Feb Car Sales. Ford Down 20.1% !!!! Holden Down 10.2%.

[Bossxr8]

When are Ford going to take action and clear the decks of their incompetant sales and marketing fail teams?

The locally made stuff is actually holding it's own, it's all the imported stuff bar Ranger that has completely tanked. And ironically it's the stuff they spend the most advertising dollars on. Shows how much of a fail Fords advertising really is.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Bossxr8 your spot on...

The lack of Kuga, Focus and Fiesta sales is a good reason why Ford Australia needs a management reshuffle.

[duaned]

Originally Posted by BlueOvalPrint

So Ford, how are those TV ads featuring a smarmy woman with bags of shopping and talking up "plate sales" going for you?

Well the ad advertising the ecoboost kuga is pretty cool, but the chick in it, yum!!!

[1TUFFUTE]

People want CHEAP cars.....and FORD does NOT build CHEAP cars.
As mentioned above, you get what you pay for......and that extends to your day to day life driving around an asthmatic boring depressing cheap small car. Good luck to them I say.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Bossxr8 your spot on...

The lack of Kuga, Focus and Fiesta sales is a good reason why Ford Australia needs a management reshuffle.

I don't think its the cars, it's the FORD stigma. People are just waaaaaay over The Ford brand. It doesn't stand for anything anymore. Holden is the local hero , the euros are the prestige markes , the japs and Koreans are the tech and progressive standards with super value for money. People are just confused about what the Ford brand represents these days.

[Chopped]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

I don't think its the cars, it's the FORD stigma. People are just waaaaaay over The Ford brand. It doesn't stand for anything anymore. Holden is the local hero , the euros are the prestige markes , the japs and Koreans are the tech and progressive standards with super value for money. People are just confused about what the Ford brand represents these days.

And that's why you need effective marketing to change the perception of the brand.
The dealerships and service departments need to lift their act too.

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

People want CHEAP cars.....and FORD does NOT build CHEAP cars.
As mentioned above, you get what you pay for......and that extends to your day to day life driving around an asthmatic boring depressing cheap small car. Good luck to them I say.

Henry Ford will be turning in his grave

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

I don't think its the cars, it's the FORD stigma. People are just waaaaaay over The Ford brand. It doesn't stand for anything anymore. Holden is the local hero , the euros are the prestige markes , the japs and Koreans are the tech and progressive standards with super value for money. People are just confused about what the Ford brand represents these days.

Thats because Ford dont know how to market it or build a brand.

Mazda were in the same position 10 years ago (just when the mazda 3 came out).

Now look at them flourish. It all comes down to marketing and building a customer base that comes back.

Ford burnt so many people with Falcon's and Territory's over the last 10 years that they have lost them for good. You have to give your customers the support they want otherwise they will just throw you to the wall. Its all about building relationships, and its not just Ford to blame, but the dealers have done nothing to help the cause.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Thats because Ford dont know how to market it or build a brand.

Mazda were in the same position 10 years ago (just when the mazda 3 came out).

Now look at them flourish. It all comes down to marketing and building a customer base that comes back.

Ford burnt so many people with Falcon's and Territory's over the last 10 years that they have lost them for good. You have to give your customers the support they want otherwise they will just throw you to the wall. Its all about building relationships, and its not just Ford to blame, but the dealers have done nothing to help the cause.

It's gonna be very difficult. It will take a game changer to bring customers back in meaningful numbers to the whole range , not just a polished marketing campaign. It's sad , but with Ranger the only big seller , Ford will become the "truck" company to many.
Ironically , Ford may need to work together with the Koreans to survive , perhaps some sort of joint venture , like they had with Hyundai in the 60's.

From Wiki below:
Hyundai Motor Company was established in 1967. The company's first model, the Cortina, was released in cooperation with Ford Motor Company in 1968.

So here we are almost 50 years down the track and Fords survival outside of USA may very well depend on a return favour granted to one of its rivals a lifetime a go....... Just thinkin out loud of course, all conjecture.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Problem is the Koreans wont want them now!

All I can say is they have alot of work to do, especially in dealer land. If Ford were to fix the problem they would nearly have to go back into JV partnerships where they had some control over the dealerships, or atleast had company owned ones. Mercedes did it in Australia and its worked very well them as a brand.

A corporate mega Ford dealership in each state would be a good start.

[timeout]

Originally Posted by GS608

How is triton up 62%?! Probably the most out dated, ugliest 4x4 dual cab on the market! Must be selling them for peanuts..

Just checked...$36,990 for top of the range GLX-R 4x4

run out before the reskinned 2015 version.

remember the days of 8000a month for the commodore and 5000/6000 for the falcon.

now you have derivative models and things like the veedubs, corolla and mazda 3 taking it home with the 4x4 diesel utes.

the next game changer for that i think will be the Everest (if its not stupidly priced like a prado).

[borough]

501 FG X Sedans. Just close the doors already.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by borough

501 FG X Sedans. Just close the doors already.

+ Falcon Ute + Territory..................

[DFB FGXR6]

Apparently Ford are locked into the one global advertising agency which limits their ability to pick and choose campaigns. A take it or leave it situation.

Toyota on the other hand, put a vehicle out to tender. They stipulate the car, who the buyer group will be and then let a agencies pitch there campaigns with the best chosen.

[neptune blue]

I haven't seen a single add for the new falcon on TV ( although I don't watch a lot ). I think if you asked the man in the street they probably would even know there is a new model
The nose dive in sales isn't suprising . Same thing happend to Mitsubishi. No one wants to buy a car from someone that is going out of business

[russellw]

The first set of graphical stats for the month are uploaded now.

Cheers
Russ

[zilo]

Originally Posted by neptune blue

. Same thing happend to Mitsubishi. No one wants to buy a car from someone that is going out of business

They gave 10 year warranties with the 380 in the end, discounted and sold quite well in the end.

(and with the warranty exposure they haven't gone over budget cause the 380 proved to be almost bullet proof)

What do you reckon the chances of Ford giving out 10 year
warranties on a new Falcon/Territory???

Have they the same confidence in the product as Mitsubishi did?

Mitsubishi are faring quite well...I hope Ford know what they are doing cause it looks pretty bleak long term...

[neptune blue]

Originally Posted by zilo

They gave 10 year warranties with the 380 in the end, discounted and sold quite well in the end.

(and with the warranty exposure they haven't gone over budget cause the 380 proved to be almost bullet proof)

What do you reckon the chances of Ford giving out 10 year
warranties on a new Falcon/Territory???

Have they the same confidence in the product as Mitsubishi did?

Mitsubishi are faring quite well...I hope Ford know what they are doing cause it looks pretty bleak long term...

Any one that isn't building cars in Australia are faring well. Mitsubishi had to do something to move the 380 as they simply weren't selling

[RANGEREST]

Originally Posted by neptune blue

Any one that isn't building cars in Australia are faring well. Mitsubishi had to do something to move the 380 as they simply weren't selling

And nor is the falcon, hence zilos comments

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by zilo

They gave 10 year warranties with the 380 in the end, discounted and sold quite well in the end.

(and with the warranty exposure they haven't gone over budget cause the 380 proved to be almost bullet proof)

What do you reckon the chances of Ford giving out 10 year
warranties on a new Falcon/Territory???

Have they the same confidence in the product as Mitsubishi did?

Mitsubishi are faring quite well...I hope Ford know what they are doing cause it looks pretty bleak long term...

To be fair the 10 year warranty wasn't transferable. What percentage of people keep a new car for 10 years? I don't know but I would guess single digit percentages.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by neptune blue

The nose dive in sales isn't suprising . Same thing happend to Mitsubishi. No one wants to buy a car from someone that is going out of business

Yet Holdens drop is only half of fords... And vf sales easily eclipse falcon

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Chopped

Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla are the new Commodore and Falcon

And they are almost the size of a VS Commodore too! And bigger than an EH or XP... Maybe Australians like a car of certain dimensions and kilograms, no matter the age they are in?

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by borough

501 FG X Sedans. Just close the doors already.

They must wait till I get my new fgx ute in August. Last comphy ute for me. Will have it for 5 years then who knows what small cabin ute I will be in

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

And they are almost the size of a VS Commodore too! And bigger than an EH or XP... Maybe Australians like a car of certain dimensions and kilograms, no matter the age they are in?

I think you will find it is the Mazda 6 and Camry that are almost the size of a VS Commodore, not the 3 and Corolla.

[Windsor220]

I would think Ford are waiting for new models to be released this year before they go on a big marketing push.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

It's sad , but with Ranger the only big seller , Ford will become the "truck" company to many.
.

Go for it. Import F Series trucks, build the brand around it. Works for them in USA and Canada, where they are near top in sales.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by naddis01

I think you will find it is the Mazda 6 and Camry that are almost the size of a VS Commodore, not the 3 and Corolla.

Ah, I was thinking in kg, would have to go check. You might be right.

[Sprintey]

VS 1385kg
E160 Corolla 1050kg
3rd Gen Mazda 3 1315kg
2013 Mazda 6 1462kg

that 3 is heavy!

[minheim]

Falcon production is limited so no point flogging them hard. I suspect a big reason Ford sales are tanking is the DCT transmission in fiesta and the focus and the delay in the new mondeo. Those transmissions have a bad reputation and that is the reason I didn't buy a focus last year when buying a new car when downsizing to a single car in place of two; otherwise I would have bought one. The other negative factors are the three year warranty and pretty uninspiring advertising.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

A corporate mega Ford dealership in each state would be a good start.

Just having the existing dealers become user friendly would be a huge start.

The truth here is that ford wont see any type of increase in sales until after AU manufacturing closes down. The current stigma around the brand is holding it back.

After the ball and chain of manufacturing is cut off, the brand will be shopped just like all the others:
Shopping Experience
Product
Price/Value
Warranty/Service Offer
X Factor

Being smashed ATM as the Japanese brands reduce prices due to the FTA, same for US brands, Koreans not willing to loose any ground and pricing/packaging accordingly.

Im still optimistic about Ford AU, but they have a long way to go.