What Happened to Holden? 🇦🇺 | The Rise and Fall of an Australian Icon

[00:00:00]For decades, Holden wasn't just a car company. It was Australia on four wheels.

[00:00:05]From the iconic Kingswood to the legendary Commodore, Holden became part of Australian culture.

[00:00:12]Families drove them, tradies relied on them, and generations grew up dreaming of owning one.

[00:00:18]At its peak, Holden employed thousands of Australians and built hundreds of thousands of vehicles right here at home.

[00:00:24]But then everything changed.

[00:00:27]As global competition increased, imported cars became cheaper and more fuel-efficient.

[00:00:32]Manufacturing costs in Australia continued to rise, making it harder for local factories to compete with overseas production.

[00:00:39]By the 2000s, Holden was losing money.

[00:00:41]Sales were falling and Australians were increasingly choosing imported brands like Toyota, Mazda, and Hyundai. In 2017, Holden shut down its last Australian manufacturing plant in South Australia, ending nearly 70 years of local car production.

[00:00:57]But the story didn't end there. Just 3 years later, in 2020, General Motors announced that the Holden brand itself would be retired completely.

[00:01:06]For many Australians, it felt like the end of an era.

[00:01:10]A company that once symbolized Australian industry, pride, and identity had disappeared.

[00:01:16]Today, Holden exists only in memories, classic car shows, and garages across the country.

[00:01:22]But one question remains.

[00:01:24]Did Australia lose more than just a car company?