General Motors’ Australian unit Holden is to ship its redesigned VE-series Commodore ‘ute’ to South Africa, badged as a Chevrolet.

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The company will also celebrate its 1000th ute (for utility or pickup truck) export to the country.


The new deal is the first export programme for the latest ute outside neighbouring New Zealand. This will be the fifth year Holden pickups have been shipped to South Africa.


The export model will be called the Chevrolet Lumina SS Ute, with similar specification and features to the sedan version already sold in South Africa.


General Motors South Africa marketing manager Des Fenner said the Lumina ute was the only vehicle of its kind in the market.

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Pickups are also called ‘bakkies’ there.

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