Will GM and Ford Now Bring in The American Auto Makes and Models to Australia?

LTrioboy on 21/02/2020 - 10:28
Last edited 21/02/2020 - 11:44

With Holden now shutting shop for good, what does the future hold for GM in Australia? Will they finally bring in their American makes like Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet to the Australian Market?

I understand they have already started introducing some of their Chevrolet models here already (ie: Silverado). Will there be a good market for large pickup trucks and SUVs like Chevy Silverado, Cadillac Escalade GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon?

There were also some rumors around Ford introducing their popular F150 pickup truck in Australia. But so far nothing from Ford.

Poll Options expired

  • 2
    I am interested in buying a large American SUV
  • 10
    I am interested in buying a large American Pickup Truck
  • 84
    Just stick to the regular European, Japanese, Thai etc made brands
  • 11
    The internal combustion engine is dead (Go EV)
  • 5
    Public transport is so good, I don't drive
Automotive

Comments

  • John Kimble on 21/02/2020 - 10:29
    +13

    No

  • garetz on 21/02/2020 - 10:32

    The australian market is tiny, without government subsidies its not worth their while.

    • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 10:49

      Didn't stop Ford from bringing in the Mustang though.

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 21/02/2020 - 12:31
        +6

        It didn't but Mustangs are a very specific leisure/lifestyle market with buyers who are likely to have more disposable income.

        I don't know how a $150K american truck is going to work in Sydney. It might work in a large country town but at that point, most savvy owners will pick up something big and reliable like a Landcruiser or Hilux.

        • El Grande on 23/02/2020 - 08:07

          It's going to be a $50K american truck. I'll buy a Chevy Silverado for that much.

          • BartholemewH on 23/02/2020 - 09:20
            +1

            @El Grande: Forgive my ignorance, but what makes you think it would be 50k? They will charge what they can get, currently near triple this.

        • ATangk on 23/02/2020 - 09:20

          Let me tow 7 tonnes. A land cruiser or Hilux can’t do that haha.

    • SuperGeek on 23/02/2020 - 03:15

      The New Zealand market is even smaller - and their government doesn't subsidise automakers.

  • k-rokfm on 21/02/2020 - 10:32
    +35

    No. GM have come out and said they are withdrawing from making RHD vehicles completely. If they were going to bring in chevrolet, it would have worked better transitioning the holden brand into chevrolet.

    • stewy on 23/02/2020 - 01:54

      Yup, you will only be seeing a few locally converted GM vehicles via Walkinshaw.

      Somehow Holden could work out how to build LHD and RHD for much the same cost, yet that is apparently too hard a feat for GM (which just further goes to show how useless a company they are). In saying that, now that GM sold off their Thai factory that made the Colorado, most of the rest they manufacture is crap that no one in Australia would buy.

  • payless69 on 21/02/2020 - 10:33
    +2

    What part of NO don't you understand? GM's car division failed to understand that some places drive on the other side.

    • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 10:36
      -4

      There always conversion from left to right? I think Ford is doing it with the Mustang.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 10:51
        +8

        Mustang is not a conversion, it is factory.

        • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 10:53
          +3

          Oh right, I'm clearly ill-informed about the subject

        • askme69 on 21/02/2020 - 11:09
          +1

          That's why the Muatang is selling as it's far cheaper than the Camaro etc as it's RHD from thw factory and engineered as such.

          • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 11:19

            @askme69: Where I live everyone seems to be driving those.

            • Nugs on 21/02/2020 - 11:32
              -7

              @Trioboy: clit0ris cars
              .

              • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 14:23

                @Nugs: I don't mind them. They are nice to look at. Not sure if I'd buy one though.

        • Ken1977 on 22/02/2020 - 11:05

          Not long ago mustang was a conversion. And people paid over $100k for the privelage. Only recently did they factory convert.

          • MrBear on 22/02/2020 - 15:19

            @Ken1977: And not long before that, they were factory RHD.

      • k-rokfm on 21/02/2020 - 10:58
        +2

        There are a handful of companies doing the left to right conversion - mainly for the big american trucks and some sports cars. its an expensive and tricky process.

        see https://www.performaxint.com.au/ for an example

  • Slippery Fish on 21/02/2020 - 10:34
    +1

    Lol troll much

    • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 10:44

      lol, no trolling here, I'm genuinely interested in the topic. I drove a F150 while I was in Canada and enjoyed it very much.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 11:05

        Even the Dodge Ram which is sold in Australia is a conversion. Yours for ~$140,000.

        I doubt Ford would bother. The sales figures for the Ram are barely in the thousand last year.

        In contrast, the Ranger sells double that… every month.

        Bringing in the F series trucks, even if they capture 100% market share overnight, is not worth the implications of marketting and canibalizing its Ranger market.

        • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 11:14

          Yeah not sure how they come up with that price tag. In the US and Canada, you could pick up one for around 40-50K. The base models start from 20k.

        • OzBargainUserOne on 21/02/2020 - 14:05
          -1

          they are only 80K? special offer from ramtrucks

          • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 14:10

            @OzBargainUserOne: Oh, that's a pretty good price for someone that needs one. Just a touch more than a Wildtrak.

          • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 14:42

            @OzBargainUserOne: Interesting, not sure about the reliability of the Ramtrucks compared to the F150

  • Emerald Owl on 21/02/2020 - 10:41
    +1

    There was a rumour they may make HSV, which convert Camaros, into GMSV and keep it going.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 21/02/2020 - 10:46
    +1

    Corvette may be coming. Nothing else. They're gone.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 10:50

      Any news on the Camaro? They're a local conversion so it is ambiguous to me.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 21/02/2020 - 10:53
        +1

        Haven't heard anything sorry. GM will probably change their mind back and forth 20 times over the next month or so anyways.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 10:58

          Great car but not sure if it is worth the premium of small scale conversion vs the Mustang that is factory RHD.

          Also, a lot of Camaro owners got burnt since the release was delayed and shortly after delivery, they released the ZL1.

          So curious to see if GM will maintain any part of Holden as I wouldn't.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 10:49
    +3

    Title and poll mismatch!

    • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 11:15
      -2

      sorry, first time poster. I was trying to make it little bit fun. I'll change the Title.

      • Baysew on 22/02/2020 - 10:05
        +1

        It's not really hard if you apply yourself.

        Ask question - Will GM and Ford Now Bring in The American Auto Makes and Models to Australia? (No need to have GM as they are exiting the RHD market)

        Have relevant poll options - YES, NO, UNSURE.

  • crazyj on 21/02/2020 - 11:01

    GM made a decision to not support right-hand-drive markets such as AUS/NZ, UK and Japan. That's end of it.

    (except possibly for the Corvette, but that's another story)

    • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 11:09
      +1

      Not much of a story.

      Corvette is an RR. Super easy to convert. Simply tool up for the cosmetic components in the car and stick the wheel on the other side.

      Anything with an F makes conversion significantly harder.

      • lewislardboy on 21/02/2020 - 15:30

        I'd love to know what RR and F are — I assume it has to do with the drive train config/positioning in the body?

        • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2020 - 15:31
          +1

          Spot on. First alphabet is engine location. Last alphabet is front, all, rear.

        • lewislardboy on 21/02/2020 - 15:31

          perfect, thanks!

      • stewy on 23/02/2020 - 02:01
        +3

        Anything with an F makes conversion significantly harder.

        Didn't seem to be a problem for Holden with the VE/VF. Then again they employed people with half a brain that designed the car to be easily switched for export markets.

        When you consider that the VE was essentially the first car Holden engineering from scratch, it's remarkable what they achieved. Yes the interior sucked, but they hit the mark finally with the VF. There was some serious world class engineering talent in the Holden workforce.

        GM on the other hand are just incompetent dinosaurs that don't know how to do anything other than suck cash out of tax payers.

  • Skramit on 21/02/2020 - 11:07
    +3

    Will they finally bring in their American makes like Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet to the Australian Market?

    No

    GM wants out of right hand drive cars.

  • pegaxs on 21/02/2020 - 11:22
    +4

    No. GM are not making RHD vehicles.

    • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 14:17

      interesting. I wonder if Ford will follow suit. I have seen quite a few Ram trucks lately.

  • TheBilly on 21/02/2020 - 11:56

    I doubt it - Nissan Discontinued the Diesel Y61 Patrol despite selling over 10,000 per year, if you can take that as a benchmark. Australia is too insignificant for these big companies to really care.

  • Hackney on 21/02/2020 - 14:14
    +2

    C8 Corvette will be the only dedicated RHD coming to Aus,but only in limited numbers.(via GMSV)They will then be bringing in a few “specialty”vehicles for conversion.Cadillac? SUVs etc…

  • JimmyF on 21/02/2020 - 15:19

    GM are exiting the right hand drive market globally (you know the market Australia falls into). So they won't be making cars with the steering wheel on 'right' side of the car for us.

  • Trioboy on 21/02/2020 - 16:06

    Thanks Guys, As most of you have pointed out, it is clear that GM won't commit to making RHD vehicles.

    I wonder If Ford will introduce the F150 though. Especially the electric version currently being developed in collaboration with Rivian.

  • Cheeper on 21/02/2020 - 22:33

    GM pulled out of countries that have RHD afaik? That means no more GM for oz..

  • HeWhoKnows on 22/02/2020 - 08:59

    Clearly OP has not listened to the media.
    Dear OP go back and read all the news reports and you will have your answer.

    For the record GM is exiting all right hand driove markets.

    • Trioboy on 24/02/2020 - 08:50

      Yeah thanks, somehow I missed that. I have been educated now

  • Kabal on 22/02/2020 - 11:07
    +3

    On an infinite timescale anything could happen.

    .. more likely is GM goes out of business entirely lol.

  • OzHunterNSW on 22/02/2020 - 11:19
    +3

    The Australian consumer market will dictate whether it would be feasible for this company to introduce excessively large gas guzzling intimidating vehicles, that you can't park, you can't drive, you can't fill.

    We are not a regime like America heavily opioid and with guns strapped to our hips.

    Australia is unique in their own right. Te less American-ization the better.

    • OnAWhimTwo on 22/02/2020 - 12:10
      +7

      American-iSation please

  • Tigercjn on 23/02/2020 - 18:44

    The Toyota Kluger is currently made in the USA

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