Holden rumoured to be rethinking Barina
Oct 11th, 2006 by Motor Dude
The release of the 'all new' Barina earlier this year was somewhat over shadowed by the significant amount of public criticism Holden faced due to the Barina's below par safety performance, and the corresponding drop in sales that followed. According to GoAuto, the budget car managed just "806 sales, which was well down on its 2006 monthly average of more than 1200 units (May included)."
A drop in sales for Holden's entry in the small car market does not bode well for the manufacturing giant. The small car market is one of the few segments in Australia not to have suffered a significant sales drop. The 2 star ANCAP result was one of the worst results in recent memory, and a big slap in the face for a company that outwardly prides itself on safety, and the negative publicity surrounding this result is sure to have put a dent in Barina sales.
Based on the publicity and sales performance over the past few months, it is not surprising to hear rumours circulating that Holden are considering alternative options for the Barina. Whether or not they shift back to the Opel based model, shift to something completely different, or persevere with the Daewoo base remains to be seen. But any change so soon after the launch would surely come at a significant cost to Holden. Switching to a different base platform may prove difficult politically given GM's apparent commitment to Daewoo based products. With the Viva and Captiva also based on Daewoo products, there promises to be some interesting times ahead!
If you haven't seen the 2006 Holden Barina (based on the Daewoo Kalos) ANCAP test, it's up on YouTube. Check it out.
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[...] in conjunction with its poor ANCAP safety rating of two stars, it seems clear that the currently Australian model Barina will long be remembered as a toaster with [...]
[...] It’s not really suprising to learn the light/small cars often have difficulty protecting their occupants, with around two thirds in the worst category. This includes two vehicles still on sale – the Daewoo Kalos (2003-2004), which is now badged as a Holden Barina, and the Hyundai Getz (2002-2005). This is now two strikes for the Holden Barina, following up its pathetic 2 star safety rating in the new car assessment program. If you’ve forgotten what the Barina looks like after a crash, you can revisit it here. [...]