Death Warrant Signed For Aussie Rear Drive Sedans, Execution Called For 2016

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The big, rear-drive Aussie sedans beloved by enthusiasts overseas aren’t gaining traction in the Australian marketplace, and the smart money is betting on the death of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.

The reports come as Holden officials confirmed that Australian production the next generation VF Commodore would run through 2016, with new product lines keeping Australian Holden factories online through 2022. One potential savoir for the Commodore could be production in America, under a common rear-drive platform shared with other GM brands, but that situation is a long shot at best. The two new products set to be built locally are a compact SUV and an unnamed front-drive sedan.

Meanwhile, the fate of the Ford Falcon appears to be all but sealed, with the “One Ford” strategy, the high Australian dollar and slumping sales conspiring to kill off the Falcon and its sister vehicle the Ford Territory SUV. While the Falcon was outsold by the Commodore by a 2:1 margin, the Mazda 3, Australia’s top-seller, outsold it by a 3:1 margin. Not even an Ecoboost 4-cylinder could help save the Falcon from irrelevance.

The irony is that Chrysler may be the only one left selling a big, powerful rear-drive sedan. The 300C SRT8 has become quite popular Down Under, and at this rate, it could be the last bloke standing in the segment.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

More by Derek Kreindler

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 98 comments
  • Dr.Nick Dr.Nick on Jan 21, 2013

    Australia is likely to remain am expensive place to produce vehicles. If the import tariffs aren't bad, producing cars in Australia doesn't look feasible in the future.

    • Beltedradial Beltedradial on Jan 21, 2013

      That's the trick really. Everyone is waiting for the AUDollar to drop (even a little) in value. Currently imported goods are cheap but, few people have the cash to buy up.

  • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Jan 23, 2013

    Denvermike, You have a point there. I wonder if Alan Mullaly knows anything about this as he is pretty new to the job and probably is not aware of all the details Globally?

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Jan 24, 2013

    @DenverMike Hi mate, Robert Ryans mate from Pickuptrucks.com, the one you refered to in one of your previous posts in this comment thread. I do think you don't have very good knowledge on what goes on down here in Australia. As you know I live in the Top End of the Northern Territory about 300 or so kilometres from Darwin. I do have significant exposure to our RV market, actually one of the best in Australia because the Top End probably is one of the most sought destinations for our Grey Nomads. Grey Nomads are retirees who use RVs, Caravan, 5th wheeler etc and travel around Australia much the same as your RV set in the USA. Here are some corrections you should listen too and maybe gain some insight on our vehicle market in Australia. 1. US style half ton pickups will not sell in great numbers in Australia. Why? We have mid sizers, especially the new ones like my BT50 plus the Ford Ranger (global), VW Amarok, Colorado and Izuzu Dmax. These vehicles can carry the same payload as some of your HDs and can tow very similar weights to your half ton pickups. The bonus is we have these mid sizers with over 400ftlb of torque getting about or over 30mpg on the highway. 2. There are not many US pickups on our roads. There are several reasons for this, cost versus quality, spares availibility, access to vehicles with the same or better capacity with better fuel economy. Where I live I see more RVs that are Fiat/Transit Ducatos up to 27 feet long, Our current breed of mid sizers towing 25' plus caravans (camper trailers). 3. Australia's local car industry was protected until the mid 80s then not only our car industry but our whole economy began to liberalise. We now have the second freest economy in the world. Not like the heavily subsidised US/Euro/Japanese economies which are more socialist. Your pickup market is the only thing keeping the Big 3 afloat at the moment and is heavily protected by your CAFE/EPA arrangements, your safety/design regulations, 25% import tariff on pickups, bailouts etc. 4. If mid sizers and even our Holden/Ford utes entered your market they would sell. You will find that the take up on mid sizers like we have with diesel getting 30mpg and over 400ftlb of torque will take a sizeable portion of your half ton and some HD sales. As for the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon demise, I think that Ford and GM have done themselves a misservice. Because these companies had to compete against real imports from other countries now for 30 years they have become the highest quality product for Ford and GM. Maybe their Australian operations should be building BMW, Audi, Merc competitors. There is a company in Queensland importing high(est) end twin cab Tundras, they are selling for $115 000. The cost increase in just a conversion like you stated. Money has been spent improving the quality of the vehicle due to poorer build quality. The US vehicles are not the best quality in the world, actually in between Chinese and Korean vehicles.

  • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Jan 27, 2013

    Glad to see you on the TTAC forums Big Al From OZ

Next