Holden is an Australian car brand that was created in 1856. The English emigrant James Alexander Holden first started the company as a saddle making business. Holden manufactured cars, trucks, vans, SUVs and utes in Australia. They’re best know for their large sedans and everyday vehicles that were popular in Australia. Holden was owned by the American car manufacturing company General Motors.
Holden Company Timeline – History
1856 – Founded as J.A. Holden & Co. in Adelaide, South Australia. James Alexander Holden emigrated from Walsall, England in 1852 and started the company as a saddlery business.
1885 – The company changed it’s name to Holden & Frost Ltd. when the German born Henry Adolph Frost joined the company.
1905 – The grandson of James had a strong interest in automobiles. Edward Holden joined the firm in 1905.
1908 – Holden and a new partner, Frost, focus the business on car repairs and car upholstery.
1913 – The Holden company starts making motorcycle sidecars.
1917 – Holden focuses entirely on body shells for vehicles as a result of wartime demand.
1919 – Holden’s Motor Body Builders Ltd (HMBB) is created to specialize in car bodies.
1924 – Holden becomes the exclusive manufacturer of car bodies for the Australian division of General Motors (GM).
1931 – General Motors purchases HMBB and creates General Motors-Holden Ltd
1936 – Holden’s builds it’s first full-scale car factory in Fishermen’s Bend (Port Melbourne).
1948 – Holden launches “The Holden,” touted as “Australia’s Own Car,” and creates waiting lists over a year long.
1954 – Holden begins exporting cars, first to New Zealand.
1956 – Holden launches the “FE,” a station wagon.
1960 – Holden lauches the “FB,” a sportier design that also became the first car adapted for foreign markets with the drive shaft on the opposite side.
1968 – Holden ends its association with Chevrolet and Pontiac.
1971 – Holden launches the HQ series.
1978 – Holden launches the “Commodore,” a car that quickly became Holden’s most popular model.
1986 – After years of difficulties in Holden production and sales after agreeing to incorporate foreign engines into their cars instead of their own, GM agrees to pay Holden’s AU$780 million debt. Holden is then reorganized and recapitalized.
1996 – After years of selling Japanese cars through the company, Holden returns to selling only GM products.
1998 – Company name changes to Holden Ltd.
2002 – Holden acquires 44.6 percent stake in the South Korean company Daewoo in order to increase profits.
2003 – Holden loses its standing for highest car sales in Australia to Toyota.
2005 – Company name changes to GM Holden Ltd.
2020 – Holden was closed on the 31st of December after General Motors chose to retire the brand earlier in the year.
More on Holden Cars
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