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Holden Cruze wagon may be built here

  • By Paul Gover
  • Carsguide
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    Holden is waiting before it confirms its ongoing assembly plans for the existing Cruze models.

The Holden Cruze wagon could definitely be moving into Adelaide in 2013.

A Cruze wagon is about to be unveiled in Europe and is already looking like a potential addition to the production line at Elizabeth as Holden's small-car assembly moves towards top gear.

It will not be available for import sales until the start of next year but Holden admits it is looking seriously at eventually putting it into its local factory alongside the Cruze wagon and hatch.

"Absolutely we could build it and we are looking at putting it into the plant," Holden spokesperson, Emily Perry, tells Carsguide. "We definitely will look at it, but due to the complexity already we're not sure how it will work out."

Holden has recently cut contract workers from its Adelaide workforce and reduced final assembly from two shifts from one each day, but remains committed to the side-by-side assembly of the Cruze and Commodore.

The compact scored its first sales victory over the family fighter last month, well ahead of Holden's projections, although it's far too early to say how the Cruze and Commodore will run against each other for the rest of 2012.

The Cruze wagon is the General Motors' hero for the Geneva motor show next month and will be sold globally as a Chevrolet. It is not a traditional load lugger but much closer in style to the Commodore Sportwagon developed for Australia, where the majority of families now choose SUVs over traditional wagons.

"It's still Cruze sized, but with quite a bit more flexibility on its side. It's like our Sportwagon but it does give you that flexibility," says Perry.

Holden says that - unlike many new GM global products - there was no local design work this time on the shape or style of the compact wagon.

It is 4675 millimetres long, up from the hatch at 4510 and sedan at 4597, and Holden says the load space varies from 500 to 1500 litres with the rear seats folded flat. It is also fitted with roof racks as standard. But other details, including engine choices and the final production plans, will have to wait for the show.

"The full details will come out in Geneva," says Perry. She cannot confirm the local on-sale date, or the production location, but the first cars are likely to landed late in December from Korea.

Holden is also waiting before it confirms its ongoing assembly plans for the existing Cruze models, or their effect on Commodore production in Adelaide.

"We're building both sedan and hatch. But it's too soon to say, because we haven't had one full month yet. We'll have to wait and see," says Perry.

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