Holden Axed in Australia

The time has finally come - in February 2020, the GM Grim Reaper has claimed its latest victim, the famous Holden brand, which has been a staple in Australian motoring history since 1948.

The Holden Commodore was Australia’s best selling vehicle for 15 years in a row, but a changing market with more demand for fuel-efficient engines and SUVs drove down the number of Commodore sales until the locally produced models wrapped up production in 2017.

By 2019, Holden’s new car sales were the lowest they had been since 1954, with some vehicles sitting on dealership forecourts for over 12 months before being sold at a massive discount.

Looking at the numbers, it was only a matter of time before GM pulled the plug on the Holden brand here in Australia - but what does this mean if you own a near new Holden, or are in need of servicing for your Holden?

Fortunately, GM has announced that all warranties on Holden vehicles will not be affected, and recalls will be carried out by Authorised Holden Service Centres (previously called Holden Dealerships) if required.

Servicing can also be carried out by these service centres, but a better option may be to use a local independent mechanic, such as the 1,700 workshops and mobile mechanics on AutoGuru.

Having your Holden serviced by a local independent workshop or mobile mechanic from AutoGuru will not affect your warranty, and gives you the certainty that your Holden will continue to provide reliable motoring in the uncertain times ahead for Holden Service Centres.

GM has promised 10 years of parts availability for the retired Holden models, but many quality aftermarket parts are already available for less money, and are more readily available than their genuine equivalents - these parts will not void your warranty and will save you money and stress in the long run.

Brands like Bendix offer replacement parts that meet or exceed Holden standards, keeping your warranty intact and more money in your back pocket.

So, when your Holden is due for servicing or repairs, give AutoGuru a go and see how much you could save!