Major Ford announcement

[buddy92]

Originally Posted by Gadgetman

I think Ford Aust should really be commended in the way they have handled this. They have no doubt given this decision lots of thought. I suppose we all knew the writing was on the wall but good to see Ford have announced this miles before D-day. This gives everyone of those 1200 people who will lose their jobs an ample opportunity to transit to new careers.
Now after having read all the posts on this thread, I must say that for those that are carrying on as if they have lost one of their pet dogs to a hit and run, "Get over it". Its a motor car made by a car company that's here to run a business. If Samsung discontinued the Galaxy 4 tomorrow and the masses were crying about it, I would call them Geeks. Ahhh, I know what we can call a bunch of blokes that cry over a discontinued car.... "A bunch of flogs"

I did lose my 20yr old dog to a hit and run 3 days ago.

And I'm sure its not "just a car".

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

There's clearly value in the marketing side of V8SC, otherwise Nissan, Chrysler and others would not be interested in taking part.

The only value is in trying to support the actual event itself. What value has Ford or the falcon gleaned from this event of late.........

Win on Sunday sell on Monday died in the 70's.

[Mighty Reds]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

It's a massive issue and we never hear about the little guy closing down.

One of the saddest days in my life was when my parents told the family they were closing their 30+ year business.

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by ESP

The only value is in trying to support the actual event itself. What value has Ford or the falcon gleaned from this event of late.........

Win on Sunday sell on Monday died in the 70's.

Very true - the emphasis now is on building the overall brand as opposed to just flogging Falcons or Commodores.

That is why V8SC as an organisation has gone to such great lengths to expand the appeal of the sport through the COTF, getting new brands involved and so on. With a wider audience, the sport becomes a more viable platform to advertise/promote.

A big push with the new formula has been to make the sport cheaper for manufacturers. Clearly it was getting too expensive to be sustainable. The intention is that a COTF should cost half of what the old cars cost to build.

[GTJOHN]

Very sad news , but life goes on.. I will still loev my fords & would continue to buy the brand if i was in the market. I feel for all the employees, im in the same boat, my role & many others have just been outsourced overseas and im left in the cold..Not a pleasant feeling, but it happens . Would have been a hard descision, but how long can they continue to run at a loss ???....
Maybe one day they will return..in the meantime i hope all employees can see it through and find quick redeployment elsewhere when the time comes...
Good Luck to all FORD employees & associated employees
and Good luck to FORD, hope to see many uality products after 2016 continue

[V8 6I]

So is everyone going to your local dealer in September 2016 and order the last one off the line or the first one off the boat?

[M4CO]

[gsd112]

Due to change over the G6ET in 2016, would of got another but not to be. Hopefully it will be replaced with something with a bit of grunt if not it will be either a SRT8 or SSV.
Sad but not the end of the world!!!!

[EASYBOSS]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

and the current Explorer/Taurus are fantastic cars.

Having also spent 50% of the last 5 years in the US, I do have to agree, got to love rental Fords

[350125GO]

Whens the FH Falcon set to hit?

[Swedishmoose]

Hi Folks,


well first and foremost I want to let anybody know that i feel for all the Ford workers in Broadmeadows and Geelong who are impacted by this decision.

However, it wasn't really a surprise. Of course people tend to blame governments and politicians and managers for it but the issues were and are a lot more complex.

All local car manufacturers (Ford, Holden, Toyota Australia)are suffering from several impacts which just leaves almost nothing below the bottom line.

But there is a major difference.

While Holden and Toyota Australia have offset the declining demand in Australia for their large cars by opening up more export markets in other countries, Ford was pretty much solely focussing on Australia and New Zealand alone.

Toyota Australia sells 60% of their output in Altona/Vic. to countries in the middle east (United Arab Emirates etc.) and Holden started to sell the Monaro and the Commodore as niche models in North America (USA,Canada) as a Pontiac GTO and Pontiac G8 respectively while the Commodore and Caprice were also sold to the middle east as Chevrolet models.

Even the brand new Commodore will be sold in the US as a Chevrolet model and experts said that if every GM dealer in the US would sell two of these models that would accumulate about 6000-10000 cars a year and that could be the difference between make or break.

I have always been annoyed that Ford US did not open any other export opportunities for our excellent Falcon and Territory.

There was a time, when Ford AUS prepared the Territory to be exported from AUS to the Thailand market.
After Australia signed the FTA (free trade agreement) with Thailand, they changed their mind and did not allow the Territory to enter the Thai market under the freshly signed FTA agreement.
However, the Fiesta, Focus and Ranger were and are still exported from Thailand to Australia within the same FTA agreement.
So we can't export the Territory to Thailand "duty free" but they can flood our market with Fiestas, Focuses and Rangers???

So Ford couldn't sell more cars through exporting because they were not allowed to enter new markets and the domestic market for Ford in Australia was declining rapidly because of the high australian dollar which made imported cars a lot cheaper. And as a few mentioned...there are not really any bad cars anymore.

Holden and Toyota Australia were and are still facing the same circumstances as Ford but it seems that through opening more export markets and improving the economies of scale they got away with it for now.


I still hope things might change because OCT 2016 is still far away. I am hoping that Ford did this to force the government to do something about the high Australian Dollar and if circumstances change, Ford might change their mind.
Although once an announcement like this has been made it is unlikely that it will be pulled back.

Maybe some wealthy enthusiasts buy the tooling and make some very special models of Falcon and Territory on demand. Another idea would be that FPV would be spun of from the main operations and remains as a stand allone FPV business.


I simply can't get my head arround the lack of opportunities FORD USA has given Ford AUS in terms of export markets.

Well...my five cents...I am deeply frustrated and a bit sad. The only reason why I couldn't buy a new FPV F6 or even an XR6 is the lack of wealth. I am taking good care of our AU Falcon and hope that things might change for the better.


Cheers guys


The Moose

[yakcam]

Well, I feel a little empty inside. The end of an era is nigh.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are now custodians of Fords rich history here in Australia. Look after your Australian built Fords. I think we, as a community need to preserve them, whether in stock form or modified. Make them last for generations to come so that they will be able to enjoy the Ford’s that were made in Australia too. It’s really our responsibility to do that IMHO.

I know that there will no longer be any younger siblings to my Fairmont’s and Falcon, but they’re not dead. I plan on my old girls living long after I’ve fallen off the perch.

Thank you to all the workers past and present who gave us the cars, pride and passion.

And I appreciate that Ford gave the workers 3 years notice of the plans to close production. So many times we’ve seen the lock out situation where workers are suddenly out of work. I tip my hat to them for giving such huge notice to their workers.

But my deepest sympathies to the workers too. I can only wish you the best and hope that you find something fulfilling and rewarding in the future. My thoughts are with you.

Kraig

[DANNO178]

Yes how long will holden last ?

[Swedishmoose]

Originally Posted by Marty76

Who won the bloody war. Aussie patriots are driving jap cars and the toffs are driving Kraut cars. Even the police are driving front wheel drive pieces of ****. Fleet cars... what a nightmare for the AUSTRALIAN brand. Could the government save Ford Australia now....The yanks saved Ford USA years back why cant our government!!

Ford was the only US car maker that wasn't saved by the US government....they managed that on their own. But Chrysler and GM needed government help.

But I hear you....every government subsidises their car industry in different ways.

cheers

The Moose

[AU Mont]

I wonder if any of these changes will mean dealership restructuring?

[GT-spec15]

Well said Moose

A healthy export deal or two would have gone a long way towards keeping the Falcon ticking.

I am pretty sure export is the ONLY reason Caprice can still exist, given they sell about two a month here!

[Falco GT51]

Sad day! I feel for all the employees, families and related businesses.

Thanks for the past Falcons and I hope the new model goes out with a bang!
October 2016 the last true Australian made car!

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by AU Mont

I wonder if any of these changes will mean dealership restructuring?

I don't see any great impact. Through my past employment I serviced a number of large metro Ford dealers, and it was obvious that their 'focus' was on the smaller cars already.

Instead of one or two Falcons in the showroom, there will be another Ranger or Fiesta.

[2011G6E]

Still noticing a lot of "but mah RWD!!" comments...

The staggering majority of the buying public don't care about that...getting the tail out is hardly high on peoples requirements for a cars abilities. 0-100 times even less so. 1/4 mile times even further down the list. V8's? Dropping sharply, and have been for quite some time outside of a small core of enthusiasts. They're simply no longer seen as a "logical" choice for a family car anymore as they once were decades ago...the people I work with who have V8 Holdens and Falcons only do so because of leasing arrangements...if they had to spend over a grand a year of their own money registering the thing they say they wouldn't own one.

The mid-sized SUV is taking over, and has been on the rise for some time. The car makers in the USA didn't see the writing on the wall when they turned over tooling to make those ridiculous great 10mpg monstrosities like Suburbans and H2 Hummers many years back, when the public decided smaller was more sensible, and they needed rescuing by the government.
Australian car makers have persisted with large cars long after thier peak of popularity had come and gone. Now Ford is the first to pay the price.

A lot of car makers...sadly especially Australian ones...are very slow to see emerging trends and assume they can keep on doing as they have always done.

[No.6]

does this mean we get the mustang? for cheaper?

Most definitely sad news....

[gtfpv]

yeah . i'm very dissapointed we cant comptete with cheap wages overseas . the bad thing is how are we supposed to live in one of the most expensive countries on earth , withoutan income / or working country , how is anyone supposed to get by . the country is becoming a bill paying country and thats about it .

[GT-spec15]

What I find really sad is the EcoBoost Falcon.

Every review I read was full of praise and effectively said the new motor was superior to the 6 in almost every way.

Too little too late though...I have seen three or four on the road.

[GT-spec15]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

yeah . i'm very dissapointed we cant comptete with cheap wages overseas . the bad thing is how are we supposed to live in one of the most expensive countries on earth , withoutan income / or working country , how is anyone supposed to get by . the country is becoming a bill paying country and thats about it .

Over the past few decades we have become a service driven economy, rather than a manufacturing hub.

[rdmr]

Shattered and gutted.
But I'll be back to work monday, like boss. And as he said quality will not drop off, we still love what we do.
And to think Toyota up the road is putting on 140 workers at the moment and going to add a third vehicle to production. But they are global platforms, and that is where we should have, could have gone. Like ranger, or everest or even focus which could have lead into kuga.
They said they tried very avenue to stay in production but,....they didn't try hard enough did they.
Goeff Polities would be turning in his grave.
He would have said 'hell no!'

don't know what else to say at the moment..

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

What I find really sad is the EcoBoost Falcon.

Every review I read was full of praise and effectively said the new motor was superior to the 6 in almost every way.

Too little too late though...I have seen three or four on the road.

makes you wonder doesnt it . probably the u.s putting us out of work moreso than our own doing

[GT-spec15]

rdmr good comments, all the best.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

Over the past few decades we have become a service driven economy, rather than a manufacturing hub.

Agreed, and to our detriment.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Gadgetman

I think Ford Aust should really be commended in the way they have handled this. They have no doubt given this decision lots of thought. I suppose we all knew the writing was on the wall but good to see Ford have announced this miles before D-day. This gives everyone of those 1200 people who will lose their jobs an ample opportunity to transit to new careers.
Now after having read all the posts on this thread, I must say that for those that are carrying on as if they have lost one of their pet dogs to a hit and run, "Get over it". Its a motor car made by a car company that's here to run a business. If Samsung discontinued the Galaxy 4 tomorrow and the masses were crying about it, I would call them Geeks.

Yes, it's quite fascinating reading all the posts about how this is like a family member dying. I can sympathise with that sentiment but I'm not in that camp and put this in the same category as Mobil selling out its retail petrol outlets . A trusted brand that had been around for yonks that is no longer….but business is business and times change. The worst thing to come out of all this is hundreds losing their jobs and my heart goes out to them and their families . But…. at least they have 3 years to plan their future and either find alternative employment, or reskill and enter an entirely different industry. As they say one door closes and another one opens. Most workers employed in a loss making organisation often get told the bad news enmasse on a Friday afternoon and told not to return Monday, typically before a Christmas break. At least Ford showed some dignity in how they handled it and had their financial results in hand to back up their actions. They need credit for that.

Should the government have handed over more cash to prop up the company?....Well, that’s a debatable point and any benefit that would have arisen out of that would have only been temporary. Besides where would the money have come from . The country's broke !

The talk by some that the company could have been saved had forum members reached into their back pocket and bought a new Ford, while quite likely, is a bit fanciful and something I find quite insulting to be honest. Not all of us are in a position to have upwards of $30k to spend given other commitments.

As to the future for me personally, well I own a Ford, my 10th in fact and the owner of no other brand since starting to drive back in the late 70's and provided I can get parts to keep it running until I'm ready to go back into the market for another car, I'll be happy and content. All this does is reduce options when going into the market for a new car.

[Mr G8]

I don't know what to think...

I'm just at a loss for words, i feel so sad for the workers who take the brunt of this closure....

[GT0132]

Yes, it's quite fascinating reading all the posts about how this is like a family member dying. I can sympathise with that sentiment but I'm not in that camp and put this in a similar category as Mobil selling out its retail petrol outlets . A trusted brand that had been around for yonks that is no longer….but business is business and times change. The worst thing to come out of all this is hundreds losing their jobs and my heart goes out to them and their families . But…. at least they have 3 years to plan their future and either find alternative employment, or reskill and enter an entirely different industry. As they say one door closes and another one opens. Most workers employed in a loss making organisation often get told the bad news enmasse on a Friday afternoon and told not to return Monday, typically before a Christmas break. At least Ford showed some dignity in how they handled it and had their financial results in hand to back up their actions. They need credit for that.

Should the government have handed over more cash to prop up the company?....Well, that’s a debatable point and any benefit that would have arisen out of that would have only been temporary. Besides where would the money have come from . The country's broke !

The talk by some that the company could have been saved had forum members reached into their back pocket and bought a new Ford, while quite likely, is a bit fanciful and something I find quite insulting to be honest. Not all of us are in a position to have upwards of $30k to spend given other commitments.

As to the future for me personally, well I own a Ford, my 10th in fact and the owner of no other brand since starting to drive back in the late 70's and provided I can get parts to keep it running until I'm ready to go back into the market for another car, I'll be happy and content. All this does is reduce options when going into the market for a new car.