Holden motor exports rev up

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Holden motor exports rev up
Chris Zappone
July 13, 2009 - 1:53PM

Holden engine exports will more than triple in number in the next four years said Innovation Minister Kim Carr after Australia's trade delegation met with parent General Motors in Shanghai.

"We have met with General Motors and their joint venture partners, the largest automotive company in the People's Republic of China,'' Innovation Minister Kim Carr said in a statement over the weekend.

In the meetings, Senator Carr said he learned engine exports from General Motors plants in Port Melbourne are likely to increase over the next four years to move from 6000 units to about 20,000.

Senator Carr's comments to reporters were overshadowed by a diplomatic spat between Australia and China over the arrest of Australian Rio Tinto employee, Stern Hu. Mr Hu was arrested on July 5, along with three other Rio employees in Shanghai, and is accused of obtaining secret information that hurt China's national interests.

In an earlier statement, Senator Carr's office said he and Minister for Trade Simon Crean would be meeting the Shanghai Automotive Industry Cooperation, Geely, Chery, Dongfeng and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co on their five-day trip to China to talk up Australia's automotive sector.

Holden officials in Australia were unable to comment immediately to the announcement about engine export.

At the same press conference in Shanghai Minister Crean said Australia's trade relationship with China would likely remain intact despite the recent detention of the four Rio Tinto staff.

"I see no reason why our trade relationships will be damaged,'' Mr Crean said. "If what we can get is an expedition of the process in accordance with Chinese law and in the process that the welfare of the Australian citizen is being properly had regard to.''

Holden's US parent General Motors emerged from bankruptcy over the weekend, pledging to innovate, produce smaller, more efficient cars and focus on core sectors of the market.