Auto Manufacturing DEAD in Australia by end 2018
 

Yeah, this is about my countries Auto Manufacturing Industry which will cease to exist in the making of new cars by end of 2018.

Sorry if it bores you, then don't read it.:boring:

As some US mates may not know, major players announced a few years ago that they will pull out of Australian Auto Manufacturing as our wages are too high (thanks to Unions) volume is low, Asia (Thailand, China, etc) is much cheaper to make cars.
Our Dollar then at times was worth more than the USD ($1.05 AUD in 2010), now it is back to a reasonable rate of $0.75 AUD to the USD.
And as import tariffs (taxes) are now non-existent, a plan to change the industry here 30 years ago and this is the end result.
Our Federal Government was not prepared to subsidize foreign multinationals by the $billions done so year in year out.
Corporate Welfare makes my blood boil and is tax free extortion.

Mitsubishi Motors Car plant (where I once worked) in my State (Tonsley, South Australia) closed completely about 7 years ago, as did Nissan (Victoria) about a decade before that.

Ford Australia which made the RWD Cortina (UK Spec) and RWD Ford Falcon (6 cyl to V8) (Mazda323/Focus+ Mazda 626/Telstra) after nearly a century closed the Victoria (State) plants in Broadmeadows this year.

General Motors Holden Elizabeth in my State who made many cars like the Holden Kingswood large family car, Holden Torana (medium), and current Holden Commodore (4cyl to V8s) will cease to exist by end of 2017.

Toyota Australia which has the newest plants here in (Altona, Victoria) will close in 2018. Which makes the FWD Camry will see the end of making cars in Australia, forever.

We will only import all new cars..
All those Jobs lost to Europe and Japan, USA and Thailand.

So what will we get in replace of the RWD Family large Australian made Sedans.
Ford has yet to confirm exactly, but I think something from USA, we get now the RHD new USA Mustang, euro Focus and Fiesta plus Ford Thailand Utes(pickups) and SUVs.

Holden (GMH) have announced the FWD Opel with 4 cylinder and 6 cyl Euro's
Holden 2018 Commodore - New-gen Holden Commodore revealed | GoAuto

This will be their largest 'family' car which is actually tiny (about Mazda 6 in size) and not a big car that Aussies are used to.

IMO these are all a mistake and could be disastrous with already rusted on GM and Ford owners saying they will never buy this poor excuse for a car.

Would you believe Australia now has more imported car brands and models than the USA has (more brands/models than any auto nation sells actually), something like 33% more, from every continent/country except Russian made cars/models.

Some of the stuff out of China like Haval (SUV), Great Wall SUV and Utes are cheap and look reasonable, but will take a long time to be an accepted marque here in Oz, their QC is very poor.

Many imports from the cheap to the expensive from Euro, FIAT, SEAT, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen have been down under for close to a few decades now (on and off) but struggle to maintain any growth.

Ford's US made Mustang has sold well and has improved their market share slightly but has a long way to go as does Holden, remember 12 years ago or less these were the top 2 car brands here.
Today they sit in the middle of the pack with the Japanese and Korean marques dominating.

So a sad time I guess....

Wow, that's pretty crazy.

I saw that - I still love the Holden Commodore V8. A friend just purchased one (Chevy SS)

Wait so is Holden dying? Are they common outside Australia?

I've always wanted to visit Australia and after I got older and more into cars and the like, I've wanted to drive a Holden. Like a bucket list sorta thing.

Nice work, unions

If you're replaceable, companies aren't going to want to pay high rates.

General Motors Holden GMH (which is owned by US General Motors GM) is not dying, just auto manufacturing in Australia is, Holden will still sell now all imported new cars from Opel (GM) Germany mainly with Holden Badges on them.