Ford vows to fight on after July shutdown

borough · 14-06-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...613-20alt.html

FORD AUSTRALIA says it is still committed to keeping its local car-making operations alive until 2016 despite idling its factories for seven days in July as Falcon sales reach new lows.

During the temporary shutdown, most of the company's 1800 blue-collar workers at the Geelong engine plant and Broadmeadows assembly line will be on half pay, but can top up wages by taking annual leave.
The stoppage comes as Falcon sales continue to nosedive - down 25 per cent on last year's record low.

Falcon sales have been weaker in the past three years than at any other point in the 52-year history of the nameplate, including the debut year of 1960 when the Australian car market was a fraction of the size it is today.
For almost five decades the Falcon had never been outside the three top-selling cars locally, but today it struggles to stay inside the top 20 and is outsold by small cars and utes.

Despite a record $290 million loss during Ford Australia's last financial period and what appears to be a terminal decline in Falcon sales, the car maker says it is committed to honouring its deal with state and federal governments to keep assembly operations open until 2016.

''There will be no job cuts as a result of these down days," said Ford Australia public affairs director, Sinead Phipps. ''This action hasn't changed our long-term plan. We are still doing our 2014 [update of the Falcon] that is part of the $103 million investment we announced in January.''
It is not the first time Ford - or other Australian car makers - have halted production at factories to match falling demand, but aside from Christmas/New Year breaks it is the first time in memory Ford has had so many consecutive days off.

Ford will shutter its plants on Friday July 6 and reopen Monday July 16, and then close again on July 20 and 27.
A spokeswoman for the Victorian Manufacturing Minister, Richard Dalla-Riva, suggested further financial assistance for the company was unlikely, saying the company was profitable and already supported by the state and federal governments.

Meanwhile, Holden announced yesterday next year's Commodore will be unveiled in February to coincide with its debut in North America as a Chevrolet. However the model will not be in Australian or United States showrooms until the middle of the year.

I suppose at least Ford has spoken out and saying that the plants will stay open until 2016.

39ClevoUte · 14-06-2012, 08:53 PM

Is that when the Gov bail out ends?

jpd80 · 14-06-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54Ghia

Is that when the Gov bail out ends?

What bail out would that be?

RASER · 20-06-2012, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54Ghia

Is that when the Gov bail out ends?

LOL

How sad, not even a Australian owned company in any case.

They should pull the pin NOW, why keep trying to drag it on and on with less and less sales, they know it will NEVER recover to anything like the sales during the glory days, customers are buying other vehicle types now.

Sell off the 100's of acres [Broady/Geelong] for housing [maybe pay back the GovCo...hahahaha] payout all the manufacture staff, and keep the engineering and HQ for 100% a imported range, and engineers can do projects for the subcontinent etc

Bring on the F150's and Mustangs~~!!

Its going to happen anyway, 2016?

39ClevoUte · 14-06-2012, 10:00 PM

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...111-1pu2m.html

jpd80 · 14-06-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54Ghia

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...111-1pu2m.html

that's not a bail out, that's barely any assistance for two added years of business activity
2 x $1.5 billion revenue years that would otherwise be lost..

**Polyal** · 14-06-2012, 10:08 PM

Im more amazed they have made a release..thats good.

BHDOGS · 14-06-2012, 10:26 PM

Good on ford for speaking up another 4 years atleast that oughta stop the crap people always talk haha fat chance

stevz · 14-06-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borough

I suppose at least Ford has spoken out and saying that the plants will stay open until 2016.

And what happens after that? Curtains?

**Polyal** · 14-06-2012, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

And what happens after that? Curtains?

Your job next to guaranteed for the next 4 years?

jpd80 · 15-06-2012, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

And what happens after that? Curtains?

There's still four years to run until that time.

Interestingly, Broadmeadows has now been configured to align with Ford Europe build process (EUCD).
If Ford was looking to wind down the plant, it wouldn't even entertain that idea.

What Holden and Ford need to do is hang on for now and wait for an economic improvement to come,
that is most likely going to happen in the second half of 2012, people look at skinny production but
that's not the issue, if both car makers have lost or wound back sales to fleets, then the loss of
income for those sales is disappointing but not the end of the world, the profitable core business is still there.

aussie muscle · 15-06-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

There's still four years to run until that time.

yay

stevz · 15-06-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

..............an economic improvement to come, that is most likely going to happen in the second half of 2012

You must be living in lala land! It's going to get much worse before it gets any better and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to get better anytime soon.

RspecAU · 15-06-2012, 06:48 PM

I think it's about time Ford dropped some of the deadwood from the C.E.O's down and add a better range of cars. For to long now Ford have remained the "Family" car and have dropped the ball in the prformence market.

jpd80 · 15-06-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

You must be living in lala land! It's going to get much worse before it gets any better and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to get better anytime soon.

The economy is actually getting better...

There's a lot of evidence that if things become worse in Europe, money will flow out into safe havens,
the main one being the USA but also now it appears that Australia is becoming an option.

BHDOGS · 14-06-2012, 11:52 PM

my jobs guaranteed but im in a business that will always be in demand the more people get upset the more my business increases.

**Polyal** · 14-06-2012, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

my jobs guaranteed but im in a business that will always be in demand the more people get upset the more my business increases.

But is it manufacturing or something that involves large investment? My point was that there is pretty much no guarantees these days (was there ever?)..Ford stating that they will make things work and continue to look forward is about as positive as you can get really.

mik · 15-06-2012, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

my jobs guaranteed but im in a business that will always be in demand the more people get upset the more my business increases.

funeral director?

Buntz · 15-06-2012, 12:27 AM

Headline should read:

"Ford vows to continue being ambiguous, and evasive." - Give us something to scare readers with.

Car news readers probably think Sinead Phipps is the CEO. She is the only person who says something from the company, and says nothing whilst doing that. Just words which have no conclusion, and don't answer the questions being asked.

BHDOGS · 15-06-2012, 01:49 AM

all good guesses but no security ford have said they will be here till 2016 after that who knows but cant we just enjoy it now its like sitting at home and not going out because your afraid of dieing your life always worried youll never enjoy it there here for 4 more years celebrate people can be gloomy told ya so's when fords gone

jpd80 · 15-06-2012, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

all good guesses but no security ford have said they will be here till 2016 after that who knows but cant we just enjoy it now its like sitting at home and not going out because your afraid of dieing your life always worried youll never enjoy it there here for 4 more years celebrate people can be gloomy told ya so's when fords gone

Consider it 2004, and Ford has just said they will keep building the BF until 2008, and update the car in 2006
would we all be running around like chicken littles or wait another two years to find out what they're up to?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

Good on ford for speaking up another 4 years atleast that oughta stop the crap people always talk haha fat chance

Think about iit, that's an unprecedented guarantee from Ford to keep making Falcon for another four years, that's ballsy.

Uncle Niceguy · 15-06-2012, 06:53 AM

well why would they create a new falcon in 2014 if there "supposedly" shutting there doors 2 years later doesn't make sense to do the fresh falcon update if there going to shut directly after pretty much. so imo they'll be here well past 2016 and possibly until 2020 with the next model falcon. Where did the news that said "2016 the year ford will shut manufacturing" come about anyway? it just doesn't make sense to put all that fresh money for a new falcon shape down the gurgler if they are shutting shop in 2016.They may as well make an FGIII if thats going to be the case.

39ClevoUte · 15-06-2012, 08:38 AM

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nati...110-1t1sk.html

It doesn't look like much but it's supossed to do all this????

TRUBLU4DS · 15-06-2012, 09:47 AM

Sales are down due to their crap marketing & I also commented when the FG was
released that it would be the death of Falcon because its an ugly car.

Wretched · 15-06-2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

Sales are down due to their crap marketing & I also commented when the FG was
released that it would be the death of Falcon because its an ugly car.

Crap Marketing is not the full reason why the Falcon is suffering.
Product planning and market shifts are the cause.
Holden have great marketing (according to many here) yet they also suffer from sliding Commodore sales.

The market has moved away from large sedans, just look at the monthly stats.

Whether or not the FG is ugly has nothing to do with the sales.
That is your opinion not fact.

anto · 15-06-2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRUBLU4DS

Sales are down due to their crap marketing & I also commented when the FG was
released that it would be the death of Falcon because its an ugly car.

Maybe they should put you in charge .......such amazing foresight

Joe5619 · 15-06-2012, 10:04 AM

Why are people linking artciles that are 5-6 months old??

39ClevoUte · 15-06-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Why are people linking artciles that are 5-6 months old??

Because this package was quoted to take things through the dates that were being discussed.

Dr Smith · 15-06-2012, 05:06 PM

How about a Falcon hatch in the mould of an Audi Sportsback, more wagon then now and different enough to current sedan yet with more style....and using Mondeo base but with added global v6 and V8's and tdi, lpg...
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...pg?OpenElement

JPFS1 · 15-06-2012, 06:01 PM

People have short memories. Many years before January 2012 when the article in the OP was written, Ford announced a 1.8 BILLION dollar investment package in Australia which would coincidentally take them through to the end of 2016... so infact, even in 2006, FoA committed to Australia for the next 10 years, why should they be expected to come clean and give the game away for post 2016 plans?