Holden dealers will deliver confidence to Opel

Holden’s double-backflip on the importation of Opel-sourced product does not pose an issue in terms of consumer confidence. That’s the viewpoint of General Motors’ President of International Operations, Stefan Jacoby.

In conjunction with new Holden boss, Gerry Dorizas, Jacoby announced the return of three Opel models and the debut of another to the local marketplace this morning (May 1). All will be badged as Holdens and will go on sale in 2015.

Jacoby in part sidestepped motoring.com.au’s question regarding the problems the introduction, removal, re-introduction, removal and re-introduction of Opel-produced cars posed Down Under, but then suggested Holden’s wider footprint would be the impetus the models needed to regain sales.

“First of all, these are high-performance vehicles. You can have a look at these cars -- these cars perfectly fit into the Australian market,” Jacoby told motoring.com.au.

“Australian consumers like high performance; they like hatchbacks -- so these are cars that are really fitting into the market. The Cascada [folding hardtop] is a new segment also attractive in Australia -- of course it has a [position in a] niche, low-volume segment,” he commented.

“But the difference is we have a strong Holden brand and the second difference is we have a very competitive dealer network all over the country. That actually will support the sales of these vehicles,” Jacoby stated.

The GM International boss defended the decision to pull Opel from the marketplace in August last year less than 12 months after its launch under its own branding.

“I think it is the right approach in Australia to count on Holden. Holden is the Australian brand within the GM family.

“I think it was the good decision to pull back Opel and to have a restart with Holden,” he stated.

Jacoby described Holden’s future as a brand “with global-sourced product base for the future”.

He confirmed this would “include products from Europe” but refused to confirm the arrival of more Astra variants.

“I don’t comment on future product programs but speculation is speculation...

“Please stay tuned. More will come definitely,” he said.