The city's lone Holden dealer has said the decision to eliminate the brand will not lead to forced staff cut-backs at the dealership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Parent company General Motors announced they will retire the iconic brand by 2021, with production on new vehicles due to finish in June and a number of dealerships across the nation planning to close by the end of the year, but Griffith's Leo Franco Holden will be keeping their doors open for the foreseeable future.
Owner Leo Franco - who has been involved in dealings with Holden for 43 years - said it was "heartbreaking" to hear the decision but the dealership has no plans to lay-off staff as a result.
"Most of my staff have got longevity here, I have to look after them," Mr Franco said.
"My staff are definitely my first concern, Holden of course is my second concern regarding how they are going to shift out.
"At the end of the day they [the staff] are in my hands."
Mr Franco said the mood at the dealership has been one of disappointment since the announcement, but there are plans to further the dealership's relationship with Nissan as well as look to find another brand to take the space left by Holden.
"It's been a very sad week," Mr Franco said.
"Most of the boys here, they are all down because of the fact they have worked very hard promoting Holden."
READ MORE
The dealership was informed of the decision via a phone call on Monday morning and Mr Franco said while he can accept the decision made by General Motors, he was surprised at how the company announced they were pulling out of Australia.
"We had no idea that they were going to pull out at that stage," Mr Franco said.
"Unfortunately the powers that be in America decided to pull the pin but I think not only in Australia - they actually sold Opel, they sold Vauxhall - in other words they're only going to focus on America and left-hand-drive countries.
"I can understand their financial position - that's the way you've got to look at it - with three per cent or whatever it was of the [Australian] market, they can't survive."
While the dealership plans to further liaise with Holden as to the final exit strategy of the brand, Mr Franco said he is committed to ensuring Holden customers will have a place to go to for parts and servicing, with plans
"We'll still look after our customers," Mr Franco said.
"We will continue as a service point here, we'll cover the warranty for Holden, we'll continue servicing."
Mr Franco said the dealership will pass on the full discounts to the customers which Holden have ordered be applied to remaining stock, but noted the discount which applies will vary from model to model.