Tariff cuts to proceed

[Wretched]

Very interesting times ahead. An advantage? Can't say for sure. On the fence with this one.

Car tariff cuts likely to proceed
Kathrine Murphy, , August 11, 2008

Trade Minister Simon Crean has signalled he will not support a tariff freeze for the car industry, setting the scene for a new cabinet debate over protection for vehicle manufacturers.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...ID=56053&vf=12

[Dave_au]

As many people hate any sort of doomsday article, it's pretty safe to say that our car industry will struggle significantly with reduced tariffs, high value of the Australian dollar, and shift to smaller cars.

[Paxton]

Game over maan.

That's the end of Ford and Holden as we know them.

[4Vman]

This is not good.....

[HUNTER8]

Depends on wether we as Australians continue to buy foreign imports over locally made/produced product.
Sure it may be cheaper, but then when you haven't got a job because everything is produced overseas, then it makes it a very expensive deal.
Personally have no problems with tariff cuts as long as apply the same conditions as each the country the product is imported from.

[Barry_v]

it'd be nice if we could swear black and blue that australian made cars have far superior quality to korean imports. but we'd be kidding ourselves really.

[xbgs351]

But they were not afraid to raise the 'luxury' car tax from 1/4 to 1/3.

[JG66ME]

Well all I can say that the average Australian is only patriotic as long as he dosnt have to open his wallet, then its every excuse under the sun.

As for quality, what other car can you get in the world in thier own market that competes with the FPV, HSV, XR, SS etc, dollar for dollar?

Tarriff cuts are ok as long as the playing field is level. Methinks its up hill for some.

[HUNTER8]

Originally Posted by Barry_v

it'd be nice if we could swear black and blue that australian made cars have far superior quality to korean imports. but we'd be kidding ourselves really.

Superior or not, you'd understand the ramifications of the Holden factory shutting down in Adelaide.

[MethodX]

Well thats a kick in the guts.

I dont wanna drive Toyleta or Honda.
ever.

[dom_105]

Game. Set. Match.

Hopefully Ford US sees Australian-based development as part of it's future going forward in a global platform kind of setup.

Otherwise, it will be curtains sooner or later.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Well all I can say that the average Australian is only patriotic as long as he dosnt have to open his wallet, then its every excuse under the sun.

As for quality, what other car can you get in the world in thier own market that competes with the FPV, HSV, XR, SS etc, dollar for dollar?

Tarriff cuts are ok as long as the playing field is level. Methinks its up hill for some.

BMW und Mercedes in Deutschland möglicherweise?

[Rodp]

That's the market place today, the strongest survive - put out your best product at a fair price and let the market decide if you sink or swim.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

As for quality, what other car can you get in the world in thier own market that competes with the FPV, HSV, XR, SS etc, dollar for dollar?

Hahaha - Have a look at the prices of cars in the United States (excluding some state taxes) to understand just how much we get shafted:

Lexus IS250 for around USD$40,000/AUD$45,000 (here 58k-75k)
BMW M3 USD$58,000/AUD$66,000 (here $130k)
BMW M5 USD$83,900/AUD$92,000 (here $240k)

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Hahaha - Have a look at the prices of cars in the United States (excluding some state taxes) to understand just how much we get shafted:

Lexus IS250 for around USD$40,000/AUD$45,000 (here 58k-75k)
BMW M3 USD$58,000/AUD$66,000 (here $130k)
BMW M5 USD$83,900/AUD$92,000 (here $240k)

Even with the tariff cuts would we get the cars at those prices?
What else influences those prices?
Are there any other countries with protectionist taxes??

[MethodX]

Start emailing Crean and Rudds office.
big time.

[SB076]

Thats not good news as others have said there is no such thing as a level playing field. The cost of doing buisness in Australia is greater than many overseas countries. Add to that foreign governments supporting their manufacturers - means its going to be difficult for the local guys.

Too be honest I am not really surprised, you only have to look at some of the recent announcments of both state and federal governments to realise they are backing away from the local automotive industry (they have switched from Fords and Holdens to go to more economical 4 cyl cars - Camry and imports)

Before anyone mentions it I am aware that the government recently gave financial support to Toyota to build a hybrid, but that means very little when you consider the low volume Toyota are planing on building in Aus, plus the majority of parts will be shipped in from overseas so the actual increase of work will be too small to make a difference.

[|||]

last i checked there was no australian car maker. sure some overseas companies come here & use our labour, but i will never understand why taxes should prop up some of the biggest companies in the world.

[WindsorXR]

Tariff reduction!? For F sake! I think there will be a new Aussie car company name Forden and the large car is named Falcodore!! The Government are a bunch of stupid W@nk3rs when it comes to helping the Aussie car industry versus Imports.

[XBROO]

So if holden and ford die off, then what happens to the V8 supercars? I don't think I'll give up a weekend to watch 4 or 6's race around. I can't really talk as I always buy second hand but aleast they are fords. If this dose kill ford and holden motor racing in this country it will never be the same again.

[dom_105]

Originally Posted by SB076

Thats not good news as others have said there is no such thing as a level playing field. The cost of doing buisness in Australia is greater than many overseas countries. Add to that foreign governments supporting their manufacturers - means its going to be difficult for the local guys.

Too be honest I am not really surprised, you only have to look at some of the recent announcments of both state and federal governments to realise they are backing away from the local automotive industry (they have switched from Fords and Holdens to go to more economical 4 cyl cars - Camry and imports)

Before anyone mentions it I am aware that the government recently gave financial support to Toyota to build a hybrid, but that means very little when you consider the low volume Toyota are planing on building in Aus, plus the majority of parts will be shipped in from overseas so the actual increase of work will be too small to make a difference.

A cardinal sin, if there ever was one.

You know you have problems as a local car maker if state and federal governments don't support your business and your industry.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Hahaha - Have a look at the prices of cars in the United States (excluding some state taxes) to understand just how much we get shafted:

Lexus IS250 for around USD$40,000/AUD$45,000 (here 58k-75k)
BMW M3 USD$58,000/AUD$66,000 (here $130k)
BMW M5 USD$83,900/AUD$92,000 (here $240k)

66k, M3 or FPV GT? For me, FPV GT.

[birdman941]

If Ford grew a brain and sent the Falcons here to the states,
it would help both countries.
Your cars look fantastic and seem to perform at a very high level.
I for one would buy one.

[WindsorXR]

Originally Posted by birdman941

If Ford grew a brain and sent the Falcons here to the states,
it would help both countries.
Your cars look fantastic and seem to perform at a very high level.
I for one would buy one.

I think it's more that if Ford USA would give us a bit of help and let us import the Falcon. I think their whole look on it is that it'll take sales away from Mustang and other brands under the ford banner.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by |||

last i checked there was no australian car maker. sure some overseas companies come here & use our labour, but i will never understand why taxes should prop up some of the biggest companies in the world.

Tariff's are not collected by car companies, they are used to increase the cost of imported cars to give the local manufacturers a chance. Governments impose certain laws/costs on local manufacturers however these are not consistent around the world which creates an uneven playing field - Tariff's I beleive are a way of balancing these discrepencies. Tariff's will also help secure thousands of jobs (not just manufacturers ether keep in mind they empolyee IT, Accoutants, Lawyers etc, the flow on effect will be massive, if the these jobs were lost)

[birdman941]

Originally Posted by BSSXR8

I think it's more that if Ford USA would give us a bit of help and let us import the Falcon. I think their whole look on it is that it'll take sales away from Mustang and other brands under the ford banner.

You might be correct, but the Mustang is the Mustang.
No substitutions.
I don't know if Orion will hit here or not,
but there is a lot of interest in the FPV line here.
The Pursuit is a unique vehicle and would sell here,
and the Falcon could replace the aging Crown Vic (1979)/Panther platform.
It seems to me that the folks running Ford of Au.
decide to build some pretty cool cars, whereas here it's all done by committee,
headed by a blind man in charge of styling.
Pontiac imported the Holden as the GTO, and it failed, mainly because of the name.
GM tried to put a sticker on one of their "legends" ,
and it wound up looking like a Chevy Cavalier.
I firmly believe that Ford should bring some of the Australian car line here,
(maybe convert them to LHD first)
and bring the car to car shows and events and at least gauge interest
from attendees.
As stated earlier, there is a lot of interest in YOUR Aussie Fords here.
I have done what I can to at least try and create a little "buzz" about it.
A huge number on boards here didn't know about the Boss motors
until I spread the word about them.
And I didn't know about them until the members of this board
were kind enough to share info on them.
I am seriously considering a trip "down under" to check out your fine country,
and naturally take a spin in some Boss powered cars.
Also, I believe the US and Au. have a free trade agreement, so tariffs
should be low or non-existent.

[sleekism]

Originally Posted by birdman941

You might be correct, but the Mustang is the Mustang.
No substitutions.
I don't know if Orion will hit here or not,
but there is a lot of interest in the FPV line here.
The Pursuit is a unique vehicle and would sell here,
and the Falcon could replace the aging Crown Vic (1979)/Panther platform.
It seems to me that the folks running Ford of Au.
decide to build some pretty cool cars, whereas here it's all done by committee,
headed by a blind man in charge of styling.
Pontiac imported the Holden as the GTO, and it failed, mainly because of the name.
GM tried to put a sticker on one of their "legends" ,
and it wound up looking like a Chevy Cavalier.
I firmly believe that Ford should bring some of the Australian car line here,
(maybe convert them to LHD first)
and bring the car to car shows and events and at least gauge interest
from attendees.
As stated earlier, there is a lot of interest in YOUR Aussie Fords here.
I have done what I can to at least try and create a little "buzz" about it.
A huge number on boards here didn't know about the Boss motors
until I spread the word about them.
And I didn't know about them until the members of this board
were kind enough to share info on them.
I am seriously considering a trip "down under" to check out your fine country,
and naturally take a spin in some Boss powered cars.
Also, I believe the US and Au. have a free trade agreement, so tariffs
should be low or non-existent.

The problem is that if Ford U.S. axed the Crown Victoria and replaced it with an imported Falcon than there would be a huge uproar Stateside. Holden was lucky that GM did not have a large RWD vehicle.

At the very least they should allow the Falcon to be exported to the Middle East but then again the Crown Victoria is already being exported to the middle-east (and being eaten alive by Holden exports).

Ford North America have been headed by a bunch of retards since the early 70's I'm sorry to say. They are too busy trying to imitate the Japanese and building gawd awful FWD pussboxes when they should have been concentrating on traditional Ford strengths in RWD, V8's and pickups.

[Supercharged]

Originally Posted by SB076

Tariff's are not collected by car companies, they are used to increase the cost of imported cars to give the local manufacturers a chance. Governments impose certain laws/costs on local manufacturers however these are not consistent around the world which creates an uneven playing field - Tariff's I beleive are a way of balancing these discrepencies. Tariff's will also help secure thousands of jobs (not just manufacturers ether keep in mind they empolyee IT, Accoutants, Lawyers etc, the flow on effect will be massive, if the these jobs were lost)

Correct, rather than doing away with tariffs, increase them so the Australian makers can compete.
If we don't have jobs in the end there will be no one to buy the imported cars.

[WindsorXR]

^^^^^^^Agree

[|||]

Originally Posted by SB076

Tariff's are not collected by car companies, they are used to increase the cost of imported cars to give the local manufacturers a chance. Governments impose certain laws/costs on local manufacturers however these are not consistent around the world which creates an uneven playing field - Tariff's I beleive are a way of balancing these discrepencies. Tariff's will also help secure thousands of jobs (not just manufacturers ether keep in mind they empolyee IT, Accoutants, Lawyers etc, the flow on effect will be massive, if the these jobs were lost)

I understand that they are not collected by car companies. My point was that why should I (Joe Blow working in a small business) pay more for an imported car simply because the government wants to protect the profit and employees of a multinational corporation?

If Aussie cars (well, American cars) can't compete on price then maybe they should offer something the imports don't. From all the threads on the state of Ford's customer service maybe they should start with that.

If we were talking about a newly formed Australian owned (or listed at least) company fighting against imports I would agree with you 100%. Ford & GM are big enough and old enough to fight the imports themselves in my opinion.