“Ahead of updating our locally produced Commodore range later this year, we need to prepare for a smooth run-out of the current model within the plant,” Holden spokesman Jonathan Rose told GoAuto.
The measure will take effect at the Elizabeth plant and, in accordance with the deal between Holden and the workers, there will be no work at the facility in the first day of July and will continue with eight shortened four-day production weeks through August.
“This afternoon, Holden and the unions agreed that as a result of this plan, there will be a need for 13 non-production days across July and August. These will be taken as a combination of RDOs and market response days,” the spokesman added.
Earlier this month, Holden posted the worst loss in the company's history ($210.6 million) and the fifth consecutive negative year. According to Holden representatives however, the loss was not a result of the crisis acting on Holden itself, but on GM's Pontiac. As the American carmaker pulled the plug on the brand, the Australian built G8 died and took with it the good sales levels of other years.
With other of Holden's export markets feeling the pressure of the crisis, as well as with the impact the crisis had on the local one, Holden's revenue declined from $5.8 billion in 2008 to $3.8 billion in 2009.
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