Ford of Australia Accelerates Transformation

[russellw]

Ford prepares next phase of Australian product onslaught with launches of new Focus, Mondeo, Falcon, Mustang, Transit and Everest by 2015 – key to refreshing entire line-up by 2017

Global “One Ford” products made up nearly 80 per cent of the company’s sales in 2014

Ford’s business transformation is on track as the company helped the first wave of hourly and salaried manufacturing employees transition to new internal and external opportunities

Ford already has helped nine suppliers earn new business with the company’s regional and global operations, seeks to help others identify opportunities at Ford Supplier Trade Fair at March 12-13 in Geelong

Ford expects to be Australia’s largest auto employer by 2018; plans to hire about 20 marketing professionals this year, begins recruiting university graduates for jobs in 2015

MELBOURNE, March 6, 2014 – Ford is aggressively transforming its Australian business by accelerating new product launches, helping manufacturing employees impacted by 2016 plant closings transition to new opportunities, and beginning to hire to support the company’s future business growth.
The company’s new global products such as the Focus, Ranger and Fiesta are beginning to gain traction, making up about 80 percent of the company’s sales mix so far in 2014.
“Ford is absolutely committed to serving our customers with world-class vehicles with advanced technologies and innovative features,” said Bob Graziano, President and CEO, Ford of Australia. “We plan to continue this momentum by refreshing our entire lineup by 2017, including the launches of the new Focus, Mondeo, Falcon, Mustang, Transit and Everest by next year.”
Ford also is hiring in 2014 about 20 marketing and sales professionals to support this product onslaught and growth plans. The company also began recruiting in February university graduates for full-time positions expected to begin in 2015. Ford also expects to be the only automaker with a complete product development enterprise by 2017.
“As the industry transitions, we expect to become the country’s largest auto employer by 2018 – something we take great pride in considering this will include about 1,500 highly skilled employees across professions such as engineering and design,” said Graziano.
Ford also is making significant progress helping manufacturing employees and suppliers impacted by plant closings in 2016 transition to new opportunities.

Employees
Ford is providing competitive separation packages, including early voluntary separations where possible for manufacturing employees that find other employment, and career and financial planning resources. The company also contributed $10 million towards the Federal and Victorian Governments’ Geelong Region and Melbourne’s North Innovation and Investment Funds with the first round of projects to be announced soon.
“Helping employees transition to the next phases of their careers and lives is a critical priority for Ford,” said Graziano.
The company already has helped 20 employees move into roles in the company not impacted by the manufacturing transition or new jobs outside the company. Plans are being finalized for a number of additional employees to transition to new roles.
Ford also is working with Automotive Skills Australia – a training organisation funded by the Federal Government - to prepare employees for new opportunities. The company will build on this initiative by hosting jobs’ fairs at our facilities in Geelong in March and Broadmeadows in April for those seeking to move to new careers.

Suppliers
Ford continues to support a more orderly industry transition, including introducing suppliers to new business opportunities within the company’s global operations. The “match-making” strategy already has led to nine Australian companies earning business with Ford’s regional and global product operations.
“We have seen firsthand for many years the dedication and innovation of Australia’s auto suppliers,” said Graziano. “We are pleased to work with them to expand their expertise on a global scale.”
Ford seeks to identify even more of these opportunities by hosting a Ford Suppler Trade Fair at The Pier in Geelong March 12-13.

Dealers
Ford is promoting a healthier, more profitable and more viable dealer network by expanding our line-up of vehicles customers want and value. This includes the EcoSport launch in December 2013, the Transit Custom launched in February followed by the Transit two-tonne van later this year.
Importantly, Ford is on track for the launch of the refreshed Falcon and Territory later this year. And, the new Mondeo, Focus and Mustang will launch in 2015.

Source: Ford Media

[GTP534]

So refreshing to hearing good news!

[naddis01]

When the article said Focus, Mondeo, Falcon, Mustang, Transit and Everest by 2015 I took that to mean they launch this year. Then in the last line it says Mondeo, Focus and Mustang will launch in 2015. Nothing major I know but if you don't read the whole thing you get the wrong idea.

[Nikked]

Going to be a massive year!

[Bossxr8]

Nice to see Fords PR machine trying to paint a picture of them doing the right thing, while at the same time employees are having to fight tooth and nail to get the company to deliver anything they promised. If only the general public knew the real story. Reading things like this that paint of picture of Ford doing the right thing, which they aren't doing behind closed doors is a slap in the face to all the employees who are being blocked at every point in trying to get training, funding etc.

If it wasn't for ASA trying to get the ball rolling and the unions pushing for what they promised us we would still have the company dithering around wondering what the hell to do.

Rant over.

[csv8]

Yes it is good to hear good news...2014 will be a quiet year. Lets hope new product is in the first quarter of 2015....