[mmciau]

http://www.ford.com.au/inside_ford/press/V...file=foa287.htm

Successful Ford Australia boss off to Europe

Mike

 

[gmwsag]

I'm trying to understand this: why will Ford build premium luxury cars there, and bring us stupid, ugly cars here. Same for Gm & Chrysler....America: Home of the car manufacturers who don't want to bring us the best....

 

[Hudson]

Ford and GM products in Australia aren't "premium luxury cars," they're basic (for Australia) transportation. And what Chrysler products aren't sold in the US?

 

[Odin]

Originally posted by Hudson@Feb 18 2004, 02:55 PM
Ford and GM products in Australia aren't "premium luxury cars," they're basic (for Australia) transportation. And what Chrysler products aren't sold in the US?

You have heard of the Holden Statesman, Caprice and the Ford Fairlane, LTD havent you?

 

[Smilingoat]

i personally think that buick should be very simular to the upscale modles of the holdens. that way its more of a win win, and the cars get more money to refine them even better. this would make it better for holden and buick. share you know?

 

[awalbert88]

Ford and GM can make some very awesome cars in Australia simply because they don't have nearly as strict regulations there as we do here. I think that insurance rates are also handled much different down under, which has a big effect on how much power you can have in your typical car.

 

[Odin]

Our regulations are just as strict and our insurance companies are just as bad.

Ie its the law here you have to wear a seatbelt, BIG fines and license points losts. The insurance companies come down on you hard if you have a turbo or v8 as well.

 

[Astra_Boy]

Word Odin!! Guy's, over here, thing's are pretty strict. I don't know how much you guy's know about our car market, but we're not some "developing" market. For 2003, the Australian new car market fell just under the 1 million unit mark. It's nothing compared to the US, but when you compare us to Canada's new car market, we don't do to badly. Some 1.7 million new car's were sold in Canada last year, yet they have an extra 13 million people than what we do!!

Don't even think about trying to get insurance if you're got a Turbo or a V8. Most insurance companies wont even look at you, especailly if you're male and under 21. We also have a 92% rate of seatbelt usage compare to North America. Did you know that car's that are sold in North America have larger airbags than what we have in Australia. The reason for this, is because you guy's don't where seatbelt's as much as what we do.

 

[StevenJ]

Also there are tarrifs on exporting and importing into Austriallia from America. It's part of hte reason why the GTO can only be sent in relatively small numbers to the U.S. until these tarrifs are resolved, it wouldn't be practical business wise to bring them over. However, I did find this article...
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf...A256E3600032DC7

It says something about the tarrifs being lifted 'relatively' soon. So your dream could come true. I personally think Ford would profit from this as much as GM, all the better for our ecconomy . Between, the Falcon, Caprice, LTD, and their small pick ups, we'd own the road once again.

 

[Hudson]

Tariffs for importing a car into the US are relatively small...and aren't going away anytime soon. The tax is 2.5% for cars. The tax for trucks (pickups and the like) is 25%...and is known as the "chicken tax"....and that one might be reduced to 2.5% at some point.