Holden ad leads to calls for boycott
December 24, 2013 4:04pm
Author: David McCowen
http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/hold ... 2zvmm.html

Here to Stay campaign "adds insult to injury".

Holden supporters have sledged the brand’s "here to stay" advertising campaign, which has been described as an insult and led to calls for a boycott.

The manufacturer launched the campaign to remind people that it will continue to sell cars in Australia despite a decision to stop building vehicles locally beyond 2017.

The ad features Holden staff as well as celebrities, including Bathurst 1000 winners Garth Tander and Craig Lowndes, and footballers Scott Pendlebury and Robbie Farah, reminding viewers that “we’re here”, and that the brand will carry on.

But viewers have not responded well to the message, turning to social media to tell Holden it has missed the mark.

Holden’s Facebook page received more than 1000 comments from people criticising the campaign.

Bouka Senior said: “It's like the 'I still want to be friends' line after a break up”.

“The rhetoric being shoved down my throat is pushing me further away,” added Ben Frost.

“You've lost me Holden, just like many of your former loyal customers,” Frost said.

Some people called for a boycott, while others claimed Holden had added insult to injury.

David Pearson told the manufacturer he found the ad “utterly disgusting”.

“I’m here to stay as well but I’m also here to tell you I’ll never buy another Holden vehicle ever again!” Pearson said.

A woman who claimed to be a current worker for the manufacturer said the campaign hurt.

“As a current Holden employee who has just endured the shut down announcement, I have to say this is the most insulting advert to Holden employees,” she said.

“If the Colorado and ‘Craptiva’ are anything to go by, then Holden will not have a future here in any capacity as we do not import quality. We import cheap!”

Holden spokesman George Svigos said the ad was produced to clear up “ill informed speculation about the future of the brand".

“We understand the theme can be a hard message for some to hear,” he said.

“But it is an important campaign to continue the confidence in our brand.

“The Holden brand is here to stay.”

How long before people are buying cars from Muirs, Suttons or Heartland Chevrolet?

GM is USA and GMH is Australia so if the car is not made hear i cant see it staying GMH for long.
And like she said we import cheap not quality.Great Wall quality.lol.
Glad iav got a first Gen.As soon as the first s,,t import GMH's hit our shores it wont take long for all the Aussie made Holden's pricers to hit the roof.
You pay penuts you get monkey's doing your work.

About 2-3 years away I hear.

If this does come to pass, one the strongest brands in Aussie history will be consigned to the bin.

You can tell its just a matter of time that the best thing Australia's ever made and done is slowly coming to an end.
If its not made hear it's not the same.
You would think we would keep our Aussie icon alive.

Going the same way as Vegemite, Arnott's and Rosella.

COXI

If only we drove on the right side of the road like most of the world do. The converters are going to be doing some good business soon converting Camaros. Will be a very sad day when the next car I buy I will be forced to get a Korean casket.

Apart from my Hiace work van i have my VH Commy,A tough as GU Patrol and a N15 SSS Pusar so iam in no need for another car any time soon thank God.