Troutman
01-09-2012, 07:53 PM
http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/end-of-an-era-for-commodore-20120105-1pmp1.html
http://images-2.drive.com.au/2012/01/03/2871461/1_art-Commodore2-420x0.jpg
Holden has conceded the Commodore may never again lead the Australian new-car sales race after being dethroned by the Mazda3 small car in 2011.
“It’s hard to see it happening,” the sales and marketing director of Holden, John Elsworth, told Drive. “It’s difficult to know what will be the number one selling car going forward. The number one car will probably change every year.
“Whether there’s ever going to be a car do 15 years in a row as number one ever again I think is unlikely given the way … the segments have changed. The market’s really quite fragmented now.”
...But rather than licking its wounds, the Lion brand this week celebrated the Commodore’s previous 15 years at the top, a record not matched by any other vehicle in Australian automotive history.
“I think it’s an outstanding achievement, 15 years,” he said. “But we moved on some time ago to be perfectly honest … this hasn’t really come as a surprise. You can watch a trend happen over many years.”
In other Australian car news: Ford Falcon future safe until 2016: $103 million investment throws Falcon a lifeline - for now. (http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/ford-falcon-future-safe-until-2016-20120110-1psav.html)
http://images-2.drive.com.au/2012/01/03/2871461/1_art-Commodore2-420x0.jpg
Holden has conceded the Commodore may never again lead the Australian new-car sales race after being dethroned by the Mazda3 small car in 2011.
“It’s hard to see it happening,” the sales and marketing director of Holden, John Elsworth, told Drive. “It’s difficult to know what will be the number one selling car going forward. The number one car will probably change every year.
“Whether there’s ever going to be a car do 15 years in a row as number one ever again I think is unlikely given the way … the segments have changed. The market’s really quite fragmented now.”
...But rather than licking its wounds, the Lion brand this week celebrated the Commodore’s previous 15 years at the top, a record not matched by any other vehicle in Australian automotive history.
“I think it’s an outstanding achievement, 15 years,” he said. “But we moved on some time ago to be perfectly honest … this hasn’t really come as a surprise. You can watch a trend happen over many years.”
In other Australian car news: Ford Falcon future safe until 2016: $103 million investment throws Falcon a lifeline - for now. (http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/ford-falcon-future-safe-until-2016-20120110-1psav.html)