Exports boost for Holden

HOLDEN’S long awaited China export deal will kick off in November, with annual volume expected to total between 25,000 and 35,000 cars.

Initially, the Chinese will take the WL long wheelbase with the 3.6-litre Alloytec V6, but there are plans for a 2.8-litre version later when Holden starts building it at its new Fishermens Bend facility.

The cars will be fully exported to start with but the long-term plan calls for local manufacture in China after the all-new VE/WM launches in 2006.

GM Daewoo has a similar strategy in place, initially taking fully built-up versions of the WL Holden before eventually building the car locally.

The GM subsidiary has also expressed interest in using the short wheelbase version of the Zeta platform in South Korea.

And that’s an opportunity that Holden says could exist in other areas of Asia.

"That’s a car we will be able to sell both long wheelbase and short wheelbase in lots of countries in Asia if we have a crack at it," said Holden executive director sales and marketing, Ross McKenzie.

He said interest in VE, not only from Asia but around the globe, was strong.

"They are red hot in terms of the new car. They want to know," he said. "The Middle East has come back and cranked up their bloody forecast again.

"The VE is a ball-tearer by any world standards. What we have to work out is how we do the right derivatives for the right countries at the right cost."

Iraq cops it sweet

HOLDEN’S export drive has now reached Iraq, with up to 2500 Chevrolet Lumina LS V6s to serve as police cars in the war-torn country.

The rebadged Commodore Executives are part of Holden’s export program to the Middle East, which is expected to reach 25,000 sales this year.

While obviously dependent on many other factors, Holden is hopeful of additional sales there if the internal unrest abates.

"That market, if they could ever settle it down, is big," said Holden sales and marketing boss, Ross McKenzie.