Territory displayed at Bangkok Int. Show

[Dr Smith]

Ford press release:
http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=36230

All-New Ford Focus To Make its ASEAN Debut at the 33rd Bangkok International Motor Show

• The all-new Ford Focus is the next of eight all-new global One Ford vehicles to be introduced in ASEAN by mid-decade
• Ford stand at the ASEAN region's premiere auto show will feature an array of interactive displays and full range of Ford vehicles, including the expanded lineup of the class-leading Ford Fiesta and class-defining All-New Ford Ranger
• The Bangkok Show will serve as the ASEAN preview for the new Ford Territory premium SUV to gauge public interest

Ford will also use the Bangkok Show for the ASEAN preview of the Australian-built Ford Territory premium SUV to gauge customer interest and the feasibility of a local market introduction.

The new Ford Territory is a seven-seat crossover, equipped with a 2.7L TDCi V6 turbo-diesel engine with six-speed automatic transmission.

I wish they included an Ecoboost Falcon just for the hell of it, bugger it, I would have chipped in for the freight costs, lol.

[jpd80]

Excellent, I hope Ford Australia get positive feed back and start exports to RHD Asian countries, India and South Africa..

[Nikked]

Brilliant news!

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Excellent, I hope Ford Australia get positive feed back and start exports to RHD Asian countries, India and South Africa..

jpd80 would say 2000+ exports a month of combined Falcon & Terry make much diff?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

jpd80 would say 2000+ exports a month of combined Falcon & Terry make much diff?

Ok yeah, I think FoA would be happy with 500-800/mth for a start
and being RHD, minimal development cost....

NOTE: Holden can't follow - No diesel, No SUV and cars are over capacity for Thai tax limit.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Ok yeah, I think FoA would be happy with 500-800/mth for a start
and being RHD, minimal development cost....

NOTE: Holden can't follow - No diesel, No SUV and cars are over capacity for Thai tax limit.

I really believe that FoA won't get much Fed assistance without an export plan, maybe this is the start.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I really believe that FoA won't get much Fed assistance without an export plan, maybe this is the start.

Exporting within our region using vehicles and engines that stand a chance of selling well is a great start.
It depends if funding ismade conditional on LHD exports or whether Ford showing that the bulk of FAPA is RHD will carry weight.

[4.0i OHC]

I'm thrilled to see that Ford is considering exports of the Territory. It's truly a standout vehicle.

[GhiaEB]

High Aussie doller will hurt any exports that Ford could muster. It would fantastic if they could export the Tez and a massive bonus for Aussie manufacturing.

[EL Lupo]

As much as I'd love to see Territory exported , and therefore have a better shot at surviving in the long run.... I wouldn't count on it. FoA has a long history of recognising market opportunities..... then completely ignoring them.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by EL Lupo

As much as I'd love to see Territory exported , and therefore have a better shot at surviving in the long run.... I wouldn't count on it. FoA has a long history of recognising market opportunities..... then completely ignoring them.

However, when your back's up against the wall maybe that drive is more intense and has sharper focus. I would also like to believe that maybe some frankness from FoA could have been delivered to the parent company about past constraints and this time the parent has said, well OK do it uninhibited but it's your last roll of the dice.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

However, when your back's up against the wall maybe that drive is more intense and has sharper focus. I would also like to believe that maybe some frankness from FoA could have been delivered to the parent company about past constraints and this time the parent has said, well OK do it uninhibited but it's your last roll of the dice.

Let's not forget that not so long ago, there wasn't just one ford, there was six or seven of them each
operating pretty much independently but now FoA is an integral part of the Asia pacific and Africa region,
that gives them a much stronger voice and more friends willing to assist..

[Road_Warrior]

O rly

Hopefully this will also pave the way for Ecoboost Falcon exports in the region, should give FoA a nice little bit of incremental business.

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Ford press release:
http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=36230


I wish they included an Ecoboost Falcon just for the hell of it, bugger it, I would have chipped in for the freight costs, lol.

Dude, I'd have joined in on the crowd-fund to help out too.

I'd have been MOST keen on a Diesel Falcon being trialled for export. But the EcoBoost would be the major option, especially since I get the feeling we're going to see a barrage of Ecoboost advertising soon. It seems like Ford has been banking up on the advertising waiting for the Ecoboost release.

And since Bangkok generates it's own LPG and has it's own plants, I reckon even the ECOLPi would be viable too.


Lukeyson

[Road_Warrior]

Interesting that that is a US Ford media release - nothing about it on the FoA website.

Further interesting that the release refers to the Territory as a "premium SUV".

[Joe5619]

Great news, I hope the get a great reaction & let the exports begin. As mentioned above, the high AUD will hurt though..

Why isn't this all over local motor media news's?

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Great news, I hope the get a great reaction & let the exports begin. As mentioned above, the high AUD will hurt though..

Why isn't this all over local motor media news's?

Because holden are borrowing money again, so they don't leave Australia...

[FPV8U]

Fantastic news, lets hope they get an export program off the ground.

[sgt_doofey]

What's the bet it'll be engineered here in Australia, but manufactured over in Thailand if it goes ahead? Solves the problem of the high Aussie dollar and wages.
The tooling has already been made, would just have to ship it over there from Geelong...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

What's the bet it'll be engineered here in Australia, but manufactured over in Thailand if it goes ahead? Solves the problem of the high Aussie dollar and wages.
The tooling has already been made, would just have to ship it over there from Geelong...

A few more floods and disasters in Thailand might put an end to those ideas too..
Money talks and if the government offers a couple hundred million, I'm sure Ford will listen..

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by jpd80

A few more floods and disasters in Thailand might put an end to those ideas too..
Money talks and if the government offers a couple hundred million, I'm sure Ford will listen..

Don't get me wrong, it would be great for FoA if it's manufactured here, but there is a lot against that happening. It may be they manufacture the Terri in two (or more) countries?
All we need is the mining industry to tank so the bottom to fall out of the AU$ and Aussie manufacturing will be right again!

[malazn mafia]

I can see a lot of potential for FG falcon/SZ territory in Malaysia. The 2.0 ecoboost motor has around the same capacity as the equivalent Camry in Malaysia (Camry is considered a premium car, sells for $120,000RM=$40,000aud, go figure..). Road tax is quite low for a 2.0 litre engine. There is high demand for premium sedans and I believe that a mid-range model FG could very well compete with the 5-series/E-class (which are actually quite common over there), which have higher capacity motors and hence higher road tax than the 2.0 EB. SZ territory could also fare well, as diesel engines come under a different road tax bracket, and 2.7 is quite a small size for a diesel motor. Exported in kit form and assembled by a local Malaysian firm, a large portion of tariffs could be reduced...

[Rockape]

I would love to see this happen. Fingers crossed.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Don't get me wrong, it would be great for FoA if it's manufactured here, but there is a lot against that happening. It may be they manufacture the Terri in two (or more) countries?
All we need is the mining industry to tank so the bottom to fall out of the AU$ and Aussie manufacturing will be right again!

I'd say, stop looking at it in terms of a greenfield project and more like an evolution of existing
architecture that rolls in more of Ford's global mechanical and electrical packages. Couple that with
existing infrastructure that's already built and paid for with continued funding and I think we're good to go.
Look at Holden, one minute we're pulling out but... $275 million later we're investing a billion over ten years..

What impresses the American execs is that 25% cofunding from the Aussie government,
that gives them great cause to rejoice and not want to pull out, the right vehicles are the key to this...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

What's the bet it'll be engineered here in Australia, but manufactured over in Thailand if it goes ahead? Solves the problem of the high Aussie dollar and wages.
The tooling has already been made, would just have to ship it over there from Geelong...

Uh, no. The Thai plants arent configured to manufacture the Territory, and the costs to establish the capacity to make them there would be offset by the relatively low sales volume...it would take years to amortise thhose costs. We're probably talking as many sold in the ASEAN market as in Australia.

If Ford goes ahead with this (and that's a big if, but my beer is half full at the moment), this could potentially double the number of Terri's cranked out of Broadmeadows and could open the door for Ecoboost Falcons to go there to go head to head with the 'premium' Camry (think our Aurion but with a 4cyl). It would be a massive win for Ford Australia and cement it as the 'head' of Ford's Asia Pacific-Africa portfolio.

[Bossxr8]

If Ford say they will do it, just watch the Thai government introduce a new 30% sales tax on SUV's with engine sizes bigger than 2.6 litres.

They will **** this whole thing up to protect there own, and the aussie government will bend over and take it like a pack of little biatchessss.

Free Trade Agreements are great.

Its good to see Ford finally take a little bit of initiative and seek out export markets. I wonder if Detroit will sabotage it though.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

If Ford say they will do it, just watch the Thai government introduce a new 30% sales tax on SUV's with engine sizes bigger than 2.6 litres.

They will **** this whole thing up to protect there own, and the aussie government will bend over and take it like a pack of little biatchessss.

Free Trade Agreements are great.

Its good to see Ford finally take a little bit of initiative and seek out export markets. I wonder if Detroit will sabotage it though.

Considering it's a Ford US press release I'm assuming Ford Aust didn't exactly secretly get a Terry over to Thailand so maybe big brother already has said yes. Plus they don't make a RHD Explorer.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

If Ford say they will do it, just watch the Thai government introduce a new 30% sales tax on SUV's with engine sizes bigger than 2.6 litres.

They will **** this whole thing up to protect there own, and the aussie government will bend over and take it like a pack of little biatchessss.

Relax, Thailand stands to lose a lot by playing tricks with taxes, they will catch too many of their local products if they do..

Free Trade Agreements are great.

Its good to see Ford finally take a little bit of initiative and seek out export markets. I wonder if Detroit will sabotage it though.

Detroit is doing anything but, they could have closed down FoA's production anytime in the past six years if they really wanted to.
The fact that they are still willing to roll the dice and take a shot says to me that things are not as distorted as you think, business is tough.

[phillyc]

I'm loving this thread. It is great that Ford Asia Pacific is showcasing the Territory at the Bangkok show. It's great that it is also announced on the Ford US website.

What the Thai government potentially does with the 'free trade agreement' is entirely out of Ford's control unfortunately. Just like what happened last time a Territory was to be exported.

Having the diesel Territory exported can add much needed volume to our Australian production. Not only that as others have said, it could also pave the way for the EcoBoost Falcon.

My glass is more than half full on this one!

[Road_Warrior]

In fairness to the Thai government, think about this: an SUV with a 4 litre petrol engine is a hell of an impost from a fuel consumption and emissions point of view. Asian markets are used to small capacity petrol engines and diesels. They probably had a major WTF moment when they found out an SUV with a 4 litre engine was arriving.

The game has changed now...