (8.7MB download),
http://www.mellor.com.au/TheMag/2005.05.06_TheMagazine.pdf and I can't see anything about Zeta.

I did find this article however which echos what Patrick was talking about:
Holden looks for overseas production drive (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Holden-looks-for-overseas-production-drive/2005/05/09/1115584906012.html)QUOTE



The Age article mentions Holden had a problem at the factory earlier this year with the upgrade.

Sounds like it put production way behind and contributed to the delays of launching the AWD 1-tonner, Crewman cross6 and V6 Adventra as well.

Has anybody ordered one of these new models and what is the story the dealers are telling you?

[Lees]

Sounds like it put production way behind and contributed to the delays of launching the AWD 1-tonner, Crewman cross6 and V6 Adventra as well.

Has anybody ordered one of these new models and what is the story the dealers are telling you?

A workmate of mine ordered an AWD tonner and was told originally 6 weeks delivery back in March, he is still waiting. :mad:

[Cat755]

A workmate of mine ordered an AWD tonner and was told originally 6 weeks delivery back in March, he is still waiting. :mad:
Ordered mine on 6/4 and don't expect it before June. They started production on the 2nd of May, one month later than planed :mad: Placed the order for a Blue one with 17" wheels, as per their pamphlet and web site details, only to be rang by customer relations, two weeks ago, and told these are not available options :bash: They have since changed the details on their site and evidently have 22,000 pamphlets that have to be reprinted.
My dealer wasn't happy with the delays etc. had 3 orders cancelled last month :mad:

[HFV6]

Don't get too excited, zeta will go ahead in the middle east and korea, but it is definitely dead in North America and there's still a question mark over its adoption in Europe. When they say that North America is still very much focused on RWD, don't think that that automatically translates into 'they are very much focused on zeta'. They are looking at low cost alternative RWD platforms and have a Holden engineer in the US helping to evaluate them. That doesn't mean that Holden plays a vital role in RWD development, beause it doesn't, its all just a bit of smoke and mirrors to tame the fire that resulted from the dumping of Zeta, and no matter what anyone says its not good news.

[Pickles]

Don't get too excited, zeta will go ahead in the middle east and korea, but it is definitely dead in North America and there's still a question mark over its adoption in Europe. When they say that North America is still very much focused on RWD, don't think that that automatically translates into 'they are very much focused on zeta'. They are looking at low cost alternative RWD platforms and have a Holden engineer in the US helping to evaluate them. That doesn't mean that Holden plays a vital role in RWD development, beause it doesn't, its all just a bit of smoke and mirrors to tame the fire that resulted from the dumping of Zeta, and no matter what anyone says its not good news.
I agree. I read the article, but in my opinion it is, as you say all "smoke & mirrors"-it doesn't really say anything at all, in fact far more in depth comments & information have come from other posts on this site. But personally speaking, I just can't understand,apart from union issues etc etc etc,why the yanks & particularly the US GM heirachy don't grab Zeta with both hands & go for it,because I reckon the V8 powered rwd Commodore would be a real success in the US. And for goodness sake,why won't they say what is happening with Monaro? Any of you Pontiac GTO owners over there have any clues?! Cheers Pickles.

[JoeT]

With Holden & GM planning for the next Monaro/GTO coupe's to be built in the US as part of the US Zeta plan for worldwide sales, this casts the coupe's future into the spotlight.

Holden had said in March that the Zeta based Monaro would not be on sale in Australia until late '07, some six odd months after the original sales date. When I heard this, I though it might mean that the next coupe would not go into production until the US Zeta plan was back on track. I'm the eternal optimist!

With a lack of strong infomation coming out of GM on its future product range (personally, I still think they don't know what the near future holds), doubts have been raised over whether the coupes would be built at all.

I have read in this months Aussie 'Wheels' magazine quote's from Holden, stating that the next Zeta VE Commodore range will not be affected by the US Zeta delays, (with the new range to go on sale Down Under around April/May next year), but a Holden executive went on to say "The coupe is a different issue. The timing is not yet finalized", which means the coupe's are to be built, but when and where are the big questions.

Holden has also confirmed that the next Monaro/GTO coupe has already been designed and ticked off, as were the new Chev/Pontiac sedans only to be put on ice, and waiting for production. With Holden stating that the coupes future comes down to "timing", and with all the delays caused by GM's wrangling, one could reach the conclusion that the Zeta coupe's will be in Australia for worldwide sales, as is the case now, with sales starting early '08 or later.

(This is a modified post of mine originally posted on www.gminsidenews.com)

[seldo]

I think you'll also find that the quality of the vehicle that we want means that it would be too expensive and therefore unprofitable for the yanks. They can bash out some pick-ups and SUVs in relatively low-spec and the yanks love them. From all reports, the new VE will be a pretty good car as they used the 5 series as the benchmark, so their loss = our gain. I also would hazard a guess and say that they will still try to use the Zeta but will be looking at ways of economising on its features, equipment, design, and simplifying its production, just so they can make the numbers work. What they have really said is that they have pushed it down the priority list in favour of some of their own product which they can make more cheaply and therefore earn some much-needed profit. Far better to survive on bread and water instead of dying of hunger while you wait for the caviar...

[JoeT]

If members what to read all the international Zeta, GTO and Holden news, you should go to www.gminsidenews.com

Its a great all round GM website. :D


:bash:

[Patrick]

But personally speaking, I just can't understand,apart from union issues etc etc etc,why the yanks & particularly the US GM heirachy don't grab Zeta with both hands & go for it,because I reckon the V8 powered rwd Commodore would be a real success in the US.

I agree the Americans will love it, but at the same time if the yanks get their hands on "our" Commodore, things won't be the same. The yanks tend to "kill the goose that lays the golden egg" so to speak.

GM decided to bring forward their GMT900 trucks as these make huge profits which is something GM needs right now, putting Zeta on hold was the only logical thing to do, BUT
as soon as they release the GMT900's , they will then turn their attention and money to Zeta.

[Patrick]

GM cherry picked the Monaro, why wouldn't they throw their weight around and cherry pick Zeta when their ready?

The have said they will do rear-wheel-drive, just not now.