Australian consortium wanting to spend up to $750mill to acquire Holden plant

[CyberWasp]

I think Bunnings should buy it.
People can go into the plant and pick and choose the parts they want and assemble their own car.

[bungarra]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

I think Bunnings should buy it.
People can go into the plant and pick and choose the parts they want and assemble their own car.

Ikea might buy it, then we can take our flat pack car home and assemble it all with one allen key and a lot of bits left over.

[Spammy]

Body on chassis creates real issues with weight/safety/NVH and body stiffness. Really only useful for trucks these days.

[Taily]

Originally Posted by Spammy

Body on chassis creates real issues with weight/safety/NVH and body stiffness. Really only useful for trucks these days.

Wrong beyond belief except for Euro/Aus ANCAP rating, but even that can be designed around to a point with envelopment strategies (weak spots designed to fail in differing directions) designed in to the supporting chassis.... The chassis doesn't even have to be a conventional ladder design that a body is bolted to, and in fact is becoming more common to see conventional "chassis rail" (Load Bearing Member/Structure these days....) inserted into and through the body so that not much (if any) is externally visible. Do you have any evidence of the voracity of what you have written?

You might be surprised that a few on the boards have been actively involved in vehicle R+D. I worked at Fishermans Bend under secondment between 1990-1 doing just that for the VR upgrade. You might be surprised that around 3/4 of that car was a change from the preceeding VN although they look similar and share common componentry. I was involved in the IRS module design. My qualifications? I'm a run of the mill motor mechanic that went and did a parallel study Mechanical Engineering degree during the evening at the same time.

Regards,

Dave

[Spammy]

Originally Posted by Taily

Wrong beyond belief except for Euro/Aus ANCAP rating, but even that can be designed around to a point with envelopment strategies (weak spots designed to fail in differing directions) designed in to the supporting chassis.... The chassis doesn't even have to be a conventional ladder design that a body is bolted to, and in fact is becoming more common to see conventional "chassis rail" (Load Bearing Member/Structure these days....) inserted into and through the body so that not much (if any) is externally visible. Do you have any evidence of the voracity of what you have written?

You might be surprised that a few on the boards have been actively involved in vehicle R+D. I worked at Fishermans Bend under secondment between 1990-1 doing just that for the VR upgrade. You might be surprised that around 3/4 of that car was a change from the preceeding VN although they look similar and share common componentry. I was involved in the IRS module design. My qualifications? I'm a run of the mill motor mechanic that went and did a parallel study Mechanical Engineering degree during the evening at the same time.

Regards,

Dave

I think you need to differentiate between unibody/unitary and body on frame/ladder frame mentioned above.

[Taily]

Originally Posted by Spammy

I think you need to differentiate between unibody/unitary and body on frame/ladder frame mentioned above.

I need to do something do I? OK, lets put it this way, I was using very small words to explain a concept to a person who clearly does not understand much about a subject s/he are making rather generalised statements about... It is good to see you can google though...

What I was saying is those lines are blurring again as two diametrically differing designs are melding into one type of design (in fact we are revisiting the semi-monocoque design but in a different way and calling it unitary). Load paths are being bourne by a traditional perimeter framed seperate chassis, however that load bearing structure is being completely encapsulated by a semi monocoque design where the seperately constructed traditional "ladder frame" chassis (the one you seem to have such an issue with) is then built around and incorporated into the body, rather than a body bolted to it. Much of this work can be attributed to composite use which is becoming more common in load bearing areas. So kind of makes your previous post look a bit childish doesn't it?

Many of the exotics are beginning to use it as it provides "unitary" strength beyond current build methods... One thing though, any damage to the load bearing structure the car becomes an instant unrepairable write-off - one of the reasons we are yet to see this construction method used in everyday vehicle manufacture. Be aware it is coming though...

I've been out of engineering for many many years but the concepts are still the same as they were 15 years ago when I walked away from it. It is just that we are seeing a generational change who are revisiting previous ideas and coming up with new catchy names...

[Spammy]

Originally Posted by Taily

I need to do something do I? OK, lets put it this way, I was using very small words to explain a concept to a person who clearly does not understand much about a subject s/he are making rather generalised statements about... It is good to see you can google though...

...

Thanks mate -- I covered most of this when I studied Mechanical Engineering at UNSW.

[danzvtil]

let it go guys, there is NO car of ANY type that could be built in Australia at a volume that would make money.There are NO export markets-camry exports are a legacy that was set up when the dollar was at a profitable level, that ship has sailed.
A consortium of people with money in their pockets chanting "we think we can, we know we can" doesnt suddenly make building cars a goer.

[Maka]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

let it go guys, there is NO car of ANY type that could be built in Australia at a volume that would make money.There are NO export markets-camry exports are a legacy that was set up when the dollar was at a profitable level, that ship has sailed.
A consortium of people with money in their pockets chanting "we think we can, we know we can" doesnt suddenly make building cars a goer.

Let them have a go, if successful great, if not at least they had a go! Time will tell if this is a goer.

cheers, Maka

[zilo]

I read halfway down the page..."Family First"

That killed all credibility in the scheme.

[Cashie]

I was hoping Tesla would show interest for building RHD Model S, X and Gen 3 here. Musk has indicated he needs another factory. The conditions are similar here as the existing factory in California.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Cashie

I was hoping Tesla would show interest for building RHD Model S, X and Gen 3 here. Musk has indicated he needs another factory. The conditions are similar here as the existing factory in California.

Yep.....and will happen sooner or later.

[Bossxr8]

Pipe dream.

[zoesgift]

this "consortium" would be better served urinating into the wind....

[Spammy]

So Ford, GM and Toyota have all given up on trying to make cars here despite being 3 of the biggest manufacturers in the world and with bucket loads of government donations to help them along. But don't worry -- a bunch of bible bashers will be able to make it work with no govt backing.

And my a-r-s-e plays the banjo

[Maka]

Originally Posted by Spammy

So Ford, GM and Toyota have all given up on trying to make cars here despite being 3 of the biggest manufacturers in the world and with bucket loads of government donations to help them along. But don't worry -- a bunch of bible bashers will be able to make it work with no govt backing.

And my a-r-s-e plays the banjo

You've shown your very talented, can you play stairway to heaven or the song remains the same? At least those bible bashers put their hand up to try & save jobs. Theres more to the demise than just face value.

cheers, Maka

[Vormund]

And now he has 3 factories to choose from post 2017.

I do notice Toyota Group has a small stake in Tesla... (0.27%)

edit: Interesting bit about the NUMMI plant from wiki:

The NUMMI plant ceased operations on April 1, 2010 ending the Toyota-GM joint venture. California's last automobile manufacturing plant saw its last car, a Corolla, roll off the assembly line.[27]
On May 20, 2010, Tesla Motors and Toyota announced a partnership to work on electric vehicle development, which included Tesla's partial purchase of the former NUMMI site, mainly consisting of the factory building.[8][10] Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the Tesla S sedan will be built at the plant.[28] When Tesla took over the location in 2010, they renamed it the Tesla Factory.