The week started with rather shocking news for the Australians: General Motors pulls the plug from Holden. A big blow to the wide range of fans that the brand has. Rival Ford now comes with a completely different sound for the Australian market.
In Australia you are traditionally either a Holden driver or a Ford driver. Of course there are numerous brands besides these two represented, but Holden and Ford are the two big names Down Under. Also in motor sport. It is all the more painful for Holden fans that their brand may now disappear, now that parent company GM is withdrawing. Ford, the big competitor, lets Ford Australia President Kay Hart know that it will remain loyal to the Australian market. In fact, she says ABC that Ford wants to invest further in local production and market.
Of course, Hart cannot promise the Australians that Ford will always remain active there, but for the time being there are just ‘big investments’ on the program. This year it is still making an investment of 500 million Australian dollars. For the roughly 600 employees who lose their jobs when Holden disappears, Ford Australia also has good news; they may be able to work at Ford in due course. Ford is already the largest car manufacturer in Australia, with 2,000 employees.