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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Regardless of what happens with the next-gen Falcon platform, it is highly unlikely that sales volume of that car will exceed 50,000 units per year. Large and large-ish cars in Australia have become more of a niche player against smaller cars and SUV's.
The thing is this: the Broadmeadows assembly plant has a capacity of 120,000 units per annum, so even if the new car does sell well (as does it's Territory cousin, whatever that may be in the future), there is still a lot of unused capacity in the assembly plant. Should Ford look at this as a 'wasted asset' and bring a third vehicle line to Australia to be built, and at the same time, bring the plant's production to near capacity? As we know, there was a plan to build the third gen Focus here, but that was canned in favour of Ecoboost Falcons. Bill Osborne, the CEO who only lasted 6 months, wanted to build everything here - Focus, Mondeo, Falcon and Territory - perhaps he could see the potential and wanted to make full use of the plant? Should a third platform be built here, and what should it be?
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#2 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,021
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Would have been nice to score Ranger production, a lot of poential volume there. The hard part is that Thailand are such a mass producer that Australia will only be left with niche models like the Falcon and Territory.
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
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Hard to compete with the volumes and price of production that come out of Asian countries. Not to mention it would be made in such small numbers it would have to cost a fortune to get back input costs, driving sellers away in droves.
Too hard...just keep plugging along effciently with the production levels they have, kee the extra capacity as a backup for if the market ever turns around, and don't try to compete against people we have no hope in hell of matching. Know your limitations, accept them, and quietly just keep doing what you do best. Not to mention are the buyers there to take up the extra production, or will they just sit unloved in storage yards until massive discount sales have t happen to get rid of them? Walk into a Ford dealer now and a lot of them look like Focus/Fiesta/Mondeo/Ranger dealerships...with possibly a Territory shoved over in the corner and a row of Falcons along one side of the yard where they hope no one will notice them, almost as if they are embarassed to be building large cars. |
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#4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Parkdale, Vic
Posts: 1,016
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It wouldn't necessarily need to be small nubmer production if they could secure some export business like Holden and Toyota have.
More Camrys are made & exported than are sold here.
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"You can't fight stupid people - there's just too many of them" |
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Focus/Kuga production is perfect for today's market - lots of profitable private buyers and local production means you can have variants tailored to local buyers. Kuga especially would be good as it would fetch Falcon prices but only costs as much as a Focus to build.
Toyota publicly said at the Melbourne Motor show that Kluger is no longer the default third model for local production, they are now even considering local Corolla or Rav4. I am betting Rav4 as it will take the new 2.5 litre 4 cylinder engine that is being built in Victoria next year. And they already sell around 1200 a month of the imported Rav4s here anyway, and that is a model which is getting quite old. Last edited by Brazen; 08-11-2011 at 01:56 PM. |
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#6 | |||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Quote:
The third vehicle line could be a niche product for domestic consumption only, but it would need to be something people actually want, as opposed to Ford telling people what they think they want. Something like the Kuga, or maybe even the T6 SUV?
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#7 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Parkdale, Vic
Posts: 1,016
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Quote:
Everybody is at the whim of changing exchange rates, not just Australia. Exports globally would have slowed down during and after the GFC. GM US wnet bust on domestic market alone. The business needs to be viable for many reasons, but exchange rate is a cop out excuse businesses spin. Ford need to build a smaller AWD wagon in Australia, for domestic use and export, the size of a RAV 4 and market it as well as Holden did with the Cruze.
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"You can't fight stupid people - there's just too many of them" |
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#8 | ||
VFII SS UTE
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Central Coast
Posts: 6,353
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yep a CDK focus/fiesta would have fitted the bill.
and their's no reason they cant export falc/terry to the UK.. for extra pocket money.
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#9 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,730
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Quote:
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#10 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
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#11 | ||
I was correct - AGAIN
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Third rock from the sun
Posts: 1,801
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Third vehicle? What about a second vehicle first!
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#12 | |||
Oo\===/oO
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 11,348
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Quote:
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#13 | |||
Barra Turbo > V8
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Posts: 25,793
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#14 | ||
Mustang GT mmmmmm......
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Mornington Peninsula
Posts: 1,459
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Right hook Mustang?
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I have become a Mustanger. |
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#15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 11,292
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Possibilities that are financially viable:
1) Mondeo 5-door and Station Wagon 2) Ford Escape 3) Ford Edge...Ford Europe is developing the next gen version Any of those would be a great help to Ford Australia but i would be greeedy and want two, My picks would be 5-door and S/W Mondeos as well as Escape. |
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#16 | |||
Powered By EcoBoost
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Qld.
Posts: 3,484
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#17 | ||
Oo\===/oO
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 11,348
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It would have been good to gain focus Assembly/production...but FoA chose to consentrate on the Falcon.
Hopefully it will pay off.
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#18 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North Coast, NSW
Posts: 4,012
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Yep...... Anything will do !
Nothing wrong with more local jobs !!
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#19 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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A 20% smaller Territory to slot into the small SUV segment Vs Rav4 etc.
But I guess thats what the new Escape/Kuga will do. As mentioned Ranger SUV would be a good fit. |
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#20 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 487
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They should use the space to make a really big crash-testing track, and strap the AUD into a shell and ram it into a wall at 200km/h, thereby crashing the currency.
That would help manufacturing at Broadmeadows more than almost anything else. |
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#21 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,138
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Premium compact RWD sedan
![]() Also, premium small SUV would be a profitable sector to enter into, next Escuga will probably be lower end.... |
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#22 | ||
Call me dirt... Joe Dirt
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Back in Perth for good
Posts: 5,302
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RHD Mustang assembly would be ideal!
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#23 | ||
Marko
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Perth W.A
Posts: 430
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Either proper luxury or sports/track car would suit. Ideal factory size not to have to do huge production runs. $120,000-$170,000 target market.
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Mark |
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#24 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,331
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#25 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Benalla vic
Posts: 628
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Mustang at a decent price would be sick.
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#26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Interesting Holden research on locally built cars:
http://www.caradvice.com.au/144771/h...-hatch-review/ Quote:
Last edited by Brazen; 09-11-2011 at 11:14 AM. |
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#27 | |||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Quote:
__________________
Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#28 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 455
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I think it's a no brainer, Ford Oz need a car to compete with the Cruze. The execs at Holden are no idiots, what they have done with the Cruze is outstanding (I can't stand the car to be honest), the sales numbers tell the story.
I think the Mondeo in my opinion just doesn't cut it in Australia (my opinion), Ford Oz should start building a Cruze sized Falcon to sell locally and look to export where possible. Even look at the Focus, it's not selling too well and there is BIG market out there of people wanting medium sized cars. This smaller Falcon should be in my opinion RWD or worst case FWD with a AWD sports version, an advantage over the Cruze. Ford could run the turbo 4 cyl motors in the range and put a small capacity V8 in a sports version and possibly LPG/Diesel options. The car should be produced in hatch and sedan form just like the Cruze. Ford could then wind down production of the Falcon to satisfy the large car niche and that's it. Ford could keep the interior very similar to the Falcon to keep parts interchangable and costs down. I think the Cruze looks cheap, and is a boring drive, Ford Oz have the means to produce a similar sized car that would be sooo much better looking and much more fun to drive. How many here would buy a Cruze sized Falcon with a smaller capacity NA V8 or buy a turbo 4 for a run around??? I would any day of the week!!!!!
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FG GT...Supercharged Bliss |
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#29 | |||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Quote:
__________________
Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#30 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 690
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It’s interesting that most people are asking for additional manufacturing in Australia, however most forget that business wise it’s the last thing any company will try to do these days:
As per another thread that’s already running on this forum, manufacturing in Australia is simply not viable any more – unless its government subsidised: 1. We have a very expensive workforce here 2. We have very high company taxes 3. We have far more OH&S laws, fair workplace laws, unions governance that any developing country 4. We are very far away while our local market is tiny All these issues make manufacturing in Australia astronomically more expensive than say countries like China or India or many other developing countries of this world … We do however have one strength over many developing countries and that is engineers and experience in designing things … that is exactly what every manufacturer out there needs to take advantage of … Hence for companies like Ford, the best business case is to outsource manufacturing lines to developing countries (China, India, Thailand …) while reinvesting the savings gained into more engineering/design/development/testing activities in Australia. This in return will make cars like the Falcon a lot cheaper to build, while the savings could be reinvested into development to keep improving the product in order to keep up with the rest of the worlds manufacturers … I know that a lot of people get sad when they see labour jobs slowly diapering from this country … but the reality is such and its only a matter of time before it happens in every industry … people they need to adapt and start getting a higher education so they can remain competitive against the much much cheaper workforce of the developing countries … our government can only keep subsidising so much, and even the labour government is slowly starting to realise it’s not a sustainable way of going about things. |
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