Holden has announced it will add a second production shift at its V6 engine facility in Port Melbourne after increases in orders.
From this week, the plant will increase the number of engines it produces each day from 240-320 to 440.
According to Holden, the production increase reflected improved export ordersand a short term rise in manufacturing volumes at Holden vehicle assembly plant in Adelaide, whereCommodore is made.
Holden says it has received an increase in orders for its V6 engines which are exported to markets including South Korea, China and Mexico.
The company is also seeing increased local demand for Commodore after launching the new advanced SparkIgnition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine in 3.0 and 3.6 litre variants.
The engine plant moved to a single shift in June, since then the plant has been running at a daily rate of 240 to 320 engines a day.
The daily rate is said to rise to 440 engines a day until the end of the year and remain at 400 engines per day through January and February.
Holden’s plant at Elizabeth in South Australia, where the Commodore is built, will continue to operate on a singleshift, manufacturing 340 cars a day.
The rate was increased earlier this month from the previous buildrate of 310 cars a day.
This increased volume is intended to address anticipated demand for vehicles ahead of the 31 December deadline for the Government’s 50% investment allowance.