The Holden Commodore is an automobile produced by the Holden division of General Motors (GM) in Australia, and formerly in New Zealand. In the late 1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with an all-new smaller model. Holden looked to Opel (another GM subsidiary) for inspiration, and based the Commodore on the Opel Rekord. The German marque continued to provide the basis for future generations until the launch of the fourth generation model in 2006, which came to be Holden's most expensive project yet and boasted an all-Australian design.

First generation (1978–1988)
Second generation (1988–1997)
Third generation (1997–2006)
Fourth generation (2006–present)

The 2006 Holden VE Commodore is the first Commodore model designed entirely in Australia instead of being based on adapted Opel-sourced platforms.Given this and high public expectations of quality, the budget in developing the car reportedly exceeded AU$1 billion.

Underpinned by the new GM Zeta platform, the VE features new, more sophisticated independent suspension all round and near perfect 50:50 weight distribution, leading to superior handling. Engines and transmissions are largely carried over from the previous VZ model. However, a new six-speed GM 6L80-E automatic transmission was introduced for V8 variants, replacing the old four-speed automatic now relegated to base models.

Since its release, the VE has garnered critical acclaim, including being awarded the prestigious Wheels Car of the Year, the fifth Commodore model to receive this. The VE Ute was subsequently released on August 22, 2007, followed shortly by the unveiling of a Sportwagon concept.

The design of this new model included innovative features to help minimise export costs, such as a symmetrical centre console that houses a flush-fitting handbrake lever to facilitate its conversion to left-hand drive. The mainstream VE also forms the basis of the long-wheelbase WM Statesman and Caprice.