HISTORY Holden traces its roots to a saddlery business set up in Adelaide in 1852. The company went on to become the sole supplier of car bodies for General Motors in Australia and was acquired by the US car giant amid the depression of 1931. The first all-Australian car, the Holden 48-215, appeared in 1948. 4/5 The first Ford, a Model A, arrived in Australia in 1904, just one year after the company was formed by Henry Ford in Detroit, USA. After 20 years of imports, the Ford Motor Company of Australia was launched in 1925. The first locally produced car, an Aussie version of the Model T, was made in Geelong, Victoria that same year. 3/5 SALES According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries VFACTS figures, Holden is second only to Toyota in total vehicle sales. It shifted 174,464 vehicles in 2005, down from 178,027 in 2004. It is Australia's largest passenger car and light truck brand, as Toyota's figures include a large amount of SUVs. 4/5 Ford is the third of the big three car makers in Australia, behind Toyota and Holden, with 2005 total vehicle sales of 129,140, down from 135,172 in 2004 according to VFACTS. It is the country's second biggest SUV maker behind Toyota, moving 26,569 sports utilities from dealer forecourts in 2005. 3/5 SLOGANS "Holden means a great deal to Australians," according to comedian Dave Hughes, retail spokesman for Holden. Better than the bland "Drive On" its brand campaigns use. But not much better. 3/5 "German engineering just got sexier" apparently. Any slogan with the words German and sexier in it has to get our vote. Even if it is mystifyingly inane. 3/5 AD SPEND According to Nielsen Media Research AdEx, Holden spent $65.4 million on main media advertising in the year to March. This translates to $374.86 per vehicle sold. 3/5 Ford coughed up $40 million on main media advertising in the 12 months to March according to Nielsen Media Research AdEx. This represents $309.74 per vehicle sold. 4/5 MOTORSPORT The Australian Touring Car Championship (now called V8 Supercars) is the pinnacle of Aussie motorsport and Holden has won more races - 162 - since its inception in 1960 than any other manufacturer. Its first series winner, Norm Beechey in a Monaro 350 GTS, was in 1970. 4/5 Ford has won more Australian Touring Car Championships than any other manufacturer - 20 series wins against next-best Holden on 13. Its first series win was in 1964 when Ian Geoghegan took his Cortina GT to victory. Ford has won the last three V8 Supercars series. 5/5 HOLDEN 18/25 FORD 18/25
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