Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux has denied his brand will trim its Commodore range but has confirmed it is seeking to decrease complexity in its manufacturing operations.
Rumours had been circulating that Holden would seek to trim its Commodore model lineup in 2012, but Devereaux has poured water on the claims. According to the Holden boss, the company is, however, undertaking an examination of the options offered across the Commodore range.
Devereux stated the exercise was not a one-off, but an ongoing process. He noted that it was especially important given the ramp-up of Cruze hatch and sedan production alongside Commodore at the GM Elizabeth (SA) plant.
Speaking at yesterday's unveiling of the resurrected Hurricane show car, Devereux told motoring.com.au that there were no plans to alter the Commodore lineup or model walk.
"I don’t even know where the source of the question would be," a surprised Devereux said.
"We’re not changing trim levels and whatnot, but we are trying to rationalise low runners [i.e.: options that are not often specified].
"[This is] Just basic stuff. This is stuff that we do every year so maybe someone’s gotten onto that," Devereux opined.
The Holden boss continued: "We’re trying to make it easier for people to order a car... We have a lot of things that might be pure 'free for all' options [but] they’ll make it more difficult for the plant to build from a complexity standpoint. But [controlling] that’s just being smart about how people order a car and what they want on a car."
Devereux says Holden will seek to combine 'low runner' options into packs but not to the extent that all options will be pack-based.
"We’ll still offer 'free for all' options but as you get Cruze into that plant... Utes, Commodores, Caprices, wagons, hatches – five, six, seven different things you’re building right down the same line... You've got to... balance that stuff. "
"You can’t make too many one-off combinations orderable even -- otherwise dealers don’t have the product somebody wants.... So we’ll rationalise low running options and combine them in, you know, packages. Complexity is a killer for quality."
motoring.com.au asked whether, as the Cruze is brought into the plant, it would be necessary to be more vigilant on complexity for complexity’s sake. According to Devereaux, “Yeah, you have to... Because you need to build a better car and you’ve got to make the job of the operator, who’s got different cars going down the line [easier]…"