“We would have to run out the imported car and introduce the new one, then we would have Christmas, so we train people up and then we go on holiday then they come back and we have these things going on,” Alan Batey, GM Holden chairman and managing director told GoAuto.
“We thought, this just doesn’t make sense; let’s train the people up, let’s get Christmas out of the way, get them back and close the gap between the four door and the five door.”
The future Holden Cruze will boast a few exciting additions to the engine range, including a 1.4l turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a premium engine, alongside the 1.8l petrol four-cylinder available on the US Cruze.
According to Batey, the Holden Cruze built in Australia will still have at least 70 per cent imported components, with the rest (mostly body panels, bumpers and fuel tank) to be built Down Under.
Holden is also looking into ways to export its products, even if the export markets should be carefully selected so that Holden doesn't step on GM's toes. But there are a few places Holden would like to go.
“If we were to do it quickly we would need right-hand drive, so the UK is natural market, South Africa is another one, Thailand is a potential market with a free-trade agreement. It is too early to say whether we will do an export program on Cruze."
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