Wild Ass Rumor of the Day: GM to Import 30,000 Holden G8 Police Cars
Published: June 15th, 2009
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TTAC has it on good authority (without independent confirmation) that GM is moving forward with plans to import 30,000 Zeta-platformed Holdens per year from Australia to sell to US police agencies. Our source is not privy to the whys and wherefores. “I’m not sure why they don’t use existing capacity at the Camaro plant in Canada,” our source admits. “I can only assume GM needed to somehow replace the G8 capacity.” By the same token, he “can’t imagine this will make the federal government or taxpayers too happy.” Unless, tin foil hat wearers, the feds already knew, as this G8 invasion was part of the 17,205 “domestic” vehicles ordered under the auspices of the economic stimulus package. US jobs? Nuh-uh.
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This is interesting. It conflicts with sources down here. Well lucky you, our engineers and general assembly will allow you will be recipient of a better built machine. Oh, and I agree, the bling compartment is a big ticket item.
So Ford is intent on making the same mistake that GM did when they pulled themselves out of the RWD body-on-frame market, especially with a platform that was totally paid off and could do nothing but make them money. That'll just leave Chrysler.....if they manage to hold on long enough. Carbon Motors just might have the opening they need. Are we seeing the makings of a new 21st Century Checker? (You know the taxi market will want to get on the bandwagon, too).
I'd call it 9C1 Impala. If they make a civilian version they could maybe get to a higher volume. At 30K, the volume would allow them for assembly, not full manufacturing. Still would leave the Aussies with some business. The Aussie government also gave money to GM... @ Jhon Williams... Carbon Motors, AFAIK, is going to take the cars back at the end of their lives for recycling... so no taxi from there.
What is the annual market size for police vehicles? Is it large enough to support its own market niche? I'd guess not if Ford is abandoning the Panther platform.... although I've been hearing that that platform is going about for about the last 15 years now and it keeps showing up every year.