Charismatic and outspoken General Motors executive Bob Lutz has breathed new life into Holden's hopes of keeping its lucrative export deal to the United States alive. The new marketing boss of the reborn GM says the Commodore is "too good to waste" and is working on making sure it continues as part of the company's North American line-up.
Having originally been slated to retire at the end of the year Lutz is instead in charge of marketing for the new GM. The former global product chief is a big fan of Holden and played a role in getting both the Monaro and Commodore export deals to the USA under the Pontiac umbrella. But with Pontiac having been put to rest under the GM bankruptcy proceedings it appeared the G8 deal was over too, and with it a vital piece of Holden's export program.
GM CEO Fritz Henderson appeared to pour cold water on speculation that the G8 would continue as a Chevrolet last month (more here) but it appears Lutz has other ideas. He has told American publication Automobile Magazine that he wants the Commodore rebadged as a Chevrolet Caprice.
"The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet," Lutz said. "It is kind of too good to waste."
Holden already exports the Commodore and long-wheelbase Statesman to the Middle East as the Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice, so getting such a deal up and running should pose little problem to the team at Fishermans Bend.
There is also significant potential for Holden and GM to tap into the highly lucrative law enforcement sector with a Chevrolet Caprice police special. As previously broken by the Carsales Network (more here), Ford is phasing out the ancient Crown Victoria model leaving law enforcement agencies looking for roughly 60,000 new rear-wheel drive, large sedans as replacements.
For its part Holden is staying mum. Holden Product Communications Manager, Kate Lonsdale told the Carsales Network the company didn't have anything to announce on the export front, but she didn't rule anything out in the future.
"Obviously there is a lot happening at GM at the moment," Lonsdale said. "But we've not got anything to announce at the moment. We're always focused on export opportunities, nothing's changed."
Stay tuned...
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