Holden will use Federal Government funding of $39.8 million to assist development of future, ‘greener’ Commodores.
The dollars come from the Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund.
Holden says it will use the Government assistance to develop technologies – including aluminium body panels. Potentially these new technologies could reduce fuel consumption by more than seven per cent (3.6 million litres of fuel) and cut CO2 emissions by 9,000 tonnes (figures based on the numbers of Commodores sold each year).
Already scheduled for launch later this year are a dedicated LPG Commodore and E85 flex-fuel capability for the Holden 3.6-litre SIDI V6 engine.
“Holden continues to be one of the country’s largest investors in research and development and to invest in the future of automotive design, engineering and high-tech manufacturing in Australia,” explained Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mike Devereux. “The assistance from the Federal Government will enable Holden to bring Australian-made firsts in fuel-efficiency and weight saving to market and to secure jobs in the broader automotive industry.”
