Due to Australian demand, Ford to spend $250 million increasing Ranger & Everest production in Thailand

[Brazen]

Ranger is turning into a bit of a blockbuster here.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/400166/f...ng-thai-plant/

Rampant demand for the Australia-developed Ford Ranger across the Asia Pacific has seen the company commit $254 million to increase its Thai production capability.

Ford is adding production equipment and facilities to its Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) plant to meet huge demand across our region, and to supplement the joint-venture plant with Mazda that currently makes the Ranger.


FTM was opened officially in May 2012 and builds passenger models such as the Fiesta and Focus for Australia, plus the EcoSport. The flexible plant can build up to six models simultaneously. Current installed capacity is 180,000 units per year. This will obviously grow.

ford-ranger

The Ranger is currently built at Ford’s joint venture facility with Mazda, AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT), and this will remain the company’s main production facility for Ranger in the Asia Pacific.

But, as Just Auto points out, AAT is forecast to operate at or near maximum capacity for the foreseeable future.

AAT produces the Ranger and Mazda BT-50. As we reported recently, though, speculation suggests Mazda might be considering a JV with Toyota and its HiLux to form the base for the next-generation BT-50. That’s pure educated speculation, however.


“This investment and new Ranger production will help us meet the extraordinary customer demand we’re experiencing for Ranger,” said Ford ASEAN president Mark Kaufman.

Why is this interesting? Ford’s Asia Pacific design and develop hub is in Melbourne, and the Ranger’s incubation program took place here.

Australia is one of the Ranger’s biggest markets. In Australia, it’s the clear number two seller behind the HiLux, and makes up about 40 per cent of Ford Australia’s total sales with a shade over 23,000 units delivered TYD.

[Franco Cozzo]

I was watching the Manheim vehicle auctions yesterday and the Rangers were being bid on pretty fiercely, it was crazy, they all sold and there was a big bidding war on every single one.

Very popular car.

[csv8]

Have they made a fire extinguisher standard!!!!!

[Joe5619]

Such a shame it wasn't built here in Australia :( :(.. What could have been.

[Charliewool]

What I'd really like to see is somebody continuing to build a "proper" ute after GMH & Ford have gone?
Have a look at the amount Commie & Falcon utes still on the road now... They're everywhere!
What is going to replace them????

[Smoke Pursuit]

I hope they plan on building more Wildtraks.

[zilo]

Good for the Thai workers I suppose.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

I hope they plan on building more Wildtraks.

Stuff Wildtracks, Navaras, B50's, SR5's etc!
I want a "car" based ute with a bit of ooomph!
Maybe a great opening for Chrysler to do a SRT V8 ute?

[1TUFFUTE]

Interesting they say their 'educated' guess is Mazda is leaving fords co venture an joining the hilix. Seems a lot of money to be shelling out to do that. They(ford and Mazda) spent a shed load upgrading the same facilities not long ago right?

[marty351]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

What I'd really like to see is somebody continuing to build a "proper" ute after GMH & Ford have gone?
Have a look at the amount Commie & Falcon utes still on the road now... They're everywhere!
What is going to replace them????

I was wondering the same thing.
Maybe GM might bring back the El Camino!

[78xcgxl]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

What I'd really like to see is somebody continuing to build a "proper" ute after GMH & Ford have gone?
Have a look at the amount Commie & Falcon utes still on the road now... They're everywhere!
What is going to replace them????

In my eyes the only proper ute is the Falcon , as it can actually carry proper loads and has a removable tub design. The Holden is in my eyes useless, with it's crappy IRS and lack of fit-out flexibility. WB was the last real holden ute.

The falcon ute will be replaced with import dual and single cab utes as currently seen in today. Like go on a construction site and you will be lucky to see a falcon ute there, all littered in huluxs and dual cab Utes. The humble falcon ute is slowly being phased out.

Personally, I will always use a falcon ute for work as nothing else comes close to it's sheer comfort, reliability, fuel economy with ecolpi and performance. But unfortunately it the end of an era of when falcon utes were king and tradie's no.1 go to. It will soon to be over.

[Charliewool]

I still believe there's a huge market for a performance based ute in Australia?
Someone build one and they WILL sell...
The overwhelming acceptance of the Mustang proves we are still revheads.

[sprintman1]

Real U.S Utes are coming with decent towing capacity.

[Falcon Coupe]

I really wonder if I'm on the right forum at times. We finally have a market leading model and all so called "ford fans" can do is knock it down.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by tempted

The last thing we need on our roads are these yank monstrosities.

This what we need!! http://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/f650-f750/

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Real U.S Utes are coming with decent towing capacity.

Yay lets just all become Americans

Why do some many people want our country to be just like the states ? We had a bloody good thing going for years with the Falcon and Commodore now we're happy just to sell our souls to the American multinational mass marketing machine. Loosing a part of our individuality now we're just another country buying the same mass produced product rather than being individual.


Rant over back on topic the ranger deserves to be where it is it's a solid competitor to the hilux.

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

I really wonder if I'm on the right forum at times. We finally have a market leading model and all so called "ford fans" can do is knock it down.

I think some "fans" are sore by the treatment ford aus gave their once hero product. Pulling out of V8's on the eve of the great race last year didn't win any "fans" either but that's a topic for another thread.....

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Real U.S Utes are coming with decent towing capacity.

If you have 140k to spend

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by tempted

Why stop there? You may as well buy one of these
image

Noooooooo. They steer like a small boat, are horribly rough to ride in, get lousy fuel consumption, have a very small cab and the auto version is rubbish

[Charliewool]

Accolades to Ranger... And a top job by our own Aussie designers in making it truly world class!
It still AINT a bloody proper ute though!

My point is... I don't reckon people actually realise what a massive void is going to be left with the demise of both the Holden & Ford "sedan inspired" utility!!
The Great Aussie ute!.. A vehicle SO unique to our Australian motoring culture! SO suited to not just our vast country, or to our occupations, but to the great Aussie lifestyle and a large part of our heritage... ALL gone!
Maybe I'm just a silly old fool reminiscing? But I reckon there's going to be a massive number of guys like me that won't have a clue what to buy once "our" utes are gone forever?

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Ford Falcon XR6

Yay lets just all become Americans

Why do some many people want our country to be just like the states ? We had a bloody good thing going for years with the Falcon and Commodore now we're happy just to sell our souls to the American multinational mass marketing machine.

Since when were australian roads being overrun with American cars. Grand Cherokee is the only real popular US car.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

But I reckon there's going to be a massive number of guys like me that won't have a clue what to buy once "our" utes are gone forever?

Weeeeel, you could buy a Commodore Ute from Seppoland and then re-convert it back to RHD.................
http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/how-au...-up-1557594577

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

My point is... I don't reckon people actually realise what a massive void is going to be left with the demise of both the Holden & Ford "sedan inspired" utility!!

actually, I think most people don't give a stuff or they'd be buying those utes now instead of Korean sedans and SUV's. While I respect your views, I think perhaps you've described yourself to a tee The generations that have grown up with "real Aussie cars" are in a minority now and buy with their head not their heart.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by simon varley

actually, I think most people don't give a stuff or they'd be buying those utes now instead of Korean sedans and SUV's. While I respect your views, I think perhaps you've described yourself to a tee The generations that have grown up with "real Aussie cars" are in a minority now and buy with their head not their heart.

To be fair I think people are buying traditional Aussie cars, but they arnt built here... Rugged, durable, versatile are the traditional traits but the car makers started listening to the journos and enthusiasts and made everything low to ground and impractical. So all the traditional buyers moved on.

I was at the traffic lights yesterday and the old EL Falcon wagon had as much ground clearance as the Forester next to it. Now you have to fall into a Falcon to get in and clamber up to get out.

[FGX008]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Accolades to Ranger... And a top job by our own Aussie designers in making it truly world class!
It still AINT a bloody proper ute though!

My point is... I don't reckon people actually realise what a massive void is going to be left with the demise of both the Holden & Ford "sedan inspired" utility!!
The Great Aussie ute!.. A vehicle SO unique to our Australian motoring culture! SO suited to not just our vast country, or to our occupations, but to the great Aussie lifestyle and a large part of our heritage... ALL gone!
Maybe I'm just a silly old fool reminiscing? But I reckon there's going to be a massive number of guys like me that won't have a clue what to buy once "our" utes are gone forever?

I totally agree with you. This is why I have just bought a low mileage second hand Ford Falcon FG Mark 2 ute with only 27,000 Klms on the clock as my daily drive to meet my load carrying needs because there is nothing in the global car market that I see or know about that will provide the general car based load carrying capabilities that I need when Australian car production totally stops in 2017.

I think the second hand reconditioning/rebuild market for Australian made utes will steadily grow and fill a critical supply void to some degree. However eventually maybe Ford or Holden will realize that they will have to supply or develop a car based ute product and not something that isn't based on an SUV or small truck design. One can only hope!

Kind Regards, Brent

[sprintman1]

[eQUOTE=tempted;5532295]The last thing we need on our roads are these yank monstrosities.[/QUOTE]you need to keep up. Big demand for them and their towing capacity way above the toys we currently have on offer!

[RANGEREST]

Originally Posted by tempted

I will not buy an import because the way I see it, we have been robbed of our unique products which have a long and proud heritage in this country and have been left with no other viable option that even comes close to what we had.
I refuse to support manufacturers who are now shamelessly pushing this generic rubbish onto us which is built for next to nothing in Asian slum factories where there are no OH&S regulations and workers are paid with bags of rice, then offloaded to the Australian consumer for a hefty premium. They are laughing all the way to the bank at our expense.

Nice sentiment,
Better throw out most of your clothing, electronic goods
and even the computer you're posting on this forum with.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by tempted

I will not buy an import because the way I see it, we have been robbed of our unique products which have a long and proud heritage in this country and have been left with no other viable option that even comes close to what we had.
I refuse to support manufacturers who are now shamelessly pushing this generic rubbish onto us which is built for next to nothing in Asian slum factories where there are no OH&S regulations and workers are paid with bags of rice, then offloaded to the Australian consumer for a hefty premium. They are laughing all the way to the bank at our expense.

Easy too see you've never seen a hi tech Asian factory. In fact that pathetic diatribe confirms you haven't been anywhere outside your back yard....

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by tempted

Easy to see you don't know the meaning of sarcasm.

Non existent here so went with the flow. Bring on the real Utes or should that be 'trucks'

[Sprint]

Its obvious ladyboys work for peanuts, woops I mean penises.