Highlights
1978 - The year the first Holden Commodore rolled off the production line
2.4 million - Approximately how many Commodores were made locally, from 1978 to 2017
94,682 - Holden Commodore peak sales, in 1998
6,000 - Approximately how many Commodores will be sold in 2019
2020 - The end of the line for the Commodore nameplate in Australia
Following news of the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac CT6 this week, Holden too has taken drastic steps by ditching the much-loved Commodore nameplate from its 2020 lineup.
The decision was taken due to slow sales and it brings about the end of a badge which has more than 41 years of history in Australian and New Zealand automotive culture under its belt.
Holden, established in 1948, will retire both the ZB Commodore and the BK Astra from its portfolio next year and concentrate exclusively on SUVs and light commercial vehicles.
Replacing the Kingswood family saloon, the VB Commodore made its debut in Australia back in 1978, and went on to become the country’s best-selling car well into the late Nineties.
Available in several body types including a station wagon and ute, it was loved across the nation but the writing was on the wall when on 2017 – and after 2.4 million were made locally – Australian manufacturing ceased production.
It was replaced with the ZB Commodore, based on the Opel Insignia from Germany which has seen very low sales figures ever since. Just 6,000 are projected to leave dealerships this year – a far cry from 1998, when at the peak of its power, 94,682 new Commodores found happy homes.
