The Petone assembly plant opened in 1926 and the first New Zealand assembled Chevrolet appeared on 31 August that year. Four months later its first Pontiac was assembled and Buicks followed a month after that. Oldsmobiles were added to the range in 1928. Vauxhalls first came off the line on 9 May 1931 and they were soon followed by Bedford trucks. The plant was expanded in 1938 and again in 1939 and production diversified to include Frigidaire refrigerators and freezers, Frigidaire's parent company was owned by GM from 1919 to 1979. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 there were almost six acres under one roof. Wartime output included munitions and Universal Carriers as well as many other smaller products. Post-war Chevrolet production began in early 1947 but for some decades new car numbers were severely limited by government controls.
Although from March 1980 it made all the spark plugs for General Motors' production in Australia as well as New Zealand the Petone plant, GM announced plans to close the Petone plant in 1983, with the loss of 270 jobs. It was sold to ASC Flowers for use as a warehouse, with the sale being completed by September 1984.
The Trentham assembly plant at the inland opposite end of the Hutt Valley was opened on 26 August 1967 by the Prime Minister of New Zealand Keith Holyoake and the Petone plant devoted to Frigidaire appliances. At this time, the company had almost one million square feet of floor space, situated on three (Petone and Trentham: assembly/manufacturing plants; Upper Hutt: parts, and later, assembly, warehouse and office facilities) properties in the Hutt Valley totalling 117 acres (0.47 km2). In 1988, General Motors New Zealand announced plans to end local assembly of all but one car model, the Holden Commodore sedan, with the Holden Commodore wagon, Camira and Gemini, along with the Suzuki Swift being phased out and replaced with fully-assembled imports. In 1991, it ended all local assembly of passenger cars. In 2015, the former Trentham plant was sold to Weta Digital, while existing space is used by the New Zealand Army.
General Motors New Zealand assembled and imported GM products from Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac from the United States; Holden from Australia; Isuzu from Japan; Opel from Germany; and Vauxhall and Bedford from the United Kingdom. However, for such a small market, it made little sense to have so many brands, so each was rationalised from the 1960s.
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1926–1968
Chevrolet motor vehicles were imported into New Zealand in factory right-hand drive from GM's Canadian assembly plant in Oshawa in Semi-Knock-down (SKD) kit form for local assembly. The first locally-built Chevrolet came off the line in August 1926 and the first Pontiac came off the line in December 1926. Production stopped during World War II but was resumed from 1947. The Petone plant assembled the Chevrolet Thriftmaster pickup the Chevrolet Deluxe four-door sedan, and the Chevrolet 210.
GM New Zealand produced the Chevrolet Bel Air from 1955 to 1960, but only as four-door sedans.
Throughout the 1960s the Canadian Chevrolet Impala was assembled, also only as four-door sedans.
General Motors management in the USA re-evaluated its export operations in 1968 and decided to cease all right-hand-drive exports of Chevrolet and Pontiac passenger vehicles worldwide after 1968 and thus Chevrolet as a brand effectively disappeared in New Zealand (and elsewhere) for the next three decades, other than by private or special-purpose imports, such as for ambulances and hearses.
1998–2001
Both Australia and New Zealand imported the Chevrolet Suburban built in right-hand-drive in Silao, Mexico, between February 1998 and January 2001. The model was badged in both countries as "Holden."
2012–2020
The Isuzu-derived Chevrolet Colorado went on sale in June 2012 in both Australia and New Zealand, sourced from General Motors Thailand in Rayong, Thailand. The Brazilian-built Chevrolet S-10 dual-cab became the 2017 facelifted model. Holden New Zealand's managing director, Kristian Aquilina said of it: "The Chevrolet Colorado revealed by our Brazilian colleagues is the result of ongoing work between Holden, Chevrolet Brazil and Chevrolet Thailand and is a clear indication of where the Holden Colorado is heading." The Colorado and Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV were made at the GM Thailand plant for both the North American and Australasian markets and was badged as "Holden" in both Australia and New Zealand.
The first-generation Chevrolet Volt was sold in New Zealand from late 2012, badged as a Holden. Due to poor sales in New Zealand (and also Australia) the second-generation Volt was not available in New Zealand. The car failed in both countries due to the huge price tag that put the model out of reach for most people.
The third-generation Chevrolet Equinox (EQ series) went on sale in Australia and New Zealand in December 2017. It was produced at GM's Ramos Arizpe assembly facility in Mexico, and replaced the Korean-built Holden Captiva five-seater. On 17 October 2018, Holden Australia halted production on the Equinox due to slow sales and unsold inventory at its dealerships however the Equinox continued to be sold in New Zealand through to 2020.
In 2018 the U.S. Chevrolet Silverado and Chevrolet Camaro were introduced to the New Zealand market through Holden Special Vehicles (HSV.) Both vehicles are "re-engineered" (converted from LHD to RHD) by HSV Australia's production facility in Clayton South and imported into New Zealand. Both retain their original "Chevrolet" badging in both countries. The Silverado range includes the 2500HD WT, 2500HD LTZ, 2500HD LTZ "Midnight" Edition, 2500HD LTZ "Custom Sport" Edition and the 3500HD LTZ.
Camaro models offered are the ZL1 and 2SS. Of the initial 550 2SS Camaros produced in Australia in 2018, 38 of those were built for the New Zealand market. HSV's Managing Director, Tim Jackson, said: "This project has been over three years in the making and involved millions of dollars of investment in product development, testing and validation. We set out with the goal of retaining the integrity of the left-hand-drive vehicle through the adoption of extensive engineering, development, and manufacturing processes. We are proud to say we believe we have achieved our goal". Production of the facelifted 2019 models commenced in Australia from April, 2019 with New Zealand receiving its first Camaro ZL1 models in late 2019.
The Holden Colorado made number five in New Zealand's top-10 new car sales for 2019. No other Holden products made the top-10.
2021–
In July 2019 Holden New Zealand announced plans for the first ever factory-right hand drive, mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Following General Motors announcement in February 2020 of the demise of Holden, Chevrolet later confirmed that the Corvette may still go ahead, possibly set to arrive in 2021 through GM Speciality Vehicles (GMSV), the successor to HSV. The first factory right-hand-drive C8 arrived in New Zealand in October 2021, with a further 28 Corvettes arriving in 2023. All 28 were pre-sold. The right-hand-drive Camaros are built at GM's Bowling Green facility in Kentucky, United States and exported directly to New Zealand (and Australia.) The NZ-market C8 is priced at NZ$154,990 for the 2LT Coupe, rising to NZ$169,990 for the 2LT Convertible and 3LT Coupe, NZ$184,990 for the 3LT Convertible, and NZ$197,990 for the Carbon Edition Coupe. All NZ models come with GM's mid-mounted 369 kW 6.2-litre V8 engine.
As of 2023, the Chevrolet Silverado continues to be imported to New Zealand from Australia in three variants: 1500 Trail Boss (priced at NZ$119,990), 1500 LTZ Premium (priced at NZ$130,990) and the HD LTZ Premium (priced at NZ$159,990.)
Pontiac
Pontiac was the second marque to be assembled by General Motors New Zealand at the Petone assembly plant, with the first Pontiac vehicles coming off the line in December 1926. As with Chevrolet, Pontiacs were assembled in right-hand-drive from knock down kits, also sourced from GM's Canadian assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario. Production was halted during World War II and did not resume after the war, although Chevrolets resumed production from 1947.
After a break of 20 years Pontiac assembly resumed from 1959 with the Petone plant manufacturing the Canadian Bel Air-based Pontiac Laurentian and Pontiac Parisienne until 1968. In Australia, General Motors-Holden assembled the Canadian Laurentian until 1963, and the Parisienne to 1968.
In General Motors review of export operations in 1968, it was decided right-hand-drive exports of Pontiac too would cease along with Chevrolet, thus effectively ending the two brands in all right-hand-drive markets internationally thereafter.
Pontiac made a single reappearance in New Zealand from 1988 to 1993 when the badge-engineered version of the Opel Kadett E-derived Daewoo LeMans, manufactured by Daewoo in South Korea, was sold in the United States and New Zealand as the Sixth-generation Pontiac LeMans.
GMC
Although General Motors Truck Company (GMC) never existed as a marque in New Zealand, GMC products were sometimes privately imported as grey-imports, a large market in New Zealand.
Since the 1920s, GMC and Chevrolet trucks in the United States became largely similar, built as variants of the same platform, sharing much the same body sheetwork, except for nameplates and grilles, but with different engines. GMC advertising marketed its trucks to commercial buyers and businesses, whereas Chevrolet's advertising was directed towards private owners. GMC had no market presence in right-hand-drive truck markets, as this market was otherwise filled initially by GM's Chevrolet, and later Bedford and Isuzu brands.
During the 1970s and 1980s, most ambulances in New Zealand were Bedfords or International Harvesters. When production of the Bedford ceased in 1984, the national Ambulance Advisory Transport Board had to look for alternatives. Following world-wide investigations, the Ambulance Advisory Transport Board in 1988 came up with a shortlist of two suitable replacements: the Ford Transit and the Chevrolet C/K-GMC Sierra. The Ford proved to be unsuitable and so General Motors New Zealand imported the GMT400-platform Sierra, beginning in 1989, exclusively for ambulance use. They were converted to right-hand-drive in New Zealand. Although the "Sierra" name applied to the GMC variant in the United States, it was called "Chevrolet Sierra" in New Zealand and was badged as a Chevrolet. (Australia similarly imported the Sierra for ambulance use during the 1990s although they retained their GMC badging and were called GMC 2500.) Sierras served as ambulances for the St John Ambulance Service throughout the 1990s. The GMC Vandura was also imported and converted to right-hand-drive for the Wellington Free Ambulance and St Johns Ambulance Service, and saw service during the 1990s and 2000s. As with the Sierra, the Vandura was badged as "Chevrolet."
When the C/K was replaced in the United States by the first-generation Chevrolet Silverado (second-generation GMC Sierra) in 1998, subsequent imports were badged as the "Chevrolet Silverado." The Silverado saw use right through the 2000s. Since the 2010s the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit have been the main vehicles used for ambulances, and more recently the Fiat Ducato, with bodies built in New Zealand. Some Sierras, Vanduras, and Silverados are still in use with private EMS services such as Medimax, TransitCare, and Horizons Healthcare.
With Holden Australia ending local manufacturing in 2017, Holden turned to the wider GM portfolio for future products, including the United States. Being a left-hand-drive market General Motors in the United States had traditionally never produced GMC-branded right-hand-drive vehicles. Consequently, General Motors developed their first factory-right-hand-drive model, the second-generation GMC Acadia which was introduced to the Australian and New Zealand markets wearing "Holden" badges in November 2018. Built at GMC's Spring Hill Manufacturing plant in Tennessee, it was the only RHD model to be made by GMC in the United States, and was exclusively manufactured for the Australasian market.
Buick/Oldsmobile/Cadillac
Buick and Oldsmobile automobiles were brought in to New Zealand by various automotive importers from the onset of the 20th century and throughout the 1920s until the formation of General Motors New Zealand. Both brands were locally assembled at the GMNZ Petone plant, with Buick from January 1927, and Oldsmobile from 1928. A snapshot of the automotive industry in 1933 shows that 86% of vehicles on New Zealand roads were American and 7% of those were Buick. Cadillac vehicles were bought in, in limited numbers and at limited times. Knock-down kits were sourced from Canada.
Outside of General Motors New Zealand, Newmans Coach Lines in Nelson (and other local competitors) used Cadillacs for passenger services (called "service cars") during the 1930s. The Cadillac 353E was the most common model. These were brought in, often second hand, from the United States, and were stretched and rebodied in New Zealand by motor body builders Crawley Ridley in Wellington. Some of these original 1930s models remained in service with various North Island and South Island passenger services into the 1950s.
In 2008 General Motors planned to introduce the Cadillac brand to Australia and New Zealand but the plan was canned at the eleventh hour. 88 of 89 factory-right-hand-drive Cadillac CTS cars which had already arrived in Australia for the release were instead sold in May 2009 to New Zealand Holden dealership Ebbett Group for sale in New Zealand. All were sold with a three-year, 100,000 km warranty. In January 2010 Ebbett imported a further 71 vehicles that had been built for the UK market and these were sold in New Zealand on similar terms. The Ebbett Group which sells multiple car brands, is now the sole distributor for Cadillac in New Zealand.
Vauxhall
Following General Motors' purchase of Vauxhall in 1925, General Motors New Zealand added British Vauxhalls to their production line, beginning in 1931. The Petone plant began with the Vauxhall Cadet. After World War II the plant assembled the Velox, and Wyvern and, between 1955 and 1960, the Cresta. 1957 saw the arrival of the Vauxhall Victor and in 1964, the Vauxhall Viva. The Vauxhall Cresta was then fully imported from Britain until 1965 and the PC Cresta Standard in 1966 replaced the locally-built PB Velox after the Velox nameplate was discontinued by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom in 1965. From early 1966 the Cresta was locally built at the Petone plant and, from late 1967 at Trentham, and remained largely unchanged until production end. The top-of-the-line Cresta was a rare import only model named "Viscount" and came standard with power steering, electric windows, reclining seats, a vinyl roof, walnut dashboard, inertia reel seat belts front, and heated rear window. The final 1971 facelifted UK model did not make it to New Zealand.
Victor sedans were assembled at the Petone plant with variations from their UK and Australian counterparts, and saw extensive use as government fleet vehicles. Although rare, wagons were fully imported. Victors were dropped in New Zealand before the final UK model series was released in 1972. The last New Zealand-assembled Victors were fitted with Holden gearboxes.
While the 1967–1969 HB Viva was assembled and sold in New Zealand as a Vauxhall, in neighbouring Australia the HB was marketed as the Holden Torana, which would become further developed and built in Australia over three generations. HB Torana SL sedans were imported from Australia to give Holden dealers a small car to sell in competition with the separate Vauxhall-Chevrolet dealer chain but this was short-lived and the updated 1969 models did not come over. New Zealand Vivas were built at the Trentham plant from late 1967 including a New Zealand-only van version derived from the Viva station wagon. Whereas the Vauxhall Magnum in the UK was a Viva with double headlights and the highest trim level, in New Zealand the name was applied from 1975 to the Viva 1300 and 1800 which had the four-headlight frontal treatment of the British Magnum, but standard Viva interior trim.
The Vauxhall range was pared back to the Chevette and Viva by 1977 as Australian Holdens otherwise became the dominant models.
The Chevette was assembled in New Zealand between 1976 and 1981 and was usually in the top-10 for "most popular new car" throughout its time. All body styles that were available in the UK were sold. The Chevette was not sold in Australia. The Vauxhall 1,256 OHV (from the Viva and Magnum) was the standard engine for all New Zealand Chevette models. A lower trim commercial fleet model called the Chevanne was also offered, based on the Chevette station wagon bodyshell. In 1979 the New Zealand Chevette received Holden-developed "Radial Tuned Suspension" and wider tyres, giving the car superior handling over its rivals. This mechanical update was not fitted to the European models. The Chevette competed with the expanding Japanese small-car market, finally losing out in 1980. The Chevette was the last British-sourced GM product to be assembled in New Zealand, with the last car leaving the line in June 1981. The Australian Holden Gemini TE series replaced the New Zealand Chevette in 1981 and the Vauxhall marque was discontinued in New Zealand thereafter.
The HSV VXR Turbo was a Vauxhall Astra VXR which was imported by Holden Special Vehicles New Zealand in 2008 and again in 2015 (as "Astra VXR.") The Vauxhall models were right-hand-drive versions of the Opel Astra OPC, made in Poland and tuned by Vauxhall in the UK. The only changes made by HSV for both generations was to replace the "Vauxhall" badges with "Holden" badges.
Holden Australia again used the VXR designation for the 2018–2019, sportier V6 ZB Commodore liftback to replace the SS nameplate used on previous higher-performance Commodore models. The liftback was also sold in New Zealand.
In 2017, Holden released a station wagon to complement the Opel-based BK Astra hatchback. It was a badge-engineered Vauxhall Astra sportwagon built and sold in the United Kingdom and was sold in Australia and New Zealand as the Astra Sportwagon.
Bedford
Bedfords were assembled in New Zealand from 1931, at the same time as the Vauxhalls were introduced. During the 1940s General Motors New Zealand built what would become the standard bus for the New Zealand Railways Road Services, using the Bedford truck chassis with bodies built by New Zealand Motor Bodies. When the Bedford SB was released in Britain in 1950, NZRRS continued to use the SB with the coach bodies built by NZMB right up until 1980. NZRRS had the largest fleet of SB buses in the world with 1,280 SB buses built between 1954 and 1981.
After World War II, Bedford trucks became very popular in New Zealand and were used as trucks, tow trucks, buses, fire engines, and ambulances during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The Bedford TK was assembled at Petone throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s. Over 500,000 of the TK were produced. It was succeeded by the Bedford TM series, followed by a "Bedford-by-Isuzu" model assembled from knock-down kits from Japan. These Bedford badged Isuzu trucks were marketed in an attempt to boost sales of Isuzu trucks by associating the brand with the trusted Bedford marque.
Bedford vans were assembled in New Zealand throughout the 1960s and 1970s with the last CF series assembled in 1984 upon the closure of the Petone assembly plant. Its original four-cylinder 1.8L engine was eventually replaced in New Zealand and Australia with Holden's 202 cubic-inch straight-six in the 1980s.
Holden
Holdens were fully imported from Australia until 1957. The first Holden assembled in New Zealand was an FE sedan which came off the line on 31 January 1957. During the 1960s the Holden range expanded to include the Holden Special, Belmont, Kingswood, and Premier followed by Holden's mid-sized cars: the Vauxhall Viva-derived Torana and Sunbird, into the 1970s. The Holden Monaro was always fully imported.
Holden Australia's new Holden HQ series was released in 1971 and all models were assembled in New Zealand from knock-down kits at GMNZ's Trentham plant using some local content. Subsequent HJ, HX, HZ, and WB models continued to be assembled locally with the exception of the Monaro which was imported, as with previous models. During the 1970s Belmonts and Kingswoods became the main Police cars for both the New Zealand Ministry of Transport and New Zealand Police.
GMNZ assembled the long-wheelbase, Statesman HJ, HX, HZ, and WB models until 1984. A variant of the HQ, built in Australia, was marketed in New Zealand as the "Chevrolet 350" from 1971 to 1974. This was in reality an Australian Statesman with the bigger American Chevrolet 350-cubic-inch V8 and badged as a "Chevrolet." While Statesman was its own marque in Australia, in New Zealand it was the model name, marketed as "Holden Statesman."
1979 saw the Opel Rekord-derived Holden Commodore arrive in New Zealand.
