Editing Holden (section)

=== 1980s ===
[[File:1987 Holden Camira (JD) SLE sedan (2015-07-14) 01.jpg|thumb|After a successful start, sales of the [[Holden Camira|Camira]], Holden's version of the global "J-car" platform slumped significantly. This placed a huge financial burden on the Australian subsidiary, which was already operating at a loss at this time.]]

The 1980s were challenging for Holden and the Australian automotive industry. The Australian Government tried to revive the industry with the [[Button car plan]], which encouraged car makers to focus on producing fewer models at higher, more economical volumes, and to export cars.<ref>[[#Wright (1998)|Wright (1998)]], p. 277.</ref> The decade opened with the shut-down of the Pagewood, New South Wales production plant and introduction of the [[light commercial vehicle|light commercial]] [[Holden Rodeo|Rodeo]], sourced from Isuzu in Japan.<ref name = "milestones"/> The Rodeo was available in both two- and four-wheel drive [[chassis cab]] models with a choice of petrol and diesel powerplants.<ref>[[#Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)|Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)]]: Part Two, p. 82.</ref> The range was updated in 1988 with the TF series, based on the [[Isuzu TF]].<ref name = "milestones"/> Other cars sourced from Isuzu during the 1980s were the four-wheel drive [[Isuzu Bighorn|Jackaroo]] (1981), the [[Isuzu Fargo#Holden Shuttle|Shuttle]] (1982) van and the [[Isuzu Piazza|Piazza]] (1986) three-door sports hatchback.<ref>[[#Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)|Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)]]: Part Two, p. 87, 95.</ref> The second generation [[Holden Gemini]] from 1985 was also based on an Isuzu design, although, its manufacture was undertaken in Australia.<ref>[[#"Reborn!" (1985)|"Reborn!" (1985)]], p. 19. "We have been waiting a long time for this front wheel drive replacement for the original Gemini. The Isuzu people have not exactly been speedy signing off the development for the RB, or what has been known as the R-car...".</ref>

In 1981, the Fishermans Bend engine plant began production of the [[GM Family II engine|Family II]] - part of a global engine programme for GM's compact vehicles. The plant supplied the engine locally for the Camira model, and to export markets - primarily to GM's plants in Europe for installation in Opel/Vauxhall vehicles.

While GM Australia's commercial vehicle range had originally been mostly based on [[Bedford Vehicles|Bedford]] products, these had gradually been replaced by [[Isuzu]] products as the Bedford brand was being retired in Britain. This process began in the 1970s and by 1982 Holden's commercial vehicle arm no longer offered any Bedford products.<ref name="truck">{{cite magazine |magazine=TRUCK |date=May 1982 |ref=truck82 |page=36 |last=Mullett |first=Chris |title=Intertruck: Australia |location=London, UK |publisher=FF Publishing}}</ref>

The new [[Holden WB]] commercial vehicles and the [[Statesman WB]] limousines were introduced in 1980. However, the designs, based on the HQ and updated HJ, [[Holden HX|HX]] and [[Holden HZ|HZ]] models from the 1970s were less competitive than similar models in Ford's lineup. Thus, Holden abandoned those vehicle classes altogether in 1984.<ref name = "Strauss 11"/> Sales of the Commodore also fell, with the effects of the [[1979 energy crisis]] lessening, and for the first time the Commodore lost ground to the Ford Falcon. Sales in other segments also suffered when competition from Ford intensified, and other Australian manufacturers: [[Mitsubishi Motors Australia|Mitsubishi]], [[Nissan]] and [[Toyota]] gained market share.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kenwright |first=Joe |date=29 July 2006 |url=http://www.carsales.com.au/advice/2006/large-passenger/holden/commodore/crossing-the-lion-7422 |title=Crossing the Lion |publisher=[[Carsales]] |access-date=16 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309064055/http://www.carsales.com.au/advice/2006/large-passenger/holden/commodore/crossing-the-lion-7422 |archive-date=9 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> When released in 1982, the Camira initially generated good sales, which later declined because buyers considered the 1.6-litre engine underpowered, and the car's build and ride quality below-average.<ref name = "Robinson 24"/> The Camira lasted just seven years, and contributed to Holden's accumulated losses of over A$500&nbsp;million by the mid-1980s.<ref>[[#Robinson (2006)|Robinson (2006)]], p. 26.</ref>

[[File:1988 Holden Calais (VN) sedan (2015-07-14) 01.jpg|thumb|left|The second generation Commodore ''([[Holden Commodore (VN)#Calais|VN Calais]] pictured)'' overcame the previous generation's width problems.]]

In 1984, Holden introduced the [[Holden Commodore (VK)|VK Commodore]], with significant styling changes from the previous [[Holden Commodore (VH)|VH]]. The Commodore was next updated in 1986 as the [[Holden Commodore (VL)|VL]], which had new front and rear styling.<ref>[[#Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)|Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)]]: Part Two, p. 89–94.</ref> Controversially, the VL was powered by the 3.0-litre [[Nissan RB engine#RB30|Nissan RB30]] six-cylinder engine and had a Nissan-built, electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. Holden even went to court in 1984 to stop local motoring magazine ''[[Wheels (magazine)|Wheels]]'' from reporting on the matter.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Car |date=September 1984 |page=9 |title=Oracle: Headlines | editor-last = Cropley | editor-first = Steve |publisher=FF Publishing |location=London, UK}}</ref> The engine change was necessitated by the legal requirement that all new cars sold in Australia after 1986 had to consume unleaded petrol.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 June 2007 |url=http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/air/caring_for_our_air/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213160823/http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/air/caring_for_our_air/ |archive-date=13 December 2009 |title=Caring for our air |publisher=[[Government of Queensland]] |access-date=23 August 2008}}</ref> Because it was unfeasible to convert the existing six-cylinder engine to run on unleaded fuel, the Nissan engine was chosen as the best engine available. However, changing currency exchange rates doubled the cost of the engine and transmission over the life of the VL.<ref>[[#Robinson (2006)|Robinson (2006)]], p. 25.</ref> The decision to opt for a Japanese-made transmission led to the closure of the Woodville, South Australia assembly plant. Emboldened by the apparent sign of turnaround, GM paid off Holden's mounted losses of A$780&nbsp;million on 19 December 1986.<ref name = "Robinson 27"/> At GM headquarters' request, Holden was then reorganised and recapitalised, separating the engine and car manufacturing divisions in the process.<ref name = "Robinson 27">[[#Robinson (2006)|Robinson (2006)]], p. 27. "...on 19 December 1986 GM paid off Holden's accumulated losses of around A$780m, leaving the company free of debt. This was a new beginning, but GM insisted the company be split in two..."</ref> This involved the splitting of Holden into ''Holden's Motor Company'' (HMC) and ''Holden's Engine Company'' (HEC).<ref>[[#Davis, Davis (1988)|Davis, Davis (1988)]], p. 91. "In December 1986, GM-H announced a major restructure of its activities replacing the existing General Motors-Holden's Ltd with two sister firms, Holden's Motor Company (HMC) and Holden's Engine Company (HEC)."</ref> For the most part, car bodies were now manufactured at Elizabeth, with engines as before, confined to the Fishermans Bend plant in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The engine manufacturing business was successful, building four-cylinder ''[[Family II engine|Family II]]'' engines for use in cars built overseas.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 November 2004 |url=http://www.autoweb.com.au/A_103082/cms/newsarticle.html |title=Holden Reaches Golden Milestone With 50 Years of Exports |work=AutoWeb |publisher=Web Publications |access-date=23 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807180742/http://www.autoweb.com.au/A_103082/cms/newsarticle.html |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> The final phase of the Commodore's recovery strategy involved the 1988 [[Holden Commodore (VN)|VN]], a significantly wider model powered by the American-designed, Australian-assembled 3.8-litre [[Buick V6 engine]].<ref name = "Robinson 22, 26-27"/>

Holden began to sell the subcompact [[Suzuki Swift]]-based [[Holden Barina|Barina]] in 1985. The Barina was launched concurrently with the [[Suzuki]]-sourced [[Suzuki Jimny#SJ413/Samurai|Holden Drover]], followed by the [[Suzuki Carry|Scurry]] later on in 1985.<ref>[[#Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)|Davis, Kennedy, Kennedy (2007)]]: Part Two, p. 91.</ref> In the previous year, [[Nissan Pulsar]] hatchbacks were rebadged as the [[Holden Astra]], as a result of a deal with Nissan.<ref>[[#Earl (2002)|Earl (2002)]], p. 29.</ref> This arrangement ceased in 1989 when Holden entered a new alliance with Toyota, forming a new company: [[United Australian Automobile Industries]] (UAAI). UAAI resulted in Holden selling rebadged versions of Toyota's [[Toyota Corolla|Corolla]] and [[Toyota Camry|Camry]], as the [[Holden Nova]] and [[Holden Apollo|Apollo]] respectively, with Toyota re-branding the Commodore as the Lexcen.<ref>[[#Earl (2002)|Earl (2002)]], p. 27–28.</ref>
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