WHEELS Jan 2016 The Future of Ford Australia.

[csv8]

Interesting!!

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by csv8

Interesting!!

Well this has got to be the most useless thread ever, what's interesting.

[Syndrome]

Summary: A bit player in a market they once dominated.

[Road Games]

Or more importantly how was he able to edit it 18hr's after he posted it ???

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by DAZZLR

Or more importantly how was he able to edit it 18hr's after he posted it ???

Hey.......get back on topic

[paule11]

Will be interesting top see what happens with car prices. When the dollar was parity or better Ford Australia announced stopping manufacturing in Australia, Now we are at 70 cents does not make sense to stop manufacturing

[csv8]

Its in the January 2016 issue of Wheels magazine, page 28.."The Wheels Report, Passing Judgement on Oz's top car brands and how they will go in 2016." 1st Toyota, 2cnd Mazda, 3rd Hyundai, 4th Holden, 5th Mitsi, 6th Ford, 7th Nissan, 8th VW .....32cnd Jaguar.. and no one finds it interesting ?...what they say about Ford is true but at FM, the truth hurts." Falcon down 4%, Fiesta down 32%, Focus down 58%, Kuga down 22%...New Mondeo outsold by the old model..Summary : Rarely listens and doesnt seem to learn. A poor performer in recent years, with little to suggest thats going to change in 2016. Ford neeeds to change -and quickly-if its to to regain some of the ground lost in recent years. But some key rivals are also in for a tough year, so the brand is likely to attain 5th." ok..flame suit on..fire brickbats..

[Bossxr8]

It's a fair summary. But Ford are no longer going for sales numbers to fleets at low profits. They have moved away from that and are going for higher profit private sales. Sure it's costing them sales now, but they are totally looking at the Mazda sales model where nearly all their sales are private. It's quite clear they have analysed what makes Mazda work and they want to be just like them. That's why they are also trying to get their dealerships sorted.

Problem is a lot of the dealerships are stuck in the 80's and will take years to get with the program.

[simon varley]

The product mix now is such that what sells at least now makes a profit. Previously in some segments that wasn't true. A long way to go sure, but they are on the right track.

and actually, sales is only part of the story - there are 1500 development engineers in Australia now working on some very exciting products that are timed a lot further into the future than most people would guess

[FNQracing]

How do they intend to sell the cars? 10 years ago I passed 3 Ford dealers on the way to work. Exact same route today - they are all gone. I don't even know who my "local" dealer is any more. Mazda, Hyundai and Toyota dealers *everywhere*. 2 NEW Toyota dealerships have been constructed on the same route! And for what its worth, the same route I pass 2 Holden dealerships, 1 new.

Is it the cars, the marketing, or the dealership network, or lack of one? Who wants to take a bus and a ferry to get their car serviced?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by csv8

Its in the January 2016 issue of Wheels magazine, page 28.."The Wheels Report, Passing Judgement on Oz's top car brands and how they will go in 2016." 1st Toyota, 2cnd Mazda, 3rd Hyundai, 4th Holden, 5th Mitsi, 6th Ford, 7th Nissan, 8th VW .....32cnd Jaguar.. and no one finds it interesting ?

It's not so much that no one finds it interesting, but without a link, or at least a cut and paste from the mag, your first post was somewhat meaningless.

[csv8]

GasOLane..didnt know what everyone was on about. Checked my original post and original cut/paste is gone !!!!this has happened before!!!.. re posted
http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/ze...=copy&sp=false

[WindsorXR]

Originally Posted by tempted

I have heard that song before from Ford in regards to the Falcon. Then some figures came to light which proved that it was all BS.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty certain that the Global Ranger has become one of the most profitable Global vehicles Ford has in the lineup. That is coming from our Australian development. Everything is turning global these days. If Ford is going to head towards more profit vs car sales, I think they are on the ball. It's the only way that car companies can continue to survive and maybe even grow.

[csv8]

Wasnt building vehicles in Thailand supposed to make them cheaper?? or not more expensive ??? ie they would be more expensive if not built in Thailand??????? The Thai Free Trade Agreement doesnt seem to give Australia any advantage. Despite what we are told..

[Eaturbo]

You don't go from a fat lady to Jennifer Hawkins overnight no matter how many fat pills you take. This will take years to change and they are already on the right track. Starting to see a few Everests and lots of rangers, Mustangs will give Ford plenty of exposure, Focus will get more exposure with new RS. It will take time and I don't think they will ever get back to where they were given the improvement in the competition. Ford probably havnt gone backwards in terms of product but more the competition have improved big heaps. To just stay in the top 5 would be a big achievement.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by tempted

Of course it's going to be profitable when it's built by slave labour in a third world country. Not sure how this has any relevance to what I posted though.

How is it slave labour?

[WindsorXR]

Originally Posted by tempted

Of course it's going to be profitable when it's built by slave labour in a third world country. Not sure how this has any relevance to what I posted though.

The relevance was where you said you had seen the "numbers" and said it was BS. From what I have heard, from very credible sources, is that Ranger is going with Fords current trend of using profit margins.
....and calling it "slave labour" is just ridiculous and idiotic. No car company is going to build, in mass, in Australia after 2017.

[csv8]

"ADELAIDE car parts manufacturers are being promised a discount workforce earning just $1.12 an hour to lure them to set up offshore operations.

The Thailand Board of Investment dangled the carrot of cheap labour in front of about 30 car suppliers at a free seminar at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel yesterday.

There was also a chance for the suppliers to have private meetings. A similar event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.

The head of Federal Government-funded car lobby group Automotive Supplier Excellence Australia, Linsey Siede, organised the tour of the Thai delegation.

Skilled workers 'not stealing jobs', report says

Duangjai Asawachintachit, deputy secretary general of the Thai board, said yesterday she wanted Australian car suppliers to take advantage of opportunities in Thailand.

"Wages are significantly lower than they are in Australia, the minimum wage is 300 baht a day, which is about $A9 for an eight-hour day. We hope that's our competitive advantage," she said.

"This is a very good opportunity for Australian companies particularly with the market growth in Thailand."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1226445137821

[WindsorXR]

See, now you're going off topic onto the subject of Australian companies competing with the likes of China and Thailand. It's not slave labour, but something which Australian companies are going to have to compete with or use to their advantage. Unfortunately it is the way the world is going and has been for a number of years.
As much as I think this is a crap situation to be in, Thailand, China and Mexico, etc. have been used for many many years.
Unfortunately, our government, as well as the global exchange rates has forced car companies production lines hand in Australia to close up shop and car parts manufacturers are the ones that get hurt also.

They are tough times, but I think Ford as well as everyone else are doing the best they can to pull through to ensure that many people still have a job........including me.

[WindsorXR]

It's not slave labour. Every country has there own rules on what is allowable by law. Even America looks like "slave labour" compared to what we get paid.

This is now a different subject.

Now back to the original thread subject please.

[GTMOND]

You have to remember that the cost of living is far below what it is in Australia, so what may seem like slave labour to us may not be to them.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

You don't go from a fat lady to Jennifer Hawkins overnight no matter how many fat pills you take. This will take years to change and they are already on the right track. Starting to see a few Everests and lots of rangers, Mustangs will give Ford plenty of exposure, Focus will get more exposure with new RS. It will take time and I don't think they will ever get back to where they were given the improvement in the competition. Ford probably havnt gone backwards in terms of product but more the competition have improved big heaps. To just stay in the top 5 would be a big achievement.

Agree.

The article says that Ford need to change. This is what they are doing aren't they?

I have been a Falcon owner for the last 20 years and when Ford announced that they were finishing Falcon I was probably like a lot people on this forum - I was pretty ****ed off.

However, after getting over it I am now starting to get excited again about the WHOLE Ford range.

We currently own a Focus and will look at a Ranger in the next 18 months.

Good times ahead........

[stig_3754]

Originally Posted by csv8

"ADELAIDE car parts manufacturers are being promised a discount workforce earning just $1.12 an hour to lure them to set up offshore operations.

The Thailand Board of Investment dangled the carrot of cheap labour in front of about 30 car suppliers at a free seminar at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel yesterday.

There was also a chance for the suppliers to have private meetings. A similar event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.

The head of Federal Government-funded car lobby group Automotive Supplier Excellence Australia, Linsey Siede, organised the tour of the Thai delegation.

Skilled workers 'not stealing jobs', report says

Duangjai Asawachintachit, deputy secretary general of the Thai board, said yesterday she wanted Australian car suppliers to take advantage of opportunities in Thailand.

"Wages are significantly lower than they are in Australia, the minimum wage is 300 baht a day, which is about $A9 for an eight-hour day. We hope that's our competitive advantage," she said.

"This is a very good opportunity for Australian companies particularly with the market growth in Thailand."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1226445137821

Thankfully Mr. Thai worker who earns a measly AU$1.12 per day doesn't have to deal with Australian cost of living.

Talk about sensationalism.

[csv8]

So, Ford build cars at Thai wage prices but sell at Euro wage price ????

[stig_3754]

So you think an Everest Titanium should be on sale for $25,000 DA because it's built on 'Thai wages'?

[olfella]

Originally Posted by tempted

$1.12 an hour. If that's not slave labour then I don't know what is...

It just highlights how badly the Australian consumer is getting reamed by paying first class prices for a product that is built by slave workers in a third world country.

It's bordering on criminal.

I do not see it like that but rather part of the free trade agreements, which both sides of politics support. if we dont like it then dont buy the products or lobby you local member for change.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by stig_3754

So you think an Everest Titanium should be on sale for $25,000 DA because it's built on 'Thai wages'?

No..but all reports state the Titanium is over priced..$15k more than the Trend..
It should be around $70k on road not $82k, before discounting, deals etc...

[P6LTD351]

The Ford product is fine. It is their image and credibility with the Australian public that they need to work on.

Some stealth marketing will do the trick. FFS, bring back the "Have you Driven a Ford...Lately?" tagline. It's not rocket science.

Use Ford's history to its advantage. Geezus, Henry Ford basically brought cars to the masses. Ford doesn't tap into its legacy enough.

People should be proud to have a Ford...instead, it is a brand that is continually bagged. Doesn't have to be this way.

[stig_3754]

Originally Posted by csv8

No..but all reports state the Titanium is over priced..$15k more than the Trend..
It should be around $70k on road not $82k, before discounting, deals etc...

On what basis? On features? Or just because of which factory it comes from? Doing some quick research on Car Sales, the price of the Titanium seems like it undercuts most of it's competitors, except maybe a Land Rover. Fair enough, most of the direct competitors come from Japan.

So what you're saying is that if it was priced at $70k that would be fair? Call me a cynic, but I have a feeling you'd still be complaining as $70k is still a lot of money coming from a factory where the average worker earns $1.12AUD based on your logic.

[Express]

Originally Posted by P6LTD351

Use Ford's history to its advantage. Geezus, Henry Ford basically brought cars to the masses. Ford doesn't tap into its legacy enough.

People should be proud to have a Ford...instead, it is a brand that is continually bagged. Doesn't have to be this way.

I disagree, the public are not showing any interest in Ford and its image problem includes the company’s heritage.

Henry Ford may have been an innovator in his day but now he's ancient history and so is all the Ford product of yesteryear.

Consumers have it set in their minds that companies like those from Asian do it better and Ford needs to change that thinking.

The company needs to be seen as a modern vehicle manufacturer designing and building a great product and therefore Ford needs to tell the public where the cars are being built, how many international awards they win, how well they sell in other markets and why they are good cars.

No humorous ads, no ads belittling or comparing other brands, no heritage ads, no ads focusing on an age specific target and no ads touting tech that is considered to be everydayish for most consumers.

Their ads should be single minded in stating for example this car comes from Europe or it comes from Asian, it’s a big seller and highly regarded in other overseas markets and it is now available to Australians, get on board.

Ford needs to change the consumer’s mindset by showing what a modern manufacturer of world class vehicles they are and not reinforce its past.

A grassroots change is needed.

Most people don’t know anything about their cars, not even where they come from and they are easily led by something as inane as Ford makes good taxis and sells the leftovers to us mentality and that kind of thinking needs to be killed dead.

One of the problems when discussing marketing strategies with informed consumers like those on this forum, is those strategies usually have no chance of achieving their desired results when used on the uninformed.

Teach the consumer about who Ford is these days and then a change may occur.