An American icon is expected to arrive in Melbourne as part of a deal that will put the Holden VE Commodore sedan and ute into the United States. The car is the Chevrolet Camaro and, even though it is still to be confirmed by GM Holden, the 2006 American concept should be at the Melbourne Motor Show next month in March. The Camaro coupe and convertible will eventually be ready to be sold in Australia, according to GM’s global product chief Bob Lutz, so an early local visit makes sense for GM Holden.
The Commodore export deal was confirmed last week in an announcement by GM at the Chicago Motor Show and GM Holden at Fishermans Bend. The final price and export volume have still not been revealed, though $US25,000 and 40,000 look good, but the VE will definitely be sold as the Pontiac G8 in the US and Canada with only minimal body changes from the SS Commodore on the roads in Australia. The VE Holden Ute will probably follow soon after.
Holden chairman Denny Mooney says it and other Holdens are being considered for export to the US. The Ute would not have to be sold in the US as a Pontiac just because the sedan carries that badge, and there has been talk in America that it might become an El Camino, one of the classic badges in Chevrolet history. It could be a GMC truck or it could be a Chevrolet El Camino,” Mooney says.
GM Holden shipped a record 31,000 Commodores and Statesmans, badged as Chevrolet Lumina and Chevrolet Caprice, to the Middle East, Korea and China last year. Mooney says the Pontiac deal is potentially bigger and will easily top the 18,000 Monaros that were shipped to the US. The Monaro’s numbers were lower than hoped, but the car had forged a link to the US and the Commodore would have a much better chance of succeeding at all levels.
“The two-door coupe market in the US is small. The sedan market we’re exporting this car into is 20 times bigger,” Mooney says. The Monaro, sold as the Pontiac GTO, was a success for GM and Pontiac, he says, because its many accolades have boosted the company’s image. The VE deal could lift production at Holden’s Elizabeth factory and help to top up falling demand for big sixes in Australia.
Related Articles:
GM Makes Sure 2009 Camaro Matches Concept: General Motors has gone the extra mile to make sure the production 2009 Chevrolet Camaro is as close to the concept version as possible. Rather
Brand New Camaro To Arrive In Australia First: Before the brand new Camaro’s US release in 2008, Australians will be the first to get a sneak peak at the first production models. In
2009 Camaro Spotted On The Streets Of Melbourne: The new 2009 Chevy Camaro has been seen at some of the world’s most famous auto show. Even a handful of chosen people have gotten