Ford Focus to be built in Australia

PETE_XR6 · 10-05-2007, 11:59 AM

I hearing this from many people within the company can anybody confirm this rumour

uranium_death · 10-05-2007, 12:02 PM

I know little (if anything at all), but I would doubt this is the case simply because the factory would require complete refitting. The Falcon is Australia's product and Ford Australia would want to maximise output for it, I would have thought.

Just my thoughts (of lack of). Please don't flame me.

mcnamg · 10-05-2007, 12:06 PM

They are building a new factory in Thailand to build the Focus so it wouldnt make sense to build on here and also build them in South Africa and Thailand. We have a free trade agreement with Thailand as well so they can be sourced cheaper from there as the cost of labour is waaay less.

Smoke Pursuit · 10-05-2007, 12:08 PM

Wish they would build them here, quality may improve over what we get now (they are a disgrace).

mcnamg · 10-05-2007, 12:17 PM

yeah crap isnt it we get cars assembled by South African stoners

aquahead2001 · 10-05-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnamg

yeah crap isnt it we get cars assembled by South African stoners

South Africa builds cars for BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Toyota and also have a lot of specialist manufacturers as well. If I remember correctly, there's a group that does Cobras, Daytonas & GT40 replicas that are extremely well received.

Haven't heard anyone say that you should steer clear of the 318 BMW's made there or the squillions of Corollas that came out of there for years (Think they're now made in Thailand now). It's all about labour and exchange rates.

If you have a lower wages base and attractive exchange rates, then why not build cars there? We're already getting VW Polo's from China, soon we'll see cars from India. (Ford Aust even did the design & engineering work on a car for India).

In today's modern factory, the quality of the car has a lot more to do with initial design and engineering than how the bloke assembling it feels on the day...

apolloxbgt · 10-05-2007, 01:00 PM

The Focus paint quality (or lack of) would at least have to improve.

Can't see it happening though.

ClevlndStemer · 10-05-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PETE_XR6

I hearing this from many people within the company can anybody confirm this rumour

bl00dy well hope not.
i know 3 people with a focus, 1 previous model, 1 XR5 (german made) and 1 current LS. None have had any quality issues with the cars whatsoever.
I don't Falcon quality on a Focus.

mcnamg · 10-05-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquahead2001

South Africa builds cars for BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Toyota and also have a lot of specialist manufacturers as well. If I remember correctly, there's a group that does Cobras, Daytonas & GT40 replicas that are extremely well received.

Haven't heard anyone say that you should steer clear of the 318 BMW's made there or the squillions of Corollas that came out of there for years (Think they're now made in Thailand now). It's all about labour and exchange rates.

If you have a lower wages base and attractive exchange rates, then why not build cars there? We're already getting VW Polo's from China, soon we'll see cars from India. (Ford Aust even did the design & engineering work on a car for India).

In today's modern factory, the quality of the car has a lot more to do with initial design and engineering than how the bloke assembling it feels on the day...

There was a few issues when they Focus was released here with panel fit and finish and poor paint and my comment about Stoners was in relation to a news article a while back that talked about Ford SA banning its workers from smoking pot in their breaks or on the Job.

I wasnt talking about all those other brands or companies or the cost benefits of building cars in South Africa thats obviously already been established and as I mentioned in my post earlier due to increased demand Ford already has plans for production from Thailand who we have a free trade agreement with allowing cheaper imports.

T3ts50 · 10-05-2007, 03:12 PM

BRW has an interview with Tom Gorman and he states that they are looking to build a smaller car in Aus. I havent read the full article but will read it tonight.

**Fordman1** · 10-05-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnamg

They are building a new factory in Thailand to build the Focus so it wouldnt make sense to build on here and also build them in South Africa and Thailand. We have a free trade agreement with Thailand as well so they can be sourced cheaper from there as the cost of labour is waaay less.

That factory is not a certainty to build Focus. The Thai Government have indicated that they are willing to help get the vehicle into Thailand but it is no certainty.

As indicated above Gorman has mentioned that Ford Australia are looking at a smaller vehicle and Focus would be a perfect fit if the economics make sense. The largest vehicle segment (and fastest growing), one of the most flexible vehicle assembly operations in the world (ability to make different vehicle platforms on the same line), and one of the most talented manufacturing teams in the Ford World make it very attractive.

Germany supplies Europe's Focus production with some of the highest labour rates int he world, so there is no reason why Ford Oz can't do the Focus too. From what I understand some of the investment in Equipment (machinery) for Orion can also be used for other vehicle lines.

I hope it comes off if this is what Gorman is planning. It'd be a huge coup for Ford Australia and it's workforce.

All of a sudden a new platform bring's all sorts of possibilities (eg; small SUV, MPV, etc) and other export opportunities.

And that is where the volume is.

I hope they build the 2009 Focus below (CGI).

Focused · 10-05-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnamg

yeah crap isnt it we get cars assembled by South African stoners

Racist fool!

mcnamg · 10-05-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marco351

Racist fool!

I wasnt actually being racist fool I was referring to an article about stoned south african workers in the Ford Factory. I have nothing against South Africans just the quality of the work they do whilst on drugs. Go get off your soapbox and go back to mummy

Back on topic. I hope they do build it in Australia it would allow for more options and FPV may then get the chance to build a Focus and as you said think of the benefits it would bring in terms of spinoffs

Tles · 11-05-2007, 06:12 AM

Maybe they are looking more at building a car on the Focus platform rather than a Focus itself. Something along the lines of a replacement for the soon to be extinct Jaguar Xtype would be a damn good thing.
Just add RWD and a V6 maybe and you'd be looking at a Aussie 3 series.

XplosiveR6 · 11-05-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTonka

Maybe they are looking more at building a car on the Focus platform rather than a Focus itself. Something along the lines of a replacement for the soon to be extinct Jaguar Xtype would be a damn good thing.
Just add RWD and a V6 maybe and you'd be looking at a Aussie 3 series.

thats what i first thought, could this be the replacement for the large falcon cars? or Ford Aus investing into smaller, more greener cars to suit Australia

MAGPIE · 11-05-2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Wish they would build them here, quality may improve over what we get now (they are a disgrace).

What... improve to Falcon quality levels

I hope they don't start building them in OZ as Ford NZ would probably ditch the real Euro Focus we get now.

**Fordman1** · 11-05-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

What... improve to Falcon quality levels

I hope they don't start building them in OZ as Ford NZ would probably ditch the real Euro Focus we get now.

Euro ? You mean the ones built in SA don't you ?

Ives · 11-05-2007, 04:34 PM

IIRC, the only bona-fide euro Focus is the ST/XR5T.

11-05-2007, 05:07 PM

No NZ source their Focus from a european plant. The SA plant couldn't supply NZ timely enough so they changed their source to EU

MAGPIE · 11-05-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackLS

No NZ source their Focus from a european plant. The SA plant couldn't supply NZ timely enough so they changed their source to EU

Correct & Ford NZ wanted to be able to offer Side Curtain Airbags.

**Fordman1** · 11-05-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Correct & Ford NZ wanted to be able to offer Side Curtain Airbags.

Interesting ! I wonder how the prices compare then.....

phillyc · 11-05-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTonka

Maybe they are looking more at building a car on the Focus platform rather than a Focus itself. Something along the lines of a replacement for the soon to be extinct Jaguar Xtype would be a damn good thing.
Just add RWD and a V6 maybe and you'd be looking at a Aussie 3 series.

It would be great to have the Focus built in Australia. Could it be done? Not sure. But there could be room for different body styles etc

Would also be great if it was made like you said into a 3 series size type competitor.

Maybe they might be looking at the Mondeo?

As mentioned above, Gorman states they are looking at building something smaller and the rumour is some of the investment in the Broadmeadows plant was designed to allow flexible vehicle manufacturing.

Good luck. I hope the numbers work out.

Ives · 11-05-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackLS

No NZ source their Focus from a european plant. The SA plant couldn't supply NZ timely enough so they changed their source to EU

I learned something new today!

GXL078 · 11-05-2007, 06:41 PM

Does thins mean we will get the blinker switch (and bonnet release) on the right?

Martyvan · 11-05-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Interesting ! I wonder how the prices compare then.....

Who knows on overall spec differences.... But given the general idea, you can work that out. Focus you would have to think is higher spec than here? model for model, it certainly would be interesting if they did start producing Small and Medium Class vehicles in OZ...

Fiesta is from NZ$22,990 versus AU$15,990 here
Focus is from NZ$31,990 versus AU$20,990 here
Mondeo is from $37,990 (This could be a pointer to pricing on a comparitve scale for the new mondeo coming here too!!!!)
Falcon is from $43,290 versus AU$34,990

Paxton · 11-05-2007, 07:25 PM

The Focus would be the ideal car for Ford to build here, as they will be able to build Focuses to a point where they can price the Corolla and Mazda3 out of the market. It will be a coup over Toyota, as they have expressed interest in building the Corolla here again.

My only question, could Ford build a FWD only car on a primarily RWD production line?

**Fordman1** · 11-05-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

My only question, could Ford build a FWD only car on a primarily RWD production line?

They did it in the early '80's when the Telstar (Ford version of the Mazda 626) was built on the same line as the Falcon - including the trim / final assembly process.

The Capri was built in the same Body & Paint shop, but a different Trim line in the '90's.

I think they'll be able to do it.

They build AWD & FWD cars on the same line today - it'd be complicated but do-able.

outback_ute · 11-05-2007, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Correct & Ford NZ wanted to be able to offer Side Curtain Airbags.

Ford Aus should do the same thing! At least for Ghias/Zetecs