 Today marks the beginning of a year
of commemorative activities celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the introduction in 1948 of
Australia's first fully locally produced car.The original Holden, designated
48/215 but popularly known as the FX, was
officially launched by the Prime Minister of the
day, Ben Chifley, on 29 November 1948. The
company plans a year of golden anniversary
events, culminating in a special celebration on
29 November 1998.
Holden Chairman and
Managing Director, Jim Wiemels, said that Holden
was justifiably proud of the significant
contribution 'Australia's Own Car' had made to
post-war development and of the unique role
Holdens have played in Australian life throughout
those 50 years.
"We look forward to a
very exciting fiftieth year. Many of the
initiatives Holden has planned will celebrate
great moments and models of the past, while
others will reflect a strong focus on the
future," he said.
"We intend to release
special commemorative models right across the
Holden range, and there will be an emphasis on
community-based activities throughout
metropolitan and rural Australia.
 "Holden's original charter was
based upon meeting the needs of a domestic
vehicle market still in its infancy. Through the
years, the growth of the company kept pace with
that of the nation, and successive models enjoyed
extraordinarily high levels of acceptance.
Today's VT Commodore clearly continues that
tradition - and Holden's fmancial performance
continues to lead the industry," Jim Wiemels
said.
"The cumulative impact
made by Holden on the Australian automotive
market is immense. Now that our vision
encompasses the global marketplace, we have
ambitious plans to emulate that achievement on a
much broader scale," he continued.
"I think it is
entirely appropriate that production of the first
Australian-built Holden Vectra, which will be
exported in volume to Asia Pacific markets, will
commence right in the middle of this anniversary
year. It is a milestone event that could prove
equally as significant, 50 years down the track,
as the birth of the Holden 48/215.
"Because of its
particularly Australian character and heritage,
the Holden brand long ago acquired the status of
an icon. It is a unique and enviable corporate
asset. I hope that Australians in general and
Holden fans in particular will join with us in
the coming year to celebrate its history and to
salute its success," Jim Wiemels concluded.
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