Holden considers HSV export
Export HSV Commodores could come direct from the factory
Extracted article by Bruce Newton, 21 February 2003, www.goauto.com.au

EXPORT versions of HSV Commodores could be assembled at Holden's Elizabeth plant, rather than the go-fast shop's Clayton headquarters in Melbourne.

The plan is being developed by Holden's director of performance products and racing Ray Borrett, and could see left-hand drive HSVs being built in the area at the plant where the Holden By Design accessories operation is currently located.

HSV boss John Crennan said the move was under consideration but had not been signed off, nor which particular markets may get their cars direct from the factory.

He did confirm a late 2003 target date to launch HSV in the Middle East.

The plan is in no way linked to the TWR Group Limited being placed in receivership last week, or to speculation denied by Holden that it may purchase HSV.

It is however evidence of Holden's increasing involvement in HSV's strategy - other exam- ples include last year's appointment of Borrett and the subsequent emergence of the $215,000 HRT 427 super-coupe (see separate story).

A series of think-tanks and high-level meetings over the last year or more have developed a strategy for HSV to grow to a volume of 10,000 vehicles or more, a move which would require substantial exports and the possible develop- ment of four and six-cylinder models.

Last year HSV sold 3500 cars in Australia and New Zealand.

Holden sources said the Elizabeth assembly plan was seen as a good way to get HSV exports underway, after a couple of years where they had been mooted but the launch date had been consistently pushed back.

It could also ease the way for potential exports to the USA, where Holden believes sales volume for a hyper Pontiac GTO could be more than 3000 per year.

"We are close on a Middle East solution and we think we can get a US program up and going too. But we have to own it. Holden has to own it," a senior Holden source told GoAuto.

"From the corporation's point of view, from Bob Lutz's point of view, Pontiac's point of view, they are not interested in something called HSV. They just want to buy cars from Holden."

* Both Holden and HSV are agreed that TWR Group Limited going into receivership should have no impact on the hi-po Commodore com- pany's operations.

TWR Group and some subsidiaries including TWR International Holdings were placed in the hands of receivers Price Waterhouse Coopers late last week in the UK.

The failure has been blamed on last year's collapse of the Arrows F1 team, which TWR owns.

HSV, which is the trading name of Premoso Pty Ltd, is 100 per cent owned by a UK-based company called Riverson Pty Ltd, which has no connection to TWR Group, except - GoAuto understands - for the involvement of TWR boss Tom Walkinshaw in both.

Holden has no equity investment in Premoso, although three Holden board members sit on the board, along with three HSV representatives and an independent.

Mr Crennan said he did not know who was involved financially in Riverson or why the ownership of Premoso was transferred to it from TWR International Holdings three years, although he said he presumed it was for "tax purposes".

Holden spokesman Jason Laird said Holden was not actively considering a buy-out of Riverson to take control of HSV at this stage.

"We couldn't rule anything in or out were cir- cumstances to change, but at this point we are comfortable with the structure as it stands. It has been very successful for 16 years."