8.2 Australia

• 8.2.1. Holden

• In 1931 General Motors purchased the Holden Company and formed “General Motors–Holden's Ltd”.

• Between 1948 and 1953 Holden produced “Australia’s own car”, the 2,170 cc, 48/215 (FX) model. Just over 120,000 were made.

• In 1953 Holden introduced the 2.1 litre FJ model, which was produced until 1956.

• The Kingswood models were first introduced in 1968 and were produced until 1985. Other models include the Belmont sedan version (1968-77), Premier (about 1968-78) and the 5 litre luxury Brougham. The Monaro, a two-door variant of the Kingswood, was produced from 1968 until the mid-late 1970s.

• Cars produced during the 1960s and 1970s included the Torana (1967) and the eight-cylinder Sunbird (1976).

• The Commodore (VB), a four door sedan, was introduced in 1978, with a station wagon version briefly available in 1979. With sales of nearly 96,000, it became Australia’s top selling car in 1979.
  
  

• The car was still in production in 2007, with fourteen different variants having been produced since its original introduction. By 2006 2.4 million had been produced.

• The VE Commodore launched in 2006 was the first car to be completely  designed and engineered in Australia.

• Since the 1980s Holden have produced a range of vehicles in cooperation with Suzuki, Toyota, Daewoo, Opel and Toyota.

• In 2005 the company became known as GM Holden Ltd.

• Other models produced in 2007 include the Barina, Tigra, Viva, Astra and Epica.