Ford Australias industrial and in line six demise

xctasy":wfdco3jl said:
All companies want incentives, and tell you they'll pack up and get the low hanging fruit else-ware. Rio Tinto wants to pull out of Tiwa point at Bluff and stop smelting bauxite for Australia, and it threatens the Government here. It's called economics. http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/04/tiwai_point-2.html

The point I made is that China doesn't cost out HS&E, as there is none to speak of, so any short fall in the general ledger for Ford, Toyota, Holden or CCA in Aussie is as a result of higher costs in those three segments, which cannot be amortized. That's why multinationals ask for money.

Pretty simple. Its time to do the Merv Hughes sledge. If you want cheaper production costs and not to pay, the Fat controller has to collect the tickets some place else. You won't be selling 65000 Falcons this year, and 65000 units is a minimum for break even, so let us sell something that makes the volume. Ford saw this in 1981, when it saw the next Falcon as a front drive LWB Telstar. The fact that China is reselling Rover 75's as the switchabe to rear drive MG 6 should be a clue.


The Government funded T6 is doing it, and the American populace is perplexed as to why Ford doesn't offer it in the US. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/tru ... rst_drive/

If the 126.8 wheel base was cut, and the basic parts used elseware like Ford did in the 60's, smaller segment cars could be serviced from the same production tooling and get the volume back up. An IRS with 112" wheel base 5 dr wagon and 3dr wagon on 105" wheelbase would be killer Territory replacement, and that short wheelbase be the form-work for a cut-down Falcon sedan. Since the side impact crash rules, cars have been getting wider and much longer. This isn't a Leyland p82 style dream its economics and sales.

The Mondeo is now Falcon sized


I think the following proves the point I was making about volume sales back two years ago. Fords design and economic center is the USA, and the decisions to axe the long wheelbase Fairlane/Ltd and replace it with Territory volume was the right one, but then the growth Falcon and Territory numbers failed to perform to get the required 140 000 units to break even.

The way they s/could have done it was like I suggested, to down grade the capacity of thr I6 to XK-XP levels 144/170/200, and then cross over the body engineering. Sort of like taking a Toyota Altezza/ Lexus IS200 and crossing it over to higher volume 4x4 and commericials. Switchable platforms are what Mazda and Isuzu, the minor players in the shot gun weddings, are now doing. So its AMC 1981 all over again, taking a know base, and reheating it. The BT50 was never really Mazdas own. The Isuzu D max was.

The Jeep style SUV-ing Chrysler saved Chrysler America.


Crossovers with shared platforms are it, and Ford Australia lost its opertunity to make them in Australia. The proof is the shear volume sold already in the whole T-6 platform. I'm pretty proud at how this SR5 verses Hlix Surf thing is paying out.

ford-everest.jpg

images



The Ford Endeavour and Ford Everest are cut down T-6's. Government money was channeled to Ford Australia, now the T-6 platform is making enough volume in Thailand.

Its basically the AMC Eagle Concorde process of reworking a Rambler Hornet all over again.

The-AMC-Eagle-Estate.jpg


Now, it just neeeds an AMC Eagle SX4 coupe concept to make the iceing on the cake. Imagine taking Phil Zmoods VA Holden Torana and the related W car concept, such non masculine cars, and letting it live. The effeminate HQ then begat the planned VA and W car concepts, and then...GMH went bankrupt.

VA-1.jpg

images


Zmood had it nailed. Over 50% of decisions are made to suit ladies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjBoPC5fDIU


00-7111982AMCEagleSX4.jpg


The platform has given birth to record volume, and Ford Australias loss is the South East Asian and Asia Pacific gain.
 
One example of the demise of Auto manufacturing in Australia is the way Tomcar are being treated at present.
The Tomcar vehicle presently will not be permitted to be road registered in Australia yet export vehicles to other counties do get road registration.

A perfect example why the big 3 (Ford, Holden and Toyota) have walked away as no matter what Government is in power they make the rules to hard.

Another example was the LPG rebate and how that worked promoting alternate fuels as well as design and prototype equipment.
I had been working with Diesel /LPG and the set up was fantastic for fuel economy and performance after the government failed to continue support
companies working on many of these interesting set ups folded up leaving many with no support and set ups that have no support become redundent.

The Taxi Industry here used to support the LPG as a cheaper cleaner fuel but now we see them using Hybrid electric petrol vehicles as the LPG support has fallen away and that is a shame as Australia has good access to LPG given it is was once considered a by product of oil production. Now you do not see many vehicles running that LPG even today now you have to make sure you buy quality Propane yet Australia still exports LPG.
 
Well the party is over, the last Falcon rolled off the assembly line last Friday the 7th of October 2016.
A very sad day for the venerable Ford Falcon.
 
mkeily":33r2kc87 said:
Well the party is over, the last Falcon rolled off the assembly line last Friday the 7th of October 2016.
A very sad day for the venerable Ford Falcon.

Did you read my post made back on the 9th ?
 
The last V6 Engine came off the Holden production line last week. It will be some time before that engine is used.
 
Cool23":11ae2qnq said:
The last V6 Engine came off the Holden production line last week. It will be some time before that engine is used.

That engine will probably wind up as a display next to the first V6 built at the plant;
never to be installed in a vehicle.
 
https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/02/17/gm ... 1oonBkfEQM

holden-ends-australian-production.jpg


General Motors has confirmed reports that it will retire the Holden brand.

Holden’s sales, design and engineering operations will cease “by 2021” according to a statement released by GM.

See below for the full statement

GM Accelerates Transformation of International Markets
Sun, February 16, 2020

GM to cease Holden sales, design and engineering operations by 2021, plans to focus on growth opportunities in specialty vehicle business
GM and Great Wall Motors sign binding term sheet for sale of Thailand manufacturing plant
Chevrolet to cease domestic sales in Thailand by end of 2020
General Motors (NYSE: GM) is taking decisive action to transform its international operations, building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, drive significant cost efficiencies and take action in markets that cannot earn an adequate return for its shareholders.

GM announced today that it would wind down sales, design and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand and retire the Holden brand by 2021. The company will focus its strategies for the market on the GM specialty vehicle business. The company also announced that it had signed a binding term sheet with Great Wall Motors to purchase GM’s Rayong vehicle manufacturing facility in Thailand; and would withdraw Chevrolet from the domestic market in Thailand by the end of 2020.

“I’ve often said that we will do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and this is one of those times,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We are restructuring our international operations, focusing on markets where we have the right strategies to drive robust returns, and prioritizing global investments that will drive growth in the future of mobility, especially in the areas of EVs and AVs.

“While these actions support our global strategy, we understand that they impact people who have contributed so much to our company. We will support our people, our customers and our partners, to ensure an orderly and respectful transition in the impacted markets.”

GM President Mark Reuss said the company explored a range of options to continue Holden operations, but none could overcome the challenges of the investments needed for the highly fragmented right-hand-drive market, the economics to support growing the brand, and delivering an appropriate return on investment.

“At the highest levels of our company we have the deepest respect for Holden’s heritage and contribution to our company and to the countries of Australia and New Zealand,” said Reuss.

“After considering many possible options – and putting aside our personal desires to accommodate the people and the market – we came to the conclusion that we could not prioritize further investment over all other considerations we have in a rapidly changing global industry.

“We do believe we have an opportunity to profitably grow the specialty vehicle business and plan to work with our partner to do that,” he concluded.

GM also undertook a detailed analysis of the business case for future production at the Rayong manufacturing facility in Thailand. Low plant utilization and forecast volumes have made continued GM production at the site unsustainable. Without domestic manufacturing, Chevrolet is unable compete in Thailand’s new-vehicle market.

GM Senior Vice President and President GM International Steve Kiefer said these decisions built on the announcement in January that GM would sell its Talegaon manufacturing facility in India; significant restructuring actions implemented in Korea; and investment in and continued optimization of South American operations.

“These are difficult decisions, but they are necessary to support our goal to have the GM International region on the pathway to growth and profitability,” said Kiefer.

“GM is well positioned in our GM International core markets: South America, the Middle East and Korea.”

GM International Operations Senior Vice President Julian Blissett said that as well as implementing plans in international core markets, GM was continuing to optimize partnerships in markets like Uzbekistan, by transferring assets and building strong supply chains to reduce costs in growth markets.

“In markets where we don’t have significant scale, such as Japan, Russia and Europe, we are pursuing a niche presence by selling profitable, high-end imported vehicles – supported by a lean GM structure,” said Blissett.

“We will continue to implement these critical business strategies, while delivering a dignified and respectful transition in impacted markets.”

In Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and related export markets, customers can be assured that GM will honor all warranties and continue to provide servicing and spare parts. Local operations will also continue to handle all recall and any safety-related issues, working with the appropriate governmental agencies.

As a result of these actions in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, the company expects to incur net cash charges of approximately $300 million. The company expects to record total cash and non-cash charges of $1.1 billion. These charges will primarily be incurred in the first quarter and continuing through the fourth quarter of 2020. These charges will be considered special for EBIT-adjusted, EPS diluted-adjusted and adjusted automotive free cash flow purposes.

See a break down or reasons why global companies like Ford, GM, and Toyota and Mitsubishi and Nissan have made the moves


https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... ade_Unions

The Employers, Government or Trade Unions?

Neither. Head offices had better offers else-ware.
 
Sad news. So many Jobs and so many Dealers. Also intersting as to what will happen to our V8 Super car racing. Holden also made a very popular inline six with so many companies making parts to hot it up.
 
GM have used the excuse it is far to hard to manufacture right hand drive cars. So places like India, South Africa are not part of the GM market anymore. Indonesian opperations will halt in March. Thailand, Australia and New Zealand being the last places of sale for right hand drive.

Interesting to note GM sold off Opel and Vauxhall some time ago to Peugeot Citroen.
 
Fords response to Holdens demise >
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/ ... e/11973896

Ford pays respect to Holden >

“All of us here at Ford Australia are saddened to hear the news that Holden will cease operations,” the automaker posted in part one of a two-part tweet. “To our friends at Holden, thank you for keeping us on our toes and inspiring us to keep aiming higher. We will miss you,” Ford concluded.

https://www.motor1.com/news/399109/ford ... den-brand/

What it means for the V8 Supercars >
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport ... f6fb5b8a42
 
Here's an opinion on Holden's closure from Australian auto journalist John Cadogan, a very straight shooter.
His video is titled "GM axes Holden in 2020 - the final chapter of betrayal and incompetence"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94glSLmuDU4

The Australian government gave Holden $250M AU with a promise they would keep manufacturing cars for ten years.
Two years into the deal, Holden announced they would stop building vehicles and close all their plants. Holden would import all of the
vehicles to sell at their dealerships. Holden then sent $150M AU to the GM corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. Needless to
say Australians were P!$$3D.
 
rocklord":30dkvb21 said:
Needless to
say Australians were P!$$3D.

Holden Dealers are proving that by reducing prices in some cases below 1/2 price to get rid of stock.
 
Just been re-reading stuff from 2014.

I'm really excited about how Ford USA has decided to go it alone without sedans.

The Ford Ranger is a No 1 Seller in Australia and New Zealand.

I'd like to give Edsel Bryant Ford II a pat on the back for making tough decisions that keep Ford Trucking.

Ford Australia's model mix was messed up when Ford Dearborn went front drive and v6 exclusive...Aussie won't buy front drivers, and it will buy a smaller Mondeo sized rwd, and the Ranger will become the next tradie vehicle like the F150 did in the states, and the SR5/Hilux does here in NZ.

News Flash,Ford Dearborn, didn't the XK Falcon, TC Cortina and front drive Taurus teach you anything about the Australian spirit, and Australian motoring needs. I doubt it.
 
The Ford Ranger and Ford Explorer sold in Aust and NZ are both made in Thailand. Both vehicles are not getting good reports here and those towing caravans are speaking up. We also see many vehicles sitting idle in yards in the USA as components (computer chips) are not available.

 
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