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It's entirely relevant. In the case of Holden, the end of domestic subsidies wasn't a factor in GM's decision to exit RHD. With a historical lens it's obvious t
by simondotau 3y ago
It's entirely relevant. In the case of Holden, the end of domestic subsidies wasn't a factor in GM's decision to exit RHD. With a historical lens it's obvious that GM's decision to exit RHD occurred prior to the moment when the Australian Government announced the end of manufacturer subsidies.
What it did is change Holden's fate. With subsidies still in place, GM might have been able to find a buyer for Holden as they did Vauxhall. Without subsidies, all they could do is gut and strip the domestic Holden corporation of any remaining cash and assets.
- MichaelZuo 3y agoThey could still have found a buyer for Holden, without subsidies, for a nominal $1.
- simondotau 3y agoHolden were, post-subsidies, little more than a domestic marque for imported GM vehicles, and GM were no longer making RHD vehicles. They were a car company which didn't make any cars and had nothing to import. The brand assets are all that remains, and they're worth a lot more than $1. Once all of Holden's warranty/consumer law obligations are fully exhausted, it might be of interest to someone like SAIC or Geely who could repeat what was done to famous British marque MG Motor. Perhaps in a decade, a Chinese automaker will try their luck with a Holden Commodore Sandman EV.