Holden announces Opel fire sale

HOLDEN will soon sell off more than 1000 orphaned Opel-badged vehicles stranded on Australian shores to anyone who will buy them.

Opel’s push onto the Australian market collapsed spectacularly in August only after about a year into an ambitious push to set up the European brand as a premium choice alongside the likes of Volkswagen, stranding cars already here and others still in transit.

The pace of the decision – dealers were told of the decision at a monthly brand meeting – has left cars parked on grass for the last three months as Holden decides what to do with them.

However, rather than ship the cars to New Zealand – that was the fate of about 60 Cadillacs earmarked for sale in 2009 before the US sister brand reversed its decision – Holden revealed to GoAuto today that the cars would soon be sold off through its network of dealers to anyone who wanted one.

“We have effectively allocated all remaining new Opels within the Australian Holden dealer network,” Holden marketing director Bill Mott said.

“There has been keen interest from Holden dealers and customers to take up these cars, and we will begin advertising the sale of these vehicles later this month.

Mr Mott said Opel buyers would get the same level of support as any Holden buyer.

“All promises made to an Opel owner such as warranty, capped price servicing, road side service, will be met in full,” he said.

“The only difference for owners is that instead of having their vehicle serviced at one of the 20 Opel dealerships it can now be serviced at one of over 200 Holden dealerships nationwide.”

Cars to go on sale include the Opel Zafira, a seven-seat people-mover that was only weeks away from going on sale.

Opel had big plans for Australia, with plans to introduce even more vehicle alongside the Corsa, Astra and Insignia passenger cars, including the Mokka compact soft-roader and Cascada convertible.

In its first full year of sales, the brand sold fewer than 2000 cars compared with suggestions the brand was seeking up to 15,000 new Opel owners a year.

Mr Mott said Opel’s network of dealers believed that they have treated “in a very fair and reasonable manner” since the brand’s collapse.

“Opel has provided compensation to Opel dealers,” he said.

“There have been individual conversations and agreements reached between Opel and each dealership.”