Ford exports 100 Territory's to Thailand

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Brazen

As a regular visitor to SE Asia, I can assure you that they would love a G6E Ecoboost, however you need to give it the 17inch polished alloys from the series 1 G6E, the 18 inch wheel is too plain . You will also need to replace the weird position lights with daytime running lamps, everything else is perfect. The biggest seller in the mid-luxury class is the Camry V which is basically a 4 cylinder version of a Aurion Presara without the sunroof. Room, style and class is the biggest attribute of the mid-luxury class in SE Asia and the Falcon blows the Accord, Maxima and Camry away in that respect.

No doubt, Ford has its eyes and ears all over what you're saying but it's worth knowing that
Ford is not twiddling their thumbs but must be patient and work in with the wishes of FAPA.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Great news for FoA and if JPFS1 is right about a couple of thousand vehicles, all the better.
Like others have said, I wonder whether Ecoboost Falcon would work in RHD FAPA countries,
perhaps as a an alternative product in place of Mondeo?

It is fantastic news! Finally something positive for FoA.

If it's successful, it would probably be more welcome in Japan, than the current Explorer being offered. I just think they'd prefer the style, and power trains.

[Pepscobra]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257A5D0016DD4B


News - Ford Territory
Ford Territorys roll out to Thailand


On a boat: Ford Australia has sent 100 Territory SUVs to Thailand, with an eye to exporting more in the future.
100 Aussie Territorys shipped to Thailand as Ford Australia tests export waters

17 August 2012
By MIKE COSTELLO
FORD Australia has embarked on a crucial export deal, sending 100 examples of its locally built and designed Territory SUV to Thailand this week.

The vehicles – all flagship all-wheel-drive Titanium diesel variants – set sail from Melbourne’s Webb Dock earlier this week as a toe-in-the-water exercise for Ford Australia, which will seek to gauge public interest with an eye towards more substantial export deals down the track.

The deal comes seven years after Ford Australia last sent its popular SUV to the bustling South-East Asian nation, with a small number of first-generation models exported in 2005.

The decision to export the Territory results from a strong reception Ford Thailand received when it displayed a Titanium variant at the Bangkok motor show in March this year.

The Thai export deal is a slight reversal of a familiar flow for Ford Australia, with a growing number of vehicles including the Fiesta, Focus and Ranger – plus the forthcoming EcoSport and Escape SUVs – all sourced from Thailand.

This trend is not limited to Ford, with Thailand the third-largest source of vehicles for the Australian new vehicle market, even outstripping locally manufactured vehicles.

To the end of July, 84,508 Thai-made vehicles were sold here, behind Japan (234,429) and Korea (84,724), but ahead of Australia (79,433).

Ford Australia president and CEO Bob Graziano said the small-scale export deal was an important step for the car-maker, which has experienced a marked decline in sales of its locally made Falcon range in recent years.

“This is an exciting day for everyone here at Ford Australia,” he said.

“This is a small but important deal and will provide an important base on which to potentially build further exports.

“Building on the success of the Territory in Australia and New Zealand, we expect the Territory Titanium model to do well in Thailand. It’s clear Thai customers want the roominess of a seven-seater and the features available in the Territory Titanium.”

Ford Australia brand communications manager Neil McDonald told GoAuto that, while the company was closely monitoring this latest export deal, there were currently no plans to expand the program to other Asian markets such as Indonesia or Malaysia.

Thailand is the second export market for Territory after New Zealand, with more than 12,000 examples sent across the Tasman Sea since 2004.

The Thai-market Territory is powered by the European-sourced 2.7-litre TDCi V6 turbo-diesel engine that reduces an impost placed on all foreign imports into Thailand, thereby making exports from Australia more viable.

Despite the existence of a supposed Free Trade Agreement between the two nations, Thailand imposes a 60 per cent registration penalty on foreign cars with petrol engines over 3.0 litres in capacity, but this is reduced to 50 per cent for diesel engines over 2.0 litres.

Confirmation of the export deal is welcome news for Ford Australia, which last month announced it would cut vehicle production at its manufacturing plant in Broadmeadows by almost 30 per cent from November, in response to continuing poor sales of its Falcon stalwart.

The company also announced 440 job cuts at the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants – almost 25 per cent of the total workforce.

The reduction in daily vehicle production – from 209 units to 148 – means Territory production will account for almost half of total vehicles running off the production line.

Territory sales have been a bright spot for the Blue Oval in Australia, growing by 35.2 per cent this year, mostly on the back of the well-received diesel added to the range as part of a substantial facelift in April last year.

The Falcon-based Territory is one of Australia’s biggest-selling SUVs, with 8779 units sold to the end of July, placing it ahead of key rivals such as the Toyota Kluger and Holden Captiva 7.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by csv8

Thats great news !!! but its one sided.
"But it’s turned out to be anything but a free-trade agreement. Thailand levies a 50 per cent excise on cars with an engine capacity less than 3.0 litres and 60 per cent for those with a larger engine capacity, so Thai-bound exports have stalled while tens of thousands of Thai-built cars and utes have flowed into Australia." from Drive article .
Great Ford are exporting to Thai, but the evil excise comes into play. We get excise free cars from Thailand costing us jobs. Focus was to be built here.
Lets see more exports..beat Holden !!!!

If that is correct then a pox on those who negotiated this "free trade deal"
Bill.

[new2ford]

Wait till the Thais start coming afoul of the quality issues without the benefit of a cheap and sympathetic home-grown support base. If you're exporting cars you need to be absolutely top notch in every respect because if something goes wrong away from home ground it's not good news for the owner - and ultimately for your reputation.

Not raining on the parade but have owned two Territories which I suspect virtually nobody on this thread so far has. Beautifully designed car marred by indifferent quality, but that's OK if you look after it like a baby and you live in Australia where there's the support and knowledge base to help you along with minimal damage to the wallet. That's the reality I'm afraid.

[jpd80]

Territorys were supposed to be exported to South Africa too but something went wrong with the deal..

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Territorys were supposed to be exported to South Africa too but something went wrong with the deal..

I thought they were exported to South Africa in 2004 when they first came out but that stopped after a while? And haven't they been continuously exported to NZ since 2004? (For those who don't assume that NZ is part of Australia and therefore doesn't count!)

[Nikked]

Good to see them note its Falcon based in the artical...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by new2ford

I thought they were exported to South Africa in 2004 when they first came out but that stopped after a while? And haven't they been continuously exported to NZ since 2004? (For those who don't assume that NZ is part of Australia and therefore doesn't count!)

They were supposed to have restarted with SZ but something is up with the deal,
maybe it has something to do with Territory being a problem when T6 SUV arrives.
Maybe Ford SA is looking to reserve that market segment for a local product?

[OffRoadFalcon]

It's a start... maybe if they keep this kind of thing going, Ford Aus will start to get stronger again.

For me, they have nothing I'd buy anymore, not one single new Ford that I could buy (excluding imported Americans) I would buy. None of them appeal enough unfortunately.

I'd have to move to America to afford any new Ford I'd buy.

[JG34JA]

Great news, well done Ford!

It's a great product, deserves to do well.

[malazn mafia]

Worthy competitor to the mitsubishi challenger (pajero sport in SE asia), which there seem to be a quite a few of getting around. The territory tdci is 10x more refined than the challenger. Pajero Sport diesel sounds like your driving around a garbage truck or a school bus, in comparison.

[Bossxr8]

Hopefully its a toe in the water exercise to see how it goes, then expand it into neighbouring countries throughout asia.

Why just limit it to Thailand, surely there are other countries there that would like to have it too.

[FERG_51]

Originally Posted by new2ford

Wait till the Thais start coming afoul of the quality issues without the benefit of a cheap and sympathetic home-grown support base. If you're exporting cars you need to be absolutely top notch in every respect because if something goes wrong away from home ground it's not good news for the owner - and ultimately for your reputation.

Not raining on the parade but have owned two Territories which I suspect virtually nobody on this thread so far has. Beautifully designed car marred by indifferent quality, but that's OK if you look after it like a baby and you live in Australia where there's the support and knowledge base to help you along with minimal damage to the wallet. That's the reality I'm afraid.

I feel that a lot of the issues that plagued the earlier models have been adressed in the SZ, i just hope the issues with the ICC have been sorted, i have spoken with a lot of SZ owners and they are all very happy with them.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by FERG_51

I feel that a lot of the issues that plagued the earlier models have been adressed in the SZ, i just hope the issues with the ICC have been sorted, i have spoken with a lot of SZ owners and they are all very happy with them.

SZ is kind of like the "healing" model that cures all wrongs of the past, not perfect but
that V6 diesel goes a long way towards quelling a lot of disconnect with past buyers.

The price in Thailand is rumored to be around AUS$90,000 for AWD TCDI Titaniums

[Gobes32]

I wonder how many $35,990 XR6's Ford would have to sell to equal the same amount of profit they will make from those 100 Tezzas? 10,000? LOL

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

I wonder how many $35,990 XR6's Ford would have to sell to equal the same amount of profit they will make from those 100 Tezzas? 10,000? LOL

Interesting thought.....
So apart from some exports, how would you increase the sales of higher profit Territory, maybe more variants?

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Interesting thought.....
So apart from some exports, how would you increase the sales of higher profit Territory, maybe more variants?

More variants wont work, it needs a continuous low level development program, so you add in a few more 'toys' each year, for example even if you retain the same platform you can add in adaptive cruise control, keyless entry etc over time.

[Road_Warrior]

Another variant AND a continuous low level development program...

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Interesting thought.....
So apart from some exports, how would you increase the sales of higher profit Territory, maybe more variants?

A Sporty Territory is a must - young couples and families want something with a bit more flavour. Kinda like a XR6.

A fleet-focused diesel AWD for the various utilities and mining companies who want 5-star all terrain vehicles. The government is planning on introducing initiatives to strongly encourage/force mining companies to buy more Australian manufactured goods. A diesel Territory is a good vehicle to slot in under the Hiluxes/Landcruisers, as demonstrated by the excellent in-field results Pacific National are getting with their rural railways inspection diesel Territories (which replaced Landcruiser Prados).

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Brazen

A Sporty Territory is a must - young couples and families want something with a bit more flavour. Kinda like a XR6.

A fleet-focused diesel AWD for the various utilities and mining companies who want 5-star all terrain vehicles. The government is planning on introducing initiatives to strongly encourage/force mining companies to buy more Australian manufactured goods. A diesel Territory is a good vehicle to slot in under the Hiluxes/Landcruisers, as demonstrated by the excellent in-field results Pacific National are getting with their rural railways inspection diesel Territories (which replaced Landcruiser Prados).

Yep....

But what could you take out of the TX to make it any cheaper?? Alloy wheels back to steelies? They need reverse sensors etc to cover whs.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Yep....

But what could you take out of the TX to make it any cheaper?? Alloy wheels back to steelies? They need reverse sensors etc to cover whs.

Probably more about what you would add, more aggresive tyres, hill descent control, they also have that optional underbody protection plate which they could include, wouldnt need much I suppose.

[Vesper Martini]

I agree Sporty is a must - different bumpers, seat trim, and most importantly factory 20" wheels & tyres. Just asthetic stuff it would sell well.

They should also design a London Cab style variant of the Territory body shape, ie enclosed driver front and rear facing back seats with smaller boot access from passenger side only. But it would need to be a compulsary requirement for the industry to work

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Interesting thought.....
So apart from some exports, how would you increase the sales of higher profit Territory, maybe more variants?

Ooohh, tough question. I do know that exporting the Titanium model is a step in the right direction. There is a bit of profit in each vehicle as we all know. Chances are that the down balance in November will concentrate on increasing Territory production, as for what Ford should do to make Australians purchase the higher end variants, that literally is a million dollar question.

[jpd80]

Story is that SZ Territory Turbo was done but not proceeded with.

I wonder if it's worth another try in RWD and AWD.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Story is that SZ Territory Turbo was done but not proceeded with.

I wonder if it's worth another try in RWD and AWD.

It doesnt need a turbo petrol, just a Territory XR6 and Territory XR6 Diesel, start from $42,990 driveaway and target a whole aspect of the market which isnt excited by the 90s-esque Gli (TX), Futura(TS), Fairmont(Titianium) lineup of the current Territory.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Story is that SZ Territory Turbo was done but not proceeded with.

I wonder if it's worth another try in RWD and AWD.

I think it would be worth another try.... But in RWD only (to keep cost down) and in an XR spec..... with a luxury pack option. Must have 19 inch wheels, a different front bar (not like they tried with the last one, spoiler, side steps etc all standard and ofcourse the XR bright colour range...

My old man would buy another tomorrow... Hes sooking about his F6x being due for retirement and nothing to replace it...

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

I think it would be worth another try.... But in RWD only (to keep cost down) and in an XR spec..... with a luxury pack option. Must have 19 inch wheels, a different front bar (not like they tried with the last one, spoiler, side steps etc all standard and ofcourse the XR bright colour range...

My old man would buy another tomorrow... Hes sooking about his F6x being due for retirement and nothing to replace it...

I think it absolutely vital that any sporty version also be available with the standard I6 and diesel in RWD and AWD, otherwise it would just end up being a niche low seller.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Probably more about what you would add, more aggresive tyres, hill descent control, they also have that optional underbody protection plate which they could include, wouldnt need much I suppose.

Doesn't Territory already have hill descent control, or at least used too?

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Doesn't Territory already have hill descent control, or at least used too?

I think they discontinued it in the SZ range ?.