Australian PM "angry" over death of iconic car brand

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that he is "angry" about the death of iconic Australian car brand Holden.

General Motors (GM), the U.S. parent company of Holden, announced on Monday that the brand will be retired by 2021.

It comes three years after Holden ended its Australian manufacturing operations in 2017. The brand's sales have hit their lowest point since manufacturing began in Australia in 1948.

Responding to the announcement on Monday evening, Morrison said that he was "disappointed" by the way that GM has let the Holden brand "wither away."

"I am angry, like I think many Australians would be. Australian taxpayers put millions into this multinational company. They let the brand just wither away on their watch. Now they are leaving it behind," he said, according to The Australian.

GM announced in December, 2013 that due to a "perfect storm" of poor economic conditions, it would stop making cars in Australia in 2017.

On Monday, the Australian government said the PM's office was told of GM's decision before it was announced publicly.

"I don't think it's acceptable for Holden to have made this decision without any consultation with the government and without significant advice of that decision," Karen Andrews, the Minister for Industry, said.

"Now I understand they need to communicate and consult with their workers, but quite frankly, this is an unacceptable process that Holden has undertaken.

"I will be speaking to the board and I will be asking what their plans are."