Ford production changes drive confidence in a brighter future

[pearlhead]

After all the depressing headlines about their closure, it's good to see something positive for once

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au...-brig/1893025/

PACIFIC Motor Group dealer principal Craig McPherson believes Ford has a bright future in Australia despite the announcement that it will cease production by 2016, cutting 1200 jobs at its Victorian plants in the process.
"It's never a good day when job losses of that scale are announced, but strategically it will place Ford in a much better position in the future," he said.
"From 2016 the Australian business will be transformed from a manufacturing base to a focus on new products for Australian customers, as well as enhancing the sales and service experience and improving its overall business efficiency and profitability.
"Ford in Australia plans to proceed with updated versions of the Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory in 2014, as well as offering other products, such as the Ford Kuga, Ranger and Focus. We will also see a 30% increase in the number of new vehicles offered to Australian customers by 2016, so there is a lot to look forward to."
Mr McPherson said it is business as usual on the Sunshine Coast.
"Our dealerships at Maroochydore, Noosa and Currimundi are in a strong position and geared for growth in the future.
"We've recently invested over $300,000 in a major upgrade of our Ford facility at Currimundi and we've continued to hire new staff across the Coast. Sales have also been very strong for the first half of the year thanks largely to the popularity of the Ford Focus." Mr McPherson said.

[barnz_xr8]

ford are the biggest dogs ever , would they still go if we didnt have a free trade with thailand??

[GT-spec15]

Maybe not..but we do, and they did. Simple.

It's great to hear positive sentiment from someone whose livelihood depends on shifting metal.

[barnz_xr8]

its not simple to me its realy painfull to see the country i love going down the toilet. simple.

[mik]

Originally Posted by barnz_xr8

ford are the biggest dogs ever , would they still go if we didnt have a free trade with thailand??

Personally I think they gave it a good shot in the trying times of the current economic climate, they persevered for some years without making a dollar, if I was in business I would not have waited nearly as before packing up operations to somwhere I could make a dollar like thaland or manilla.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by barnz_xr8

its not simple to me its realy painfull to see the country i love going down the toilet. simple.

and you choose to blame ford for this, because . . . .

[barnz_xr8]

because of pure greed, at any time they could have manufactured another model here ranger fiesta ect ect but they did not ,they probably had advisers and did audits ect and it would have came up with thailand ie freetrade cheap labour = more cash, so i blame ford for this, because it cost australian jobs , does that not worry u gtxb67

[GT-spec15]

barnz...this thread started out of a desire to publish some POSITIVE sentiment that has arisen since the decision.

There are other threads if you want to complain about the mechanics behind the decision.

[barnz_xr8]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

barnz...this thread started out of a desire to publish some POSITIVE sentiment that has arisen since the decision.

There are other threads if you want to complain about the mechanics behind the decision.

ture true i just needed a rant my bad.

[stevz]

It's a bit hard to be positive when they have thrown away 90 years of this country's pride and heritage in order to flood us with more imports.

[WILDB]

I'd really like to know how many brand new Australian made Fords some of these people slagging off the Ford Motor Company have purchased recently?

It's all well and good for people to call them dogs, scum, traitors, sellouts etc. but when people don't buy the vehicles what choice do they have? Continue making huge losses?

[neptune blue]

They have to talk it up so that buyers don't abandon the brand
We can only blame ourselves for the demise of the falcon
Problem is I'm not interested in owning a festiva, focus or mondeo

[PridenJoy]

What's the positive news exactly in the OP? I'm struggling to see anything other than spin and BS.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by WILDB

I'd really like to know how many brand new Australian made Fords some of these people slagging off the Ford Motor Company have purchased recently?

It's all well and good for people to call them dogs, scum, traitors, sellouts etc. but when people don't buy the vehicles what choice do they have? Continue making huge losses?

I wasn't aware that I had to buy a new Falcon to have an opinion on Ford, cool.
Now I assume the constant 'insert opposition manufacturer here' bashing will follow similar guidelines...

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by stevz

It's a bit hard to be positive when they have thrown away 90 years of this country's pride and heritage in order to flood us with more imports.

You'll get over it.

[WILDB]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I wasn't aware that I had to buy a new Falcon to have an opinion on Ford, cool.
Now I assume the constant 'insert opposition manufacturer here' bashing will follow similar guidelines...

I was merely asking a question.

I find it quite interesting that people are prepared to slag Ford to death over such things as canning the Fairlane/LTD, Falcon wagon, XR8 etc, yet never put their money where their mouth (or keyboard in this case) was and actually supported Ford Australia to give them a reason to keep producing them - i.e. people actually buying them.....

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by neptune blue

They have to talk it up so that buyers don't abandon the brand

Incorrect.

I know a number of dealers, and ex-Ford marketing folk and all seem rather upbeat about the future, and the prospect of having more vehicles on the lot that actually sell.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

Incorrect.

I know a number of dealers, and ex-Ford marketing folk and all seem rather upbeat about the future, and the prospect of having more vehicles on the lot that actually sell.

I felt the same, I had my car on for POM inspection and the sales guys were very upbeat. As were the service dept, seems since I was last at ford getting services the whole place has turned 180 degrees.

[GT-spec15]

There may not be visible, flashy TV campaigns for Falcon these days, but there's still a LOT of money spent marketing/selling the product, and dealers will now be able to divert those funds towards cars that sell.

I think it's a pretty good time to be a Ford dealer, once we get past this adjustment phase.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by pearlhead

After all the depressing headlines about their closure, it's good to see something positive for once

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au...-brig/1893025/

What is positive?
Of course you will still have dealers selling imported Fords, we all know that!!!

Is that dealership going to hire a few sacked workers?

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by WILDB

I was merely asking a question.

I find it quite interesting that people are prepared to slag Ford to death over such things as canning the Fairlane/LTD, Falcon wagon, XR8 etc, yet never put their money where their mouth (or keyboard in this case) was and actually supported Ford Australia to give them a reason to keep producing them - i.e. people actually buying them.....

And if they don't have the money to put where there mouth is they therefore have no right to an opinion I take it.

[Auslandau]

Thanks for the news story pearlhead but think we will leave it here unfortunately.