Holden to get a bigger slice of the American Pie
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18 December 2007
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A symbol of the great American dream – The Pontiac – will be born, bred and manufactured in Australia, with the first fleet of Holden’s new Commodore-based Pontiac G8 cars shipped to the USA today.
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Victoria’s Industry and Trade Minister, Theo Theophanous said the $35million project was particularly good news for Victoria which is home to GM’s Global Rear Wheel Drive architecture team - the group responsible for the development of the VE Commodore, Statesman and the new G8 Pontiac engine.
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“The Victorian Government is committed to helping the industry build on its technological expertise and develop new export opportunities – today’s shipment shows this approach paying off for the automotive industry and the local economy.
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“This is a global coup for the automotive industry reinforcing the strength of the excellence of our automotive engineering and design. Overall the project is set to add a minimum of $20 million a year to Victoria’s economy
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“With the engines for this new car coming out of Victoria, very soon thousands of Americans will be driving what essentially is an Australian vehicle with a Victorian heart and soul,” Mr Theophanous said.
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Federal Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, said he was committed to lifting Australia’s productivity and export performance. The Federal Government will also conduct a broad-ranging review of the car industry to start early next year to ensure that it remains competitive into the future.
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“Holden shows that with the right product, people and policies, Australian manufacturers can succeed,” Mr Crean said.
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