Holden decision good news for Samoa Yazaki
General manager of Yazaki Samoa says General Motors' call to wind up Holden operation in Australia is good news.
Transcript
The general manager of the manufacturer Yazaki Samoa says General Motors' decision to wind up its Holden operation in Australia is good news for his company.
Yazaki Samoa supplied Holden with automotive components until some years ago when the firm's Indonesian branch took over.
The Samoa branch employs about 900 people and supplies Toyota with automotive components.
It now makes only parts and accessories for older models of Holden, which will not be manufactured in Australia after 2017.
Funefea'i Oliva Va'ai told Annell Husband that will have no impact on his business.
FUNEFEA'I OLIVA VA'AI: No, no, not at all, this will be good news for us. Manufacturing trying to make these old accessories means that we had to keep a lot of old stock, really slow moving stock.
ANNELL HUSBAND: Now, in terms of Toyota, obviously you're pretty dependent on them remaining in Australia aren't you?
FOV: Yes, yes.
AH: And what assurance do you have, I mean I know that an assurance has been given by the Australian Prime Minister that Toyota will remain in Australia as long is its a profitable stand alone operation, how confident are you that it will stay there?
FOV: I believe our contract takes us up until 2016 and I believe from within internal sources within Yazaki that a contract must not be tied up from 2017 to 2022 - the only reason we have been very optimistic and keeping our fingers crossed so yeah, everything will fall into place.
AH: And are you seeking new customers or are you fully occupied supplying to Totoya?
FOV: Well we'd like to have a more diversified operation. Currently our RMB division which is Melbourne-based is looking at other new business, but it takes a while to sort of secure any new business.
AH: Yes of course. And can I ask what exactly, what are the parts that you do supply to Toyota?
FOV: We do all the wiring in the car, body harness, lights, the whole system.
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