tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1054375595913283226.post4033265344912103946..comments2024-03-29T17:14:36.552+10:00Comments on drivingandlife: THE HOLDEN BLAME GAME by John CrawfordUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1054375595913283226.post-25197234089011260812020-02-21T19:00:17.188+10:002020-02-21T19:00:17.188+10:00Models as times .... doh .... model lead timesModels as times .... doh .... model lead timesmr2fmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552961460847647780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1054375595913283226.post-21565628383920759412020-02-21T18:59:02.922+10:002020-02-21T18:59:02.922+10:00De Lorean made much of the fact General Motors is ...De Lorean made much of the fact General Motors is a behemoth unable to respond quickly to change. The company's models as times have always been way longer than Ford's, for instance.<br /><br />But the mistakes in Australia were many. At the time they were preparing to close Pagewood, MD Chuck Chapman rang me with a titbit. <br />They had discovered some early cost-benefit analysis documents from the period when they were deciding where to build the plant that was to become Pagewood.<br />One of the alternatives was Newcastle. The ever inquisitive, and very intuitive, Chuck had had his bean counters re-do the figures adding in modern market information.<br />"John, the figures show that had we built the plant in Newcastle and not Sydney we would not now be in the process of closing it.."<br /><br />Factors included the proximity of the steeelworks and two Hunter aluminium smelters, the fact Newcastle is the east coast port closest to the Continental shelf (sea routes) and a relatively uncluttered port with rail virtually alongside the docks and plenty of harbourside land for hard stand, storage.<br />Other things included a pool of highly skilled labour, better access to both the Pacific and New England highways and the opportunity to improve road/rail access direct to the west.mr2fmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552961460847647780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1054375595913283226.post-57354862348177024872020-02-21T10:26:47.518+10:002020-02-21T10:26:47.518+10:00John, Good article yet again, but as always the pr...John, Good article yet again, but as always the press here seem to think the world revolves around Australia. The elephant in the room is the mainly Euro and Californian mandating emission standards that essentially mean EV pushing out ICE. GM pulled out of RHD as an irritant to funding EVs.pastmyusebydatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03805678082165325535noreply@blogger.com