Ford To Build The Focus In Australia!

[JoeT]

Broader Focus at Broady?

CarPoint Editor
15 March 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

Ford may be considering more than just the vanilla Focus for local production.

New Ford Boss, Bill Osborne says that the company is looking at building more than one front-wheel drive model on its Broadmeadows production line.

According to Osborne, the ability to diversify the production offering at the company's sole Australian manufacturing facility is of paramount importance.

The Broadmeadows plant will be one of few in the world to build rear, all-wheel and front-wheel drive cars on the same line when the new Ford Focus comes on stream in 2010. In addition to the Focus, Ford will continue to build its Falcon, Falcon-derivative and Territory models at the plant.

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Ford Could Lose Focus Over $20M

Australian Car Advice
6 Febuary 2008
www.caradvice.com.au

Labour is planning to withdraw some $20 million of a grant promised to Ford Australia by the former Howard government which could now jeopardise plans to build an new four-cylinder engine line (for the coming Focus range) at its Broadmeadows plant.

The grant of some $52.5M for special assistance was announced in May 2006, of which Ford has already received some $32.5M of, but the remaining $20M was not due to be paid until late 2009.

The money was intended to help start production on the new Falcon project (known as ‘E8′ or the V6 powered 2010 model) but Ford sought to alter the agreement so the money could be spent on developing the four-cylinder Focus.

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Slow Focus Sales Force Ford Into Action

David Hassall
20 November 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Ford Australia has been forced to change its small-car advertising strategy in a concerted bid to reverse a disturbing sales decline for Focus, which has failed to capitalise on the trend to small cars.

With Ford’s total market share in Australia dropping to 9.2 per cent in October – its lowest share in living memory – the Blue Oval is fighting for respectability, and the man at the battlefront is sales and marketing chief Mark Winslow.

Mr Winslow could not say if Ford’s market share had ever been so low in its history and – while noting that 10 per cent in the present boom market represents strong overall volume – he is still unhappy about the situation.

“Do we think it’s good enough? Absolutely not. We’re much better than a 10 per cent market share,” he told GoAuto last week.

Noting that large-car sales had gone from 23 per cent of the market two years ago to just 13 per cent this year – a worrying trend ahead of the all-important “Orion” Falcon launch next year – Mr Winslow said it was vital for Ford to secure a long-term stake in the growing small- and light-car markets with Focus and Fiesta.

However, Focus sales last month dropped by some 37.9 per cent compared to the same month last year, slipping below 1000 sales, while Toyota Corolla sales increased 10.8 per cent for the month and the Mazda3 was up by some 20.9 per cent.

Not only did the Focus lose ground to Corolla and Mazda, but in the last two months it dropped behind the Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Tiida and Holden Astra.

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Focus On The Sums

CarPoint Editor
3 November 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

By then Ford does say it'll be building Focuseseses... err Foci, however... But the decision has some people scratching their heads.

Indeed, more than one high-placed Toyota crone recently expressed the opinion to CN Confidential that Ford's four-cylinder production plans don't add up.

The Toyota 'machine' is an interesting 'animal' but there's little doubt in our mind the opinions they were espousing were genuine -- rather than mischief making.

Reportedly, Ford's announcement actually saw the Camry company pull out its 'Corolla in Oz' sums, dust them off and have another look at them. The result?

"At the projected retail prices Ford would have to sell the car to achieve the volumes it has projected, we simply can't get the numbers to add up," one high-placed Toyota exec told CN Confidential on the basis he/she would not be named.

"They [Ford] must know something we don't."

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Focus Joins The Export Club

Ken Gratton
25 October 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

Ford has nailed down international markets for the locally manufactured Focus.

Ford Australia is determined that the 'Broady-built' Focus will follow the increasingly well-beaten path 'OS'.

Commodore and Camry/Aurion have already slipped on the back-pack and jetted off in the direction of Africa, Europe, Asia and the US.

Focus's market penetration will be more limited, geographically -- with Ford concentrating on markets in the Asia/Pacific region only.

At this stage, the locally manufactured car, due for launch in 2011, will be produced in numbers of 40,000 per year, with 15,000 allocated to RHD exports (New Zealand and South Africa) and the balance for domestic consumption.

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Focus Closing In On Falcon

Byron Mathioudakis & Philip Lord
18 October 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Ford has revealed that the 2011 Focus production facility in Melbourne may produce up to 50,000 units annually.

If achieved, that would put the European-developed Ford small car within striking distance of matching the Falcon’s production capacity, which in 2006 added up to 58,248.

Speaking at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last week, Ford Australia managing director Tom Gorman said that by increasing Focus’ sales from today’s supply-constrained 1500 units per month, and combining these with export sales, should easily be within the car’s reach by the time it comes on stream in 2011.

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Ford To Manufacture Small Cars In Australia

Ford Australia
23 July 2007
www.ford.com.au

Ford Australia will add a new model line to its Campbellfield manufacturing assembly plant and create approximately 300 new jobs when it begins manufacturing the Ford Focus in Australia in 2011.

In doing so, Ford will become the first Australian car manufacturer to respond to the increasing popularity of smaller vehicles by producing the company's globally successful Focus small car alongside its current Falcon and Territory model lines.

Rising fuel costs and changing consumer lifestyles have created a dramatic shift in customer buying preferences with small cars accounting for 21.7 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia year-to-date, up from 15.4 per cent in 1998.

By manufacturing the European designed and engineered Focus in Australia, Ford will be able to enhance the vehicle's key product attributes by enabling further consideration of Australian-specific customer demands.

The Ford Focus will also represent the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle produced in Australia, with the current manual diesel model offering fuel economy levels of 5.6 litres/100 km and CO2 emission levels of 148g/km. Both petrol and diesel Focus variants will be manufactured in Australia.

Ford Australia is preparing for an annual production of 40,000 Focus vehicles, which will add approximately 300 new jobs across Ford's operations, returning the Campbellfield manufacturing assembly plant to full capacity utilisation. In addition, the company's Stamping Plant in Geelong will stamp a significant number of panels for the new vehicle.

Australian component suppliers will also have the opportunity to become involved in production of the new Focus, with talks beginning immediately to determine the opportunities for inclusion in the fully integrated manufacturing process.

The Focus will be sold in Australia as well as exported to regional markets, including New Zealand and South Africa. Significant additional export markets will be announced closer to 2011.

"Manufacturing the Ford Focus in Australia will allow us to deliver key business requirements of improving our capacity utilisation and strengthening Ford Australia's integration into the global Ford Motor Company. It also reflects the contemporary market demands for smaller vehicles and opens up significant additional export opportunities within the region," said Ford Australia President Mr Tom Gorman.

"With the support of the Federal Government and Victorian State Government, Ford Australia will be the first local car manufacturer to respond to these changing market dynamics in this manner. We look forward to offering Australians their first locally produced small car in more than a decade."



Ford To Build Focus In Australia

Toby Hagon
23 July 2007
www.drive.com.au

Ford Australia will build the Focus small car in Melbourne alongside the Falcon and Terrritory, starting in 2011.

Disappointing Falcon and Territory sales have prompted Ford Australia to announce it will begin assembling the Focus small car at its Melbourne production line.

Ford Australia president Tom Gorman confirmed Drive's exclusive report two weeks ago that the Focus would be produced in Australia in an effort to increase output at the company's Broadmeadows plant, in an announcement earlier today.

Ford says the decision to begin producing the Focus in Australia from 2011 will create another 300 jobs at its Broadmeadows and Geelong plants.

The Focus will be built alongside the Territory 4WD-style wagon and the Falcon sedan, wagon and ute - a move certain to increase complexity at Ford's Broadmeadows plant.

Ford says it will produce 40,000 Focuses annually, including diesel and petrol variants.

Ford says the move to build the Focus in Australia makes Ford the first Australian car maker "to respond to the increasing popularity of smaller vehicles".

The statement continued: "rising fuel costs and changing consumer lifestyles have create a dramatic shift in customer buying preferences with small cars accounting for 21.7 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia, up from 15.4 per cent in 1998".

Gorman says the addition of the Focus to the company's locally-produced models is a boost for the company.

"Manufacturing the Ford Focus in Australia will allow us to deliver key business requirements of improving our capacity utilisation and strengthening Ford Australia's integration into the global Ford Motor Company," says Gorman. "it also reflects the contemporary market demands for smaller vehicles and opens up significant export opportunities within the region."

Ford's Broadmeadows plant is capable of producing up to 120,000 vehicles a year, but the capacity is running at about 80,000 since the well-publicised drop in large-car sales; large car sales have been in decline for a decade.

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Ford Oz Plans Third Car For Production

Richard Blackburn
6 July 2007
www.drive.com.au

Ford Australia is planning to fill the gap in its production capacity by assembling a third model alongside its locally built Falcon and Territory models.

A Falcon passes through Ford Australia’s Broadmeadows production line, which also builds the Territory SUV.

Ford is to build a third model in Australia in an attempt to turn around the brand's dramatic slide in popularity.

The company has told its dealers it is looking to build a third model at its Broadmeadows Plant (pictured) to fill the capacity gap left by poor sales of the Falcon and Territory.

It would not reveal the identity of the third vehicle to dealers but the most likely option is a small car. Ford imports two small cars: the Ford Focus and the Ford Fiesta. Either car could be sent in kit form to Australia for assembly. This would be a far more cost-effective option than establishing an entirely new car line locally.

Dealers say the Focus, which is currently made in South Africa, is the most logical option.

The wildcard could be a small Toyota RAV4-sized off-roader based on the Ford Focus. Dubbed the X-Max, the soft-roader has been spotted undergoing testing in Europe.

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Ford's Large Cars Remain

The Daily Telegraph
3 August 2007
www.carsguide.com.au

Ford denies speculation that Falcon and Territory are under review.

Ford Australia has committed to continue building large cars alongside the new small car Focus. “I can guarantee you that neither Falcon nor Territory is under any threat,” Ford Australia spokeswoman Sinead McAlary says.

“We believe there is an ongoing business case for both models.”

Speculation grew when Ford Australia president Tom Gorman announced during a press conference, the decision to build Focus in Australia from 2011 giving the company the opportunity to “walk away from” less profitable segments.

“What Tom was talking about was the opportunity for segment managing with production ... the ability to be more flexible in the model mix,” McAlary says.

“What will be possible is to manage the mix of cars being built in a far more active way. It could be changed month to month depending on what the demands are for any other models."

“The terminology may have led to some confusion but there is absolutely no threat to Falcon or Territory at this stage.”

With the announcement that Ford will close its in-line six engine production facility in Geelong by 2010, questions were raised over whether the Falcon and the Territory would be re-engineered to take imported engines.

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GMI's Official 2008 Ford Falcon News & Picture Thread

Ford Focus

[mikmak]

Those CGIs look terrible! I pray Fords execution is far better (I'm sure it will be).

Oh and the third car will be a Capri based on the AWD variant of the Focus. :P

[redimpss5]

They look pretty good, but those cars are starting to all look alike.

[TDi]

I kind of let it slip that Ford Australia would be producing a third model about a month ago to you guys and I'm glad that something now is being said in the media.

Focus is the front runner to be put into production, but Fiesta, Mondeo and the X-Max compact SUV (Focus based) are also on the list.

Apparently, an announcement will be made on the 11th of July, so keep your ears open. Though I'm not sure if it's referring to this or something else?

[Porkfriedrice]

Originally Posted by redimpss5

They look pretty good, but those cars are starting to all look alike.

Thats cuz it is. I see some Mondeo and holden smushed together.

[Odin]

pretty obvious they used the BF falcon as a base for the CGI's, probably won't look that hideous in the flesh. Bad Cgi I think.

[Zomsky]

Is Ford OZ really that desperate it has to resort to CKD's?????????

You've got to think back to the early 90's, when Ford OZ stopped assembling the Laser (and Mazda 323) locally because it was unecconomical- that car cost almost as much to produce as a Falcon did at the time, and sold for considerably less.

It is the same reason Ford (and GM, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan) stopped building small cars locally.

I really hope Ford does succeed if they choose to once again build a smaller (presumably) FWD car. I believe the concept is not without merit. By building a perceived fuel efficent, Euro 4 compliant car locally, Ford could really capitalise on the Fleet market, especially the Government Fleets, along with the Hire-a-car fleets.

I would certainly be interested in a smaller Australian car (i'd prefer it to be a GM but! ).

Perhaps they will begin building the new Mondeo- by developing a local Mondeo program, which is a car that is only marginally smaller than Falcon, this car could become Ford's primary model in OZ, therefore making the "Orion" Falcon the last Falcon.

And, assuming it is the Focus, we can all band together and kill the Corolla!

[Aych Es Vee]

Bring back the Cortina! lol

make a rwd small sedan, so it will FORCE Holden to make a Torana!

[vt6banger]

my money is on a focus... I hope Ford survives, only cause v8 supercars would be well and truely dead without them, no one else in oZ makes a 4 door RWD v8 ... i dont mean sell, it has to be made here to qualify.

[mcool]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Those CGIs look terrible! I pray Fords execution is far better (I'm sure it will be).

Yeah, they're a little basic, but I think they're correct in assuming the kinetic design language will migrate down under from europe before the US design language does. While sometimes I think the kinetic language is a little understated, it's much better than the 3-bar stuff that Ford has rolled out here.

It's funny the mess Ford is in. Their brand structure is improving with the sales of the foreign nameplates. I know a lot of people here lament the loss of a Jaguar or Aston or Land Rover. While I'd personally keep Land Rover (to field against Jeep and Hummer), I think ditching Jag and Aston only creates room for Ford to resurrect Mercury (kind of) and Lincoln (essentially). Off-topic, but otherwise, Ford is already an established global brand but it's been run far too regionally and the disconnect is now painfully obvious.

[MonaroSS]

.

Well my little chop back in May wasn't too far off if these CGI's are close. It will be interesting to see what the rear lights are really like.

[HEVguy]

What!? those pictures look like chops/mods on the Holdens!

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by HEVguy

What!? those pictures look like chops/mods on the Holdens!

Yes, Ford OZ has finally decided that if you can't beat 'em........

[asim]

Originally Posted by HEVguy

What!? those pictures look like chops/mods on the Holdens!

Thats Australian design for you...they really all start looking the same. Within the same company, or with competing companies. A lot of people say their cars look boring (and I can understand them), but the Aussies defend their car as looking like "European chic" -- whatever that means.

[Richard1098]

Originally Posted by asim

Thats Australian design for you...they really all start looking the same. Within the same company, or with competing companies. A lot of people say their cars look boring (and I can understand them), but the Aussies defend their car as looking like "European chic" -- whatever that means.

The general shape of the side window outline, placement of rear lights, and the grille shape are the only real points of similarity between the Commodore and Falcon. But there are also similarities between the VE and other cars out there, some Audi models come to mind, as does the Saturn Aura.

But in terms of the basic shape of the cars, curvature and shaping of panels, and detailed design they are pretty different. There is no way you would mistake the two in the metal.