Holden EJ |
| The Millionth Holden |
 |
(circa 1962) |
Australia. The time – 1945. The Challenge – To
establish a full scale automotive manufacturing industry.
General Motors Holden’s accepted that challenge,
and in 1948 Prime Minister Chifley launched Australia’s
own car – Holden.
That was a million Holden’s
ago, for on October the 25th, 1962, the millionth Holden
came off the assembly line to mark one of the most
important milestones ever in the history of Australian
industry. From 10 a day in 1948 to 600 a day in 1962,
that’s the measure of Holden’s progress
and popularity.
Holden is still the only car designed
in Australia, for Australia – not just adapted
from an overseas model, but Australian through and
through; Its Australian content is 99 percent.
Since
Holden was launched more than 75 million pounds has
been spent on expansion programs to enlarge and improve
GMH facilities throughout the 10 interstate plants
operating today.
Holden too has been exported to 46
overseas territories, earned more than 20 million pounds
in foreign exchange. At the same time it’s kept
in this country some 490 million pounds that would
otherwise of been required for overseas exchange to
purchase a similar number of imported cars.
It’s
meant the payment to over 4,300 independent suppliers
of some 500 million pounds for materials, parts and
services. It’s involved such purchases as 5 million
tires, 70 million forgings, 6 million gallons of paint
products, 661 thousand tons of iron and steel.
It’s meant the payment in wages and salaries
to GMH employees alone of 220 million pounds, and more
than that amount to people involved in Holden production
outside GMH. Holden has helped Australia to industrial
maturity; it’s provided work for thousands of
Australian’s, both old and new; stepped up engineering
standards and made “Made in Australia” a
new status symbol among the nations of the world. Holden – Australia’s
own car, all one million of them, with the look of
leadership wherever they go. |
