Holden to develop Chinese market vehicles

Holden has gained a foothold in the Chinese market today, with the announcement that it will develop two new vehicles for Shanghai General Motors (SGM) and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC).

The local manufacturer has entered into what is described in Holden's press material as a "long-term partnership" with PATAC, which is jointly owned by Holden's parent company, General Motors, and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC). PATAC is the base for automotive engineering services provided to SGM and its Chinese affiliates and the role of developing two market-specific vehicles for China is being outsourced to Holden's designers and engineers based on the company's Technical Centre in Port Melbourne. Mechanicals and platforms for the new vehicles are expected to be GM standard components.

“Holden is a valuable source of expertise within GM International Operations and we’re one of only seven fully-integrated design, engineering and manufacturing operations in the GM world,” said Holden MD, Mike Devereux (pictured).

“We have worked with SGM and PATAC in recent years on smaller projects, but this is the first significant, long-term project to partner our organisations. It gives the Holden workforce a great sense of pride to work on global vehicle programs like this and to see Australian design, engineering and manufacturing expertise exported around the world.”

The news of Holden's new agreement with SGM is a positive sign, based on remarks made around this time last year by former Holden exec and now China-based GM honcho, Kevin Wale.

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