Final Holden Commodore Assembled With The End of Manufacturing in Australia

GM Holden today celebrated nearly 70 years of proud manufacturing heritage with the final Holden Commodore rolling off the Elizabeth line today at 10.45am (Adelaide time). A private ceremony for employees was held today to mark Holden’s proud manufacturing history and pay tribute to the generations of hard-working men and women who literally built the Holden legend.

From the very first Holden 48-215 to roll off the Fishermans Bend production line on 29 November 1948, to the final VFII Commodore Redline to come out of the Elizabeth factory on 20 October 2017, Holden has been a part of the fabric of Australia and that’s an honoured position that the Lion brand is committed to keeping for many years to come.

Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Bernhard, said: “Treating our people with dignity and respect was always our number one priority during this transition and we’re all proud we were able to achieve that, we see it as recognition of their dedicated service over the years. With 85 per cent of all workers to date successfully transitioning, we’ve worked closely with our people to support them.
“Holden also appreciates the partnership and assistance of the state and federal governments, along with the unions, over many years.

“Right after supporting our people comes ensuring we set Holden up for success for many years to come. The best way we can honour our people and our heritage is by building a successful future and that’s exactly what we’ll be focused on when Monday rolls around.

“Today, however, is about paying tribute to the generations of men and women across Holden and our supply network who have given so much to our company. Holden is the icon it is today only because of these passionate people. On behalf of everyone at Holden, I thank you for your service from the bottom of my heart,” said Mr Bernhard.

Holden’s award-winning employee transition centre will remain open on the Elizabeth site for at least two years’ post factory-closure to ensure all Holden and supply chain employees have the best possible chance to successfully transition.

Holden’s Executive Director of Manufacturing, Richard Phillips, paid tribute to the people and achievements of the Elizabeth plant: “The passion and dedication of the team here is second to none, it has been an honour to work alongside them. In the final years of production, we have been building categorically the best-quality cars to ever roll out of this plant, and our last car was our best. Together we achieved a string of productivity and quality awards in recent times, doing so during the closure period is testament to the skills, professionalism and dedication of the team.”

Looking to the future, Holden will remain a diversified business and a powerhouse of the Australian automotive industry for many years to come. Employing approximately 1000 direct employees in Melbourne and across national zone offices, Holden will also retain its highly-skilled Design and Engineering teams, working on local and global vehicle and transportation programs. This includes retention of Holden’s world-renowned Design Studios and the famous Lang Lang vehicle Proving Ground near Melbourne in Victoria.

This is in addition to the nearly 6000 people employed across Holden’s 200-strong national dealer network, ensuring Holden’s customers are continued to be looked after and all warranty and spare parts needs continue to be met as they always have been.

[minecraftperson]

‘This won’t be the end of Holden, will it?’ Famous last words

[reyperez]

Purchased a 2014 & 2017 both Chevrolet SS but we know it's a Holden, thanks for building such a great car.

[fendushi]

I'm still crying after all these years.

[davidtranmedia]

Thanks for building my 2017 chevy ss.
Red with red calipers like the last commodore yall built.

[StreetspecTV]

What a slap in the face of the Australian public by GM, don't want to build cars here but still want to take our money, and dump garbage imports here, the name Holden must die. RIP Holden.

[tegretolmg]

Thanks for the many great childhood memories of various different Holden cars my parents owned over the yrs the last one was a White 1995 Holden VS Commodore most of my family are obsessed with the Holden brand during that time
farewell Holden u did Australia very proud indeed :)

[davidmathersonparanormal]

To my Australian brothers, Thanks for making these great Holden Commodores. Sorry to tell you that all the presses, welding and ancillary machines have now been shipped from your Holden factory in Elizabeth SA to our GM Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly where the new Chevy SS will be built in 2021 with a minor cosmetic makeover from the 2017 model which was built in Australia. In years to come it is possible that these amazing cars will be exported back to Australia from the USA. How mixed up is this? I have driven the Chevy SS and I believe it to be the best 4 door car ever built in the world with its 415hp LS3 V8. Take care.., David Matherson

[jwood]

I love my new SSV Redline, and I love Holden but make no mistake, they are dead. Hearing the BS about the "Exciting future" just feels disrespectful to the workers, like Australia isn't good enough to employ, but Australian $$$ is good enough to take.

[paul-sparky-sparr]

It's the end of an era, a moment so great.
We've seen Australia at it's best, since nineteen-fortyeight.
One day we'll look back with a smile and say:
"The best times in our lives, were those HOLDEN days..."
(Adam Harvey)
Farewell You AUSSIE Icon, from a fan 14.000 k's away in northern Germany...😟

[falcon]

So happy I had the opportunity to get my Redline in 2016. Awesome car to drive

[captainkaos]

To all Americans drive your chev SS s aka Commodores with pride

[demonknight]

I won’t be cheering if I was one of those workers

[ryancowell]

That is so depressing. AWhat a sexy car. RIP Holden. Love from USA. :'(

[BrandonIngrassia]

What a beautiful car. And I can’t get one.

[LadsOfTheSouth]

"To make sure that Holdens are still Holdens" ya ok

[davidfessler]

Just make sure you provide
enough parts for all of us. We’re
going to need them down the road.

[Engineer]

Didn't know Holden had stopped. I did a road trip through Australia in 2009 in a Holden Commodore VP with a V6 engine. About 50000km. I remember drifting around through the dirt nearby Coober Pedy, that car could do that just by engine power from standstill. Some kid saw it and started cheering. Saw so many things and experienced so much in it. I wish i brought that car back to Europe as a souvenir. Today i looked on the Holden website, couldn't find their catalog, and they wrote something about "x-many cars still on the road". It's unfortunate. It was like an Australian icon.

[volksdeutschewaffenss]

sorry mate they wont be holdens any more, holden are finished, designing what a new commodore its already designed in germany, change shockers and badges now its a commodore, i dont think so . RIP holden

[ritagoldman]

It's the final Australia rolling, too

[neilfrasersmith]

It's a pity the workers taking photos of the last Holden Commodore didn't think it might be a good idea to buy it. It just sold in 2021 for $750, 000.