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Holden
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Introduction
Corporate Timeline
1856
- Begins as J.A Holden & Co, saddlery business, Adelaide, South Australia
1913
- Produces complete motorcycle sidecar bodies
1914
- Produces its first complete custom-made car body
1917
- Commences large-scale production of car bodies
1918
- Holden & Frost sets up Holden's Motor Body Builders (HMBB)
1924
- Opens Woodville, South Australia - most modern production line in Australia
- Woodville sole local body supplier for GM vehicles
1925
- Produces first closed bodied type cars
- Becomes biggest bodybuilding operation outside North America, Continental Europe
1926
- General Motors Australia (GMA) is formed
1928
- 'Lion-and-stone' emblem first used
1931
- Merge of GMA and HMBB to General Motors-Holden's
1934
- Produces first coupe-utility
1936
- New headquarters, Fishermens Bend, Melbourne
1942
- First Australian company to mass-produce internal combustion engines including Gypsy Major aeroplane, Gray Marine, and a 4-cylinder radial torpedo
1945
- Responds to Australian Federal Government invitation to produce an Australian car
1948
- Launch of Australia's first locally manufactured car by Prime Minister Ben Chifley
1953
- May. Produces its 100,000th Holden, a 48-215(FX)
1956
- January. Produces its 250,000th Holden, an FJ
1957
- Produces first Holden station wagon, based on FE sedan
- Produces its 1 millionth car body
- Operations begin at Lang Lang Proving Ground
1958
- October. Produces its 500,000th Holden, an FC
1962
- Produces 1 millionth Holden, an EJ
1966
- Australian safety first. Fits seat belts on all models
1967
- Launches first small Holden, the Torana
- Exports its 100,000th Holden
1968
- Introduces HK range including Australia's first sports coupe, HK Monaro
- Introduces energy-absorbing steering column to Australia
1969
- Opens first Australian automotive safety design test centre at Lang Lang Proving Ground, Victoria
- Exhibits first Australian-made V8 - the Holden Hurricane experimental car
- Produces its 2 millionth Holden, an HT
1974
- Produces its 3 millionth Holden, an HJ
1978
- October. Launches its first Commodore, the VB
1981
- Sir Laurence Hartnett drives 4 millionth Holden, a VC Commodore, off the line
1983
- Builds its 200,000th engine, and exports its 250,000th by year's end
1990
- Holden produces its fifth millionth vehicle, a VN Commodore
1991
- VN Commodore retains title of Australia's most popular car
1992
- Australian safety first. Introduces anti-lock brakes (ABS)
1993
- Australian safety first. Introduces driver airbag system
1994
- Unveils new corporate identity under single banner of 'Holden'
- VR Commodore tops passenger car market
1995
- Introduces new 3800 ECOTEC V6 engine
1997
- Launches all new VT Commodore - wins Wheels Car of the Year
1998
- Anniversary celebrations to commemorate 50 years since the launch of 'Australia's Own Car' - the 48-215
1999
- Holden launches the all-new WH Statesman and Caprice luxury models
- Holden exports its 3 millionth Family II engine and commences export of WH models to the Middle East
2000
- The advanced ECOmmodore hybrid-electric concept car is unveiled
- As Official Automotive Partner, Holden plays a major role in Sydney 2000 Olympics
- The all-new VU Holden Ute is launched
- Holden announces plans to establish a new V6 engine plant at Fishermans Bend (Vic)
- Record production at Elizabeth (SA) and Fishermans Bend manufacturing plants
- Holden Commodore is Australia's top-selling car for the fifth consecutive year
2001
- The all-new XC Barina and Zafira compact wagon are launched
- The 6 millionth Holden is produced at Elizabeth
- Holden is awarded the Windscreens O'Brien safety award for its side impact research program
- Holden is rated fourth (among Australia's top 100 companies) in Fairfax Good Reputation Index
- The Monaro sports coupe is launched at the Sydney Motor Show
- The XC Barina is named Wheels magazine Car of the Year
- Holden and Kidsafe announce partnership to conduct first-ever national child restraint safety inspection program
- Holden wins total market leadership for 2001 and Commodore is Australia's top-selling car for the sixth consecutive year
2002
- Holden sets all-time sales record for an Australian carmaker, wins total market leadership for 2002
- Commodore is Australia's top selling car for seventh consecutive year
- Launch of new-design VY Commodore and Ute
- All wheel drive production prototype, Cross8, unveiled at Melbourne Motor Show and crossover sports hatch SSX concept launched at Sydney Motor Show
- Holden becomes strategic partner in General Motors Daewoo Auto & Technology Company, taking 42.1 per cent stake in the global company
- Construction of high feature V6 engine plant building completed at Fishermans Bend - start of production planned for October 2003
- Monaro wins the Australian Design Award in the Industrial Design Category and special accolade from Design Institute of Australian in its Industrial Design Selection
- Holden commences child restraint research and test program with Monash University Accident Research Centre and runs first computer brain validation test for world-leading study
- Holden's first major export program to US announced - 18,000 units per year for Monaro coupes prepared as the Pontiac GTO, Middle East export program for coupes also confirmed
- Launch of all wheel drive Cruze
- Announcement of $2 billion capital expenditure program from 2002 to 2006 - program expected to boost 2003 production by 21 per cent
- All-new Combo compact van introduced
- Holden rates fifth amongst Australia's Top 100 companies in Fairfax Reputation Index
- Holden ranked No. 5 in Australia in the Reputation Quotient, a study of corporate reputations by Harris Interactive Australia
- Holden named Australia's most trusted automotive manufacturer by Readers Digest
- Holden Racing Team's Mark Skaife/Jim Richards V8 Supercar wins Bathurst 1000
2003
- Plans announced to employ an extra 1000 people at Vehicle Manufacturing Operations in Elizabeth, SA, with commencement of a third shift
- $200 million redevelopment of Holden's Fishermans Bend precinct announced
- Launch of new generation Rodeo light commercial range in February
- Holden continues emphasis on child safety, initiates free child seat inspection service
- Launch of new generation ZC Vectra range
- WK Caprice and Statesman introduced
- Holden Innovation R&D centre opens
- Turbocharged Astra SRi and Convertible introduced
- Commodore SS Wagon introduced
- Holden announces record 2002 revenues of almost $6 billion
- Launch of 'reborn' Holden One Tonner cab chassis range in May
- Third shift commences at Elizabeth Vehicle Operations in June
- Launch of VY Series II Commodore, Berlina, Calais, Ute, One Tonner and Series III Monaro in August
- Crewman four-door ute introduced
- Adventra all wheel drive crossover wagon launched in September
- October marks 50th anniversary of FJ Holden, 25th year of Commodore production
- Sources:
- General Timeline: Holden Corporate Website
Future models
Current models
The Current model is The Holden Commodore VE.