ZB Commodore sales

[Ausmartin1]

Not surprised at all. The car is not competitive and no one wants them. Flogging a dead horse in the hope that the australian public will want a boring ugly make believe commodore will only end in the ultimate failure of the brand. They'll miss the mark on EV's too when they ultimately start to take over. This is where I believe Holden could recover and make a return before the onslaught of other brands hits soon. But they're to stupid to see it.

True, but they did a very poor job with the Volt - only high end & yes I still own one, they did NOT do the right thing and slog on with the next EV version II USA Volt and full EV BOLT at a range of trim/price levels.
Toyota pushed on after its Initial (horrible) hybrid Prius.
However Toyota did not give up, they kept at and at till they carved a profitable niche for themselves - vs US car companies just spit the dummies and run back home like it never happened.

So the Holden EV dabble was a 1 toe in the pond try and when it didn't go as planned they raised the white flag - they will pay dearly for that in future.

Speaking of 1 trick American ponies besides the Volt,
The Camaro's & Over sized Silverado's are great - but NOT for the over priced hand converted price, which will lead to an initial sales spike for those with cash filled wallets and then what ?

I fail to see how in the heck the Holden dealer network and the size / volumes it was used to in past year can be sustained at the current sales rates - the 10% downsizing of the network last year must have been overly optimistic.
This creates a major head ache for both Holden and the dealers, because less dealers would mean less sales, dealers at current amount of sales means poor profit.
Dilemma

As to Dave Buttner, Toyota was an easy job as they are basically self sustaining vs a Holden CEO needs to be hard core leader of direction with difficult decisions required along with tackling an unruly parent in GM.
Tough gig & hope they can get through it.

[Boofa]

If I was a Holden dealer I'd be shitting bricks at the moment.

[Aus8]

If I was a Holden dealer I'd be shitting bricks at the moment.

Is it true they have the second biggest dealer network but #10 in car sales now? I know they did a initial chop of some dealers but might be a round 2 coming sadly.

[Ausmartin1]

If I was a Holden dealer I'd be shitting bricks at the moment.

Yep, reminds me of National lampoons Christmas Vacation shitting bricks scene.

https://youtu.be/mmSagEecXtU

[BLACKVE]

If I was a Holden dealer I'd be shitting bricks at the moment.

There pretty happy changing V6 timing chains, LS lifter repairs and doing VF steering racks ATM.

[SASLS1]

Here is the Full Official Holden Press Release to Retire the ZB...

ZB Commodore sales to end.


"
10 December 2019


Holden announces exclusive SUV and Ute line-up


 Holden takes decisive action to ensure a sharp focus on the largest and most buoyant market segments.

 Streamlining Holden’s portfolio is consistent with market trends and customer preferences.

 Holden’s seven years’ free scheduled servicing offer is extended across the entire range on all 2019 plated vehicles.


Port Melbourne: Holden is today announcing a modified portfolio dedicated exclusively to SUVs and light commercial vehicles.

Holden Interim Chairman and Managing Director, Kristian Aquilina, said the focus of the portfolio was consistent with customer preferences, with the Acadia, Trailblazer, Equinox
and Trax rounding out a comprehensive SUV portfolio; and the Colorado tackling rivals in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment.

Holden is taking this decisive action to ensure a sharp focus on the largest and most buoyant market segments.

"So far this year SUVs and Utes have increased to 76 percent of Holden sales, a trend we only see continuing,” he said.

The company has elected to retire the ZB Commodore and the BK Astra in 2020.

At its peak, the large car segment in Australia accounted for 217,882 sales in 1998.

This year it is projected to come in at about 8,700 units.

“The SUV segment is approaching half a million units, and LCVs over 200,000 units.

That’s where the action is and that’s where we are going to play,” Mr Aquilina said.

The new Holden boss also paid tribute to the Commodore nameplate and its place in the Australian automotive industry over time.

“The decision to retire the Commodore nameplate has not been taken lightly by those who understand and acknowledge its proud heritage,” he said.

“The large sedan was the cornerstone of Australian and New Zealand roads for decades. But now with more choice than ever before, customers are displaying a strong preference
for the high driving position, functionality and versatility of SUVs and Utes.”

Sales and deliveries of Commodore and Astra will continue through 2020, albeit with diminishing model availability as part of an orderly runout.

Existing Commodore and Astra customers can be assured that Holden will continue to back warranty and roadside assistance commitments, with spare parts supply guaranteed
well into the future.

In addition, all MY19 ZB Commodores and MY19 BK Astras ordered or delivered from today onwards will be subject to Holden’s market leading seven-year free scheduled
servicing offer.

All arrangements for accessing warranty, servicing and spare parts for Holden’s entire model line-up via the Holden’s national dealer network remain the same.
Holden will be launching the MY20 Equinox in the first quarter of 2020 followed by a significant MY21 upgrade to the highly regarded Colorado to launch in Spring.

Holden will also lodge production orders to GM’s Bowling Green factory for the highly anticipated mid engine right-hand-drive Corvette next year.

Ends"




Finally... Holden can move on from this vehicle, that clearly no one wanted, or cut and pasting a name / badge that the vast majority of people disagreed with their decision in naming it Commodore.

To quote Pulp Fiction... "Z is Dead"...

Bring on the Corvette.

[CLUBRED]

If I was a Holden dealer I'd be shitting bricks at the moment.

Are there any dealers that just sell Holden? I can't think of any local to me.

[SASLS1]

2017 ZB Commodore listed as a "used car" with only 10 kms on the clock...

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-holden-commodore-rs-zb-auto-my18/OAG-AD-17279765/?Cr=11

Hmmm I call BS... on these fake registrations of cars to totally fudge the sales figures that appear in Vfacts reports, even with these cars still sitting unsold in dealer yards.



Only 309 Commodore sales in November 2019 Vfacts report... Ouch...

https://www.caradvice.com.au/811764/vfacts-november-2019-sales-results/

Be very interesting to see the Actual Real Numbers of cars Actually sold to customers, excluding all these Fake registrations of cars that aren't actual sold in True Reality...

It's clear the results would look far worse to all the vehicle manufactures, hence why they do this practice, to falsify the sales figures.



Wonder why Holden announced Dave Buttners stepping down as Chairman and Managing Director... only 8 days earlier on the 2nd December 2019...

Then announcing the Death of the ZB only 8 days later on the 10th of December 2019... Interesting circumstances to say the least IMO...


Do you like how Holden tried to Disguise the Death of the ZB...... with their Press Release head line of "Holden announces exclusive SUV and Ute line-up"...

[A^K^T]

I wonder how many of the Holden rentals were counted as sales.

Link:Holden Rental Service

[SASLS1]

I'd hate to be the owner of a ZB who paid around RRP for a ZB previously...


2019 Holden Commodore LT ZB Auto MY19.... RRP was $33690...

Now...

2019 Holden Commodore LT ZB Auto MY19.... 9 kms on the clock (so brand new) now.... $23435...

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2019-holden-commodore-lt-zb-auto-my19/OAG-AD-18314553/?Cr=1

So $10255 saving...


Looks like the Fire Sale has lit off...

There goes the resale value of all ZB's straight down the toilet...

[Wonky]

Plus everything else eg Equinox, Colorado, Trax etc.. Most buyers won't touch them now!!! We contemplated buying an Equinox a while ago as we have trouble fitting my folding electric wheelchair, walking frame and cases in my wife's Mazda 3 when we go away so were looking for a cheap, near new SUV and could have got one for around $20k with automatic. Glad we didn't!

[csv rulz]

Plus everything else eg Equinox, Colorado, Trax etc.. Most buyers won't touch them now!!! We contemplated buying an Equinox a while ago as we have trouble fitting my folding electric wheelchair, walking frame and cases in my wife's Mazda 3 when we go away so were looking for a cheap, near new SUV and could have got one for around $20k with automatic. Glad we didn't!

Lot of car for the money. You would just have to keep it for a long time.

I would have been very tempted by an Acadia for the family especially given the discounts, but we bought a Sorento last year.

[Wonky]

Yeah. We might wait and see what we can eventually get an LTZ-V for but it would depend on lots of research at the time in order to determine what the outlook on parts etc is, even if from o/s or wreckers (not that wreckers will have many, especially top models). Panels etc. No good buying one and having it off the road for weeks/months at a time.

[BLACK 346]

City Holden at Hillcrest has far more VF Commodore based stock than anything else (Think there was one ZB last time I walked past). I wonder if they are going to discount these to move them on? They have a nice GTSR Maloo in there for $105k at the moment.

[whitels1ss]

City Holden at Hillcrest has far more VF Commodore based stock than anything else.

City Holden are advertising that they are relocating & opening a new Holden showroom at 154 Railway Terrace, Mile End, SA next Monday (2/3/2020).

https://www.cityholden.com.au/