HOLDEN dealers on the Border have been blindsided by the brand's US owner deciding to end large-scale car sales in Australia.
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General Motors stated on Monday it was ending dealer sales in Australia and the Holden name would disappear from next year.
It is part of a move to focus on countries with left-hand drive vehicles.
The move gobsmacked traders with Holden dealer principal Anthony Lieschke stunned a relationship begun with General Motors in 1933 was ending for the Walla and Holbrook vendor.
"As a fourth generation business that's been involved with General Motors and Holden we're obviously devastated," Mr Lieschke, whose family also sells Nissans, said.
"We had no inkling they would do it.
"We're still coming to terms with what's happened and need to have a family business meeting to decide what's best.
"I think we need another manufacturer, I don't know who that might be."
"I think the automotive market in general is such a quickly changing, evolving market," Mr Lieschke said.
"You go back and Commodore was the car and we were a Commodore company and how quickly that changed to SUVs, it was just about overnight and Holden was slow to pick up."
The move will also hit Holden dealers in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga, Corowa and Benalla.
Pigdons at Yarrawonga and Corowa specialise in Holdens, while McRaes in Wodonga also sells Nissans and Kias.
McRae bosses were unavailable on Monday, while Pigdons chief Bruce Pigdon declined to comment.
Former president of the Early Holden Car Club of Wangaratta Lester Hilli said it was "a sad day for Australia".
He does not want the brand revived by another firm, saying that "it's going to die, so let it die in peace".
The club will host an All GM Day on March 8 at Wangaratta's Apex Park with a mix of makes from the conglomerate.
