New Ford Falcon Can Outsell Holden's Commodore, Says Ford Australia Boss

I dont doubt in my mind at all that the FG will start outselling the VE.
The VE is 2 years old now, and sales are dwindling because of its age.


The current Falcon has been almost exactly the same since 2002 (?), hence its current incredibly bad sales, and now that a new one is about to come out ...... people will be all over it.


Also, the Falcon still be pretty fleet friendly price wise, unlike the Commodore.
Taxi companies and police will be all over it.



Bring on the VF and diesel Commodores, Holden!

I think Ford are getting ahead of themselves. Public response to the FG has been...well neutral so far. A lot of people are angry that the FG looks too similar to the BF. So far, in every way, the FG is still less superior to the VE (apart from maybe fuel economy). The VE is stronger, faster (most likely), better looking, nice to drive, wide selections, OBVIOUS model differentiation, safer and is just generally probably a better made car. I know it sounds a little bit fanboy-ish but the VE is a very good car and its gonna be tough to beat. And I still reckon the VE will be the better handling car. The F6 launch control is just a half-arsed attempt at fighting back HSV's briliant launches due to its wider rear wheels and better electronics. The Falcon will probably need the new architecture to pose a real threat to Holden/HSV as the VF will be ready soon, an already new architecture will be ready by 2011-2012 which is basically when Ford is releasing their new architecture.

And this new boss, Osbourne. He's a bit mouthy, he's blasted everything Holden has. The Korean strategy is a failed business move (true but there's no need for him to say it), the VE has flaws (what on earth is he on about? hundred bucks says its better made than the cut and paste FG.) I honestly believe that he is just one of those all talk no action leaders and reckon he's gonna cause some trouble in the industry soon. He's already claiming the FG is superior to the Aurion and the VE. That's actually a little pathetic.

John Button died the other day. He said it 25 years ago: export or perish. Holden, Mitsu and Toyo listered. Ford Oz wanted to. Mitsu Oz lost their exports for reasons outside their control.

Holden is about the only one looking a better than even prospect of survivng to me. Altona is just one small Camry factory whose outout would be overtime for the US or a pittance out of China.

Ford Oz has now missed the last lifeboat off the Titanic IMO. I'd say there's a better than even chance the last vehicle they make in Oz will be Orion. 2011 is an enternity away in the current scheme of things. If it doesn't at least come back into contention for 50K sales a year I think it'll be reabsorbed into Ford US operations. There's no engine plant for the next gen in eighteen months - it's a small step from importing powertrains to the whole car. It'd have to be tempting to Ford US, especially in the tightening US economy and it's other difficulties, to cut their losses and run at that point.

I can see a future where Holden makes large RWD cars for Oz ( in smaller numbers and a reduced model range than today) America, Middle East and Europe. In turn it will take cars to fill the other lines from America (say Malibu 4 cyl to take Omega's place in the midrange market, maybe a smallish SUV) Opel (maybe Insignia, Astra to fight Corolla) and Daewoo (Barina, maybe Epica, Captiva, a small x-over).

GM doesn't want to convert all it's sedans in NA to RWD - and even if they say make a RWD Buick, Caprice or big Caddy in Oshawa or Lansing, there's still scope for Holden to provide niche utes, coupes, G8s and other vehicles in numbers uneconomic for plants in the US but possible for a small flexible operation like Holden. If the product is good enough, people will buy it, exchange rates notwithstanding.

GM needs good 4-cyl appliance Camry fighters: it also needs competitors from Saturn (Opel), Pontiac, Chevrolet (Camaro) to things like the Madza, Maxima and Acura in the midrange, it also needs the CTS and maybe something smaller to fight with the upper-spec Japanese and Euros. Plus of course SUVs in all sizes.

Toyota is one company and one brand: it's dominant because it leverages it's large model range and global resources - all it's cars don't come from Japan or the US. Honda is the same.