Today is D-Day within the Australian Automotive industry, but as a sovereign country, I'm finding it hard to accept Australia's current predicaments and prospects into the future. Over the last decade, we as a country have seen the last of the four major car manufacturers close their factories. Starting with Mitsubishi Australia finishing up production of their 380 sedans at their Tonsley Park Plant in Adelaide back in March of 2008. At the time the remaining manufacturers GM Holden, Toyota, and Ford assured the public and the vast number of people that worked directly or indirectly within the industry would continue as if its business as usual. In other word's nothing to see here people move on!

Today this SSV Redline Commodore was the last Holden to be made.

Today this SSV Redline Commodore was the last Holden to be made.

Looking back now to Mitsubishi Australia closing the doors was the industry's "canary in the coal mine" moment. The whole industry had been given a big warning in 2008 that imminent danger was approaching. Plus, this was only six or so months before the Global Financial Crisis took hold. Some of the most prominent automotive names in the world filed for bankruptcy after the GFC; this would then lead to a bailout by US government for the big three American companies (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler). But some experts have said the demise of the local car industry goes back even further than 2008.

While doing some research for this blog, I came across an article from GoAuto.com.au dating back to February 5th, 2008. The article at the time had an interesting quote from the then Mitsubishi Australia chief Rob McEniry as saying "The final decision for Mitsubishi to build the 380 was made in late 2001". So even back in 2001, Mitsubishi could see things weren't great and was struggling to understand a way forward for local manufacturing on what type of vehicle they could produce once the 380's life cycle had come to an end. The 380 was a large sedan which had been the cookie cutter approach for all the four manufacturers at the time. But Mitsubishi, Holden, Ford or Toyota, as well as the State and Federal governments, didn't take any measures to change and work out a way forward.

Then a few more years rolled by with rumours and speculations that other companies would do the same as Mitsubishi. So, within the last 12 month, Australia has seen Ford, Toyota and Holden close their doors. The big problem I have is this could've been avoided. If only we had people in Canberra over the last 20 years with the political will and foresight on both sides of politics to push and influence the car industry to stay relevant and viable, then who knows what could have been.

In May of this year I was greeted with sad image at the now derelict Ford manufacturing facility in Geelong Victoria

In May of this year I was greeted with sad image at the now derelict Ford manufacturing facility in Geelong Victoria

It's funny on the one hand I've always been passionate about cars and being Australian as well as buying Australian made stuff, but I've never bought a brand-new Australian made car. I wish I could of over the last 20 years but couldn't afford a brand-new Holden Commodore which would have been my only choice. I guess I should at this stage make this disclosure right now and say I'm a proud Holden man. I know in that 20-year period the Holden Cruze was built, but personally, the Cruze just wasn't my cup of tea.

But all that aside I have owned four used Holden Commodores and can say I still have one. The Holden that I can call my very own is a 1994 VR SS Commodore. It's no longer my everyday car, I now enjoy it as an enthusiast for those sunny weekend drives, or I take it to the occasional Cars and Coffee events around Sydney. My SS Commodore has been a big part of my life for almost 12 years. The SS was also made down in South Australia at Holden's Elizabeth plant in Adelaide. But unfortunately, today at this very factory Holden will be having a private farewell for its workforce who sadly will no longer be making locally made cars.

My 1994 VR SS Commodore looking a million dollars

My 1994 VR SS Commodore looking a million dollars

The 20th of October 2017 will be a somewhat surreal day for me because I can no longer align myself with any new Holden vehicles or its brand moving forward. For me, I thought Holden would be around for years to come, and at some stage in the future, I would buy myself a brand-new SS Commodore or HSV Commodore, but that can't happen now.

Why may you ask can I no longer support Holden moving forward after today? The 1st reason is Holden/General Motors sadly took taxpayer money over the last decade which came in the form of subsidies which totalled in the billions of Australian dollars. As they took this money, they did nothing to help protect local manufacturing well into future and work towards keeping them competitive to sell cars locally as well as internationally at scale.

Some food for thought from will known Automotive Industry Expert John Cadogan on the Holden's closure

The second reason is the soon to be imported ZB Commodore won't come with a V8 option, nor will it come as rear wheel drive sedan like its predecessor. If you’re going to replace the outgoing VF Commodore at least give the Australian public a car that is better in every way.

The ZB Commodore

The ZB Commodore

The third reason is the ZB Commodore in my personal opinion looks worse than the VF. If I were to make the call and had to replace the VF with some other GM manufactured vehicle within the General Motors group, I would have gone with a rebadged right-hand drive third-generation CTS or ATC Cadillac. They look great and would have been more in line with past Commodores designs.

This Cadillac CTS-V should have been been the car to replace the VF Commodore

This Cadillac CTS-V should have been been the car to replace the VF Commodore

The fourth reason, in the last three years Holden hasn't made any real attempt to try and keep the Holden enthusiast community onside or aligned with the Holden brand which took decades to build. One example is they haven't even tried to create something like an aftermarket Holden business for Holden enthusiasts. For instance, Holden's fellow GM company, i.e. Chevrolet has an aftermarket business called Chevy performance. The Chevy Performance business model is to keep old and new Chevrolet enthusiast connected and aligned with the brand; my question is why haven't Holden done something similar?

I only come up with this idea after I attended the 2017 NSW All Holden day at Richmond. There were so many Holden vehicles on display and could see countless amounts of Holden enthusiasts admiring the hundreds and hundreds of classic cars. But from what I could see Holden didn't have any representation at the event, sorry Holden that's just sad.

My little Vlog on the 2017 NSW All Holden Day.

My perception of the public relations backlash against Holden over the last three years has been significant; you only have to look at social media to see that. My advice for Holden or should I say their Marketing department is, please stop this condescending slogan that you have flogged for a few years now with your "Let's go there" campaign. It's annoying and shows just how out of touch Holden is with the general public. Sorry, Holden the 20 somethings out there looking to buy a hatchback won't help you keep your current market share with that marketing approach.

But like all good things, they come to an end, and that day is today. So after nearly 70 years, Holden has made their last car an SSV Redline V8 manual Commodore. Holden has in total made 7,687,675 vehicles since 1948. As for me I'd like to say thank you to the workers at Holden and would remind everyone that today's closure will also affect other people that also work indirectly to Holden. I just hope that somehow someday the Australian Car Industry can come back.