Vale Holden: How America’s General Motors sold us the Australian dream
Jack Fahey looks back at Holden’s corporate comms and PR approaches in this crossposting from The Conversation.
General Motors has announced the Holden brand will be “retired” in 2021.
This week’s announcement has been a long time coming. The Holden brand has been in a state of terminal decline since General Motors ceased local manufacturing in October 2017. A once-dominant presence in the everyday life of Australians, Holden became simply one of many imported cars on offer for the Australian consumer.
In 1926, when General Motors set up an Australian subsidiary, management immediately attempted to integrate the firm into the Australian community, importing General Motors public relations practices to Australia.
