The Holden company was originally a coach building business in Australia. At the turn of the century when cars were becoming popular, the Australian government was charging high import duties on cars to encourage an Australian auto manufacturing industry. Lacking the technology for producing chassis and engines in those years, "rollers" were imported from Canada at a reduced duty rate because of being a British member country. Having the skilled coach building craftsmen, the transition to car body building was easy. General Motors bought shares in the company and Hoden built bodies for Buicks, Cadillacs, Pontiacs, Chevrolets, Williys, Essex and many other brands including European and Ford until Ford built it's own factory in 1925. Holden produced unique body styles for its domestic market and after World War Two, General Motors bought the company outright and produced the Holden car in 1948 which was based on a compact economy Buick. designed in Detroit during the depression for the U.S. market. Since that time Holden styling was influenced by American trends and shared some mechanical components including engines.