Seven Million Holdens

HOLDEN hit another milestone this week – for itself and Australia’s motor industry – in the shape of the seven-millionth vehicle to be produced in this country with the lion badge.

The landmark car in question rolled off the Elizabeth, South Australia production line in the shape of a maroon-hued VE Commodore Omega sedan fitted with dual-fuel LPG.

Present at the ceremony was the Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann, Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, and Holden’s manufacturing executive director, Rod Keane.

“This is a proud day for every one of GM Holden’s 6500 employees in Australia,” said Mr Keane. “It says so much about us as one of this country’s largest manufacturing operations and most trusted brands.”

The choice of vehicle as the seven-millionth Australian-built Holden is no coincidence, with Holden using the event to tout the economy virtues of its LPG Commodore, as well as underlining its commitment to alternative fuels such as ethanol-compatibility on some Saabs and the coming Active Fuel Management V8 engine technology due by the end of the year.

Holden could have chosen any one of 43 models, built off six variants, to mark the milestone, in both left and right-hand drive variants.

Almost 50 per cent of the VE and WM vehicles are exported. So far, more than 800,000 Holdens have left Australia since the first export model – an FJ – was made in 1954.

November will mark 60 years of Holden-badged vehicle production, with the first – the 48-215 – emerging from the company’s Fishermans Bend factory in 1948.

This year is the centenary of parent company General Motors and also sees the 50th anniversary of the founding of Holden Vehicle Operations at Elizabeth, 40 years since the introduction of the Kingswood and Monaro (HK), and 30 years of the Commodore (VB).

Holden numerical milestones since 1948:

Car #1: 48-215, November 1948, Fishermans Bend, VictoriaCar #1 million: EJ Holden, October 1962, Dandenong, VictoriaCar #2 million: HK Holden, March 1969, Dandenong, VictoriaCar #3 million: HQ Holden, June 1974, Pagewood, NSWCar #4 million: VC Commodore, June 1981, Dandenong, VictoriaCar #5 million: VN Commodore, August 1990, Elizabeth, SACar #6 million: VX Commodore, June 2001, Elizabeth, SACar #7 million: VE Commodore, August 2008, Elizabeth, SA