End of Holden

End of an era for Australasians

Holden to stop manufacturing in Australia

Nearly 3000 Holden workers are set to lose their jobs over the next four years as the car maker winds down its Australian operations

Radio NZ,

11 December, 2013

General Motors Holden has announced the company will stop making vehicles by the end of 2017 - ending 65 years of building cars in Australia.

The decision means 2900 people will lose their jobs - 1600 from the manufacturing plant in South Australia and 1300 in Victoria, the ABC reports.

Holden cited the high Australian dollar as a main reason for the closure. It said at the peak of the dollar's exchange rate, manufacturing things in Australia was 65% more expensive compared with a decade earlier.

Holden general manager Mike Devereaux delivered the news to workers in Adelaide's Elizabeth plant on Wednesday.

"This is an incredibly difficult day for everybody at Holden, given our long and proud history of building cars in Australia. But make no mistake, we have looked at every possible option to build our next generation cars here in this country to replace our existing models."

The company will retain sales division, parts distribution, and a global design studio. Some 33,000 people employed in the automotive components sector are likely to also be affected.

Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss said the federal government regrets the fact that Holden's parent company General Motors is to phase down its operations