United Australian Automobile Industries
Encyclopedia
United Australian Automobile Industries (UAAI) was a firm founded in Australia
in 1989 as the result of an agreement between Holden
(the Australian subsidiary of General Motors
) and Toyota. For Holden, it replaced the earlier Holden-Nissan
joint venture
that had existed since 1983.
UAAI produced three vehicles: the Holden Apollo
, Holden Nova
and Toyota Lexcen
. Both companies held back certain marketing advantages to produce a greater level of model differentiation. Irrespective of this, many buyers could tell that the cars were merely badge-engineered versions of other cars available on the market, and sales figures generated by the disguised versions reinforced this. That is, the version of the car produced by the original manufacturer far surpassed the sales figures for the rebadged version.
By the end of 1993, the UAAI venture cars realised sales of 21 percent at best when compared to the models retailed by their original manufactures. Poor sales led to dissolution of UAAI, the break-up of which occurred in 1996. However, a large enough stockpile remained for some vehicles to remain in showrooms until 1997.
was basically a badge-engineered Toyota Camry
sedan and station wagon. The second generation model was introduced in 1993 and remained in production until 1996.
, like the Apollo arrived in dealerships in 1989 replacing the Holden Astra
, a joint development with Nissan
also producing the Nissan Pulsar
. The Nova was a rebadged Toyota Corolla
with a different grille
and headlamps. This was similar to the then contemporary Geo/Chevrolet Prizm sold in the United States
and Mexico
.
reached Toyota dealerships in 1989, the same year that Toyota models arrived in Holden showrooms. The Lexcen was Toyota's version of the Holden Commodore
, available in the same sedan and station wagon body styles, but only in the V6 engine
and automatic transmission
guise. The Holden however, was available with a V8 engine
option, and had the availability of manual transmission
for both the V6 and V8.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1989 as the result of an agreement between Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
(the Australian subsidiary of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
) and Toyota. For Holden, it replaced the earlier Holden-Nissan
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
that had existed since 1983.
UAAI produced three vehicles: the Holden Apollo
Holden Apollo
The Holden Apollo is a compact and later mid-size car that was distributed from 1989 to 1997 by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors . As a successor to the GM-engineered Holden Camira, the Apollo was a badge engineered version of the Toyota Camry, also sold in Australia...
, Holden Nova
Holden Nova
The Holden Nova was a compact car that was produced by the GM-Holden-Toyota alliance, known as United Australian Automobile Industries in Australia between August 1989 and 1996. The alliance, and therefore the car, was a result of the failed Button car plan which attempted to rationalise the...
and Toyota Lexcen
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
. Both companies held back certain marketing advantages to produce a greater level of model differentiation. Irrespective of this, many buyers could tell that the cars were merely badge-engineered versions of other cars available on the market, and sales figures generated by the disguised versions reinforced this. That is, the version of the car produced by the original manufacturer far surpassed the sales figures for the rebadged version.
By the end of 1993, the UAAI venture cars realised sales of 21 percent at best when compared to the models retailed by their original manufactures. Poor sales led to dissolution of UAAI, the break-up of which occurred in 1996. However, a large enough stockpile remained for some vehicles to remain in showrooms until 1997.
Holden Apollo
Introduced in 1989, the Holden ApolloHolden Apollo
The Holden Apollo is a compact and later mid-size car that was distributed from 1989 to 1997 by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors . As a successor to the GM-engineered Holden Camira, the Apollo was a badge engineered version of the Toyota Camry, also sold in Australia...
was basically a badge-engineered Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
sedan and station wagon. The second generation model was introduced in 1993 and remained in production until 1996.
Holden Nova
The Holden NovaHolden Nova
The Holden Nova was a compact car that was produced by the GM-Holden-Toyota alliance, known as United Australian Automobile Industries in Australia between August 1989 and 1996. The alliance, and therefore the car, was a result of the failed Button car plan which attempted to rationalise the...
, like the Apollo arrived in dealerships in 1989 replacing the Holden Astra
Holden Astra
The Holden Astra is a compact car that was marketed by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. Spanning five generations, the original, Australia-only Astra of 1984 was a derivative of the locally-produced Nissan Pulsar, as was the 1987 Astra...
, a joint development with Nissan
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
also producing the Nissan Pulsar
Nissan Pulsar
The Nissan Pulsar is an automobile that was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1978, when it debuted as a subcompact car, to 2007, when it was replaced in all markets by the Nissan Tiida. It was originally conceived as a replacement for Nissan's first front-wheel drive platform, the...
. The Nova was a rebadged Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
with a different grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
and headlamps. This was similar to the then contemporary Geo/Chevrolet Prizm sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Toyota Lexcen
The Toyota LexcenHolden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
reached Toyota dealerships in 1989, the same year that Toyota models arrived in Holden showrooms. The Lexcen was Toyota's version of the Holden Commodore
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
, available in the same sedan and station wagon body styles, but only in the V6 engine
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
and automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
guise. The Holden however, was available with a V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
option, and had the availability of manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
for both the V6 and V8.
See also
- Button car planButton car planThe Button car plan, also known as the Button plan was the informal name given to the Motor Industry Development Plan. The plan was an Australian federal government initiative, intended to rationalise the Australian motor vehicle industry. Industry consultation had begun in 1984 with a proposed...
- New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.NUMMINew United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. was an automobile manufacturing plant in Fremont, California, opened in 1984 and closed in 2010. On October 27, 2010 it reopened as a 100% Tesla Motors-owned production facility, known as the Tesla Factory...
(NUMMI), a similar joint venture in the United States between Toyota and General Motors.