(2011) Ford AU Posts Bigggest Annual Loss

[madmelon]

Selling more higher spec model Falcons with a bigger profit margin, huh?
Yeah right...

Originally Posted by CarAdvice.com.au

The local arm of the blue oval has bled red ink in 2011, announcing a $290 million post-tax loss that is Ford Australia’s biggest annual deficit on record

http://www.caradvice.com.au/172016/f...t-annual-loss/

[Wretched]

ouch!

[Chilliman]

Hard to remain optimistic after a result like that. As much as I would like to see Ford continue to manufacture in this country, I think its time to face facts and move to an all-import operation

[GTP-814]

so all the Govt has to do is to give the same handout to Ford, & everything is rosie.....

Just goes to show how a small county like ours is going to continue to find it hard to remain in manufacturing

Ford Australia’s announcement follows days after fellow local car maker Holden revealed its 2011 post-tax profit had slipped from $112 million in 2010 to $89.7 million.

Holden’s $89.7m result equated exactly to taxpayer handouts the company had received from the federal government.

[Rodge]

A huge part of these losses is what accountants call extraordinary items and not part of the core loss for the year. Notwithstanding this I liked the comment this gentleman called Peanut made on the Car Advice website

Ford needs a major overhaul of its Dealer Network, Marketing and Pricing Policies

[BHDOGS]

Que the a team music with Julia and Mr S swinging into action with pockets full of money

[Road_Warrior]

*sigh*...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by madmelon

Selling more higher spec model Falcons with a bigger profit margin, huh?

Why does this give you pleasure??


Sad day... Hate to say it, but time might be right to close local manfacturing for Ford?

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Hate to say it, but time might be right to close local manfacturing for Ford?

IIRC, you abused me 3-4 months ago when I suggested this...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by b0son

IIRC, you abused me 3-4 months ago when I suggested this...

That was 3 months ago!!! You are 3 months smarter than me!!

However, maybe it was your tone more than the point you where making?? I'm not sure as I dont remember!!

[Chilliman]

I smell a conspiracy theory at work here. Most of the headline figure ($290Million loss) has come about because of 'accounting treatments'. I have a feeling that management has been given a directive from head office to paint the local operation in the worst possible light so that it easier to sell the closure of manufacturing operations.

Ford however runs the risk of destroying its 'brand equity' in this country to the point where even as an import only operation it would fail

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Chilliman

I smell a conspiracy theory at work here. Most of the headline figure ($290Million loss) has come about because of 'accounting treatments'. I have a feeling that management has been given a directive from head office to paint the local operation in the worst possible light so that it easier to sell the closure of manufacturing operations.

Ford however runs the risk of destroying its 'brand equity' in this country to the point where even as an import only operation it would fail

Not really, I've see this done 100 times.. Companies make a loss (in this case 78K) & know it is a bad year (so, senior management bonus will be crap anyway), so they take the opportunity to clean up the balance sheet at the same time. They just turn a bad year, into a really bad year.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Chilliman

I smell a conspiracy theory at work here. Most of the headline figure ($290Million loss) has come about because of 'accounting treatments'. I have a feeling that management has been given a directive from head office to paint the local operation in the worst possible light so that it easier to sell the closure of manufacturing operations.

Wouldnt this sort of 'creative accounting' be illegal?

[madmelon]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Why does this give you pleasure??

It really doesn't. It's me, a loyal Falcon guy (own two, am 26yo) from a loyal Falcon family (Including mine- 11x in 25 years, 7x were bought new) expressing my exasperation at the constant excuses and cover stories continuously being trotted out by Ford Australia Management.

Def'n of madness: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting diffrerent results.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by madmelon

It really doesn't. It's me, a loyal Falcon guy (own two, am 26yo) from a loyal Falcon family (Including mine- 11x in 25 years, 7x were bought new) expressing my exasperation at the constant excuses and cover stories continuously being trotted out by Ford Australia Management.

Def'n of madness: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting diffrerent results.

Ford hasnt used that "excuse", as you put it, for a while. Not since theyve been doing 1500 sales a month on Falcon at best, when its been pretty clear they needed better results either from the return of LPG or a new market like Ecoboost.

[RASER]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Why does this give you pleasure??


Sad day... Hate to say it, but time might be right to close local manfacturing for Ford?

I don't think HQ in USA would be all that happy with this.

It's the LARGEST loss they have ever had in AUS

They will be out of manufacture by decades end, just like Nissan and Mitsubishi before, import only range

Will GovCo have to tip in more money again?

Bring on the $30k F150's!!!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by RASER

I don't think HQ in USA would be all that happy with this.

It's the LARGEST loss they have ever had in AUS

They will be out of manufacture by decades end, just like Nissan and Mitsubishi before, import only range

Will GovCo have to tip in more money again?

Bring on the $30k F150's!!!

I think Alan is to busy rolling in his billions per quarter to break a sweat.

They know FoA is worth far more to them within the region than one bad year.

[RASER]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I think Alan is to busy rolling in his billions per quarter to break a sweat.

They know FoA is worth far more to them within the region than one bad year.

There will come a time, a tip over point, where the Falcon production is to low, i think its very very close to that point, they use to make 300 a day now they make 1000 a month, they days of Ford manufacture are over in AUS.

Customer buying habits change, the Falcon is no longer on the buy list [and they think a 4cyl. Facon will save its ***?]

Yes, A/M would be very interested in the 100's of acres of prime real estate on Hume Hwy they can sell

[Chopped]

Swings and roundabouts.

[My poor XF]

Originally Posted by RASER

Bring on the $30k F150's!!!

Good luck with that!

[RASER]

Originally Posted by My poor XF

Good luck with that!

Ford F150's kick off [FULL RRP] @ $23,300 in USA

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/

With free-trade with USA [no duty/tariff] they *could* easily sell it here for around that if they had to [AND make money]

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by RASER

I don't think HQ in USA would be all that happy with this.

It's the LARGEST loss they have ever had in AUS

They will be out of manufacture by decades end, just like Nissan and Mitsubishi before, import only range

Will GovCo have to tip in more money again?

Bring on the $30k F150's!!!

They don't even make them in RHD, so how will that happen.

Originally Posted by RASER

There will come a time, a tip over point, where the Falcon production is to low, i think its very very close to that point, they use to make 300 a day now they make 1000 a month, they days of Ford manufacture are over in AUS.

Customer buying habits change, the Falcon is no longer on the buy list [and they think a 4cyl. Facon will save its ***?]

Yes, A/M would be very interested in the 100's of acres of prime real estate on Hume Hwy they can sell

They used to make 520 a day back in the BA days.

They would already be past the tip over point. The numbers they are making now are insignificant.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by RASER

Ford F150's kick off [FULL RRP] @ $23,300 in USA

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/

With free-trade with USA [no duty/tariff] they *could* easily sell it here for around that if they had to [AND make money]

You cannot compare the prices of US vehicles with ones sold here. The prices do not even come close to compare.

Just look how much the F series sold for previously when they got them in factory RHD, they were over 70k. And now they no longer come in RHD.

[Road_Warrior]

I think the issue isnt local manufacturing, its the product they're making. Buyers simply don't want large cars anymore. The sales of the Falcon, Commodore and Aurion all underscore that.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I think the issue isnt local manufacturing, its the product they're making. Buyers simply don't want large cars anymore. The sales of the Falcon, Commodore and Aurion all underscore that.

Problem is, it is too late.. Any change to a smaller car would now be many many years away if given the green light, what do they do in the mean time? The only hope we have is if Ecoboost fires And fires quick!! If that doesn't, Falcon wont make 2014, let alone 2016.

[dimka100]

There are a lot of things that Ford can still do to save costs and position themselves better in the market:

a. How about cutting 50% of the management, this will dramatically reduce the costs, and hopefully get rid of all the useless bureaucracy

b. How about lowering the RRP prices to reflect the actual amounts people pay for Falcons, after all many buyers get put off when they see the ridiculous Falcon RRP prices.

c. How about getting these basic electronic features finally implemented in the Falcon, yes things like auto up windows that most cars had since the 90s.

There are lots of things that Ford can do, but who am I kidding, its far easier to ask for more cash handouts in this country, or making up some excuses for things outside of their control.

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by dimka100

There are a lot of things that Ford can still do to save costs and position themselves better in the market:

a. How about cutting 50% of the management, this will dramatically reduce the costs, and hopefully get rid of all the useless bureaucracy

b. How about lowering the RRP prices to reflect the actual amounts people pay for Falcons, after all many buyers get put off when they see the ridiculous Falcon RRP prices.

c. How about getting these basic electronic features finally implemented in the Falcon, yes things like auto up windows that most cars had since the 90s.

There are lots of things that Ford can do, but who am I kidding, its far easier to ask for more cash handouts in this country, or making up some excuses for things outside of their control.

NotSureIfSerious.jpg
Oh god I hope that post is tongue in cheek.......

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I think the issue isnt local manufacturing, its the product they're making. Buyers simply don't want large cars anymore. The sales of the Falcon, Commodore and Aurion all underscore that.

cough**fiesta**cough**focus**cough**mondeo**cough. It's Ford Australia, not The Australian Falcon Company

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I think the issue isnt local manufacturing, its the product they're making. Buyers simply don't want large cars anymore. The sales of the Falcon, Commodore and Aurion all underscore that.

Ford don't just make the Falcon. Territory is wizzing out the door.

People don't want large sedans anymore.

Let's also not forget Ford's great import products that don't sell as well against their competitors. So it's not a just a Falcon problem. It's a Ford Australia problem.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

People don't want large sedans anymore.

They don't but they do...

Its the perception of the falcon and commodore thats effecting sales...


People are buying sedans that are just as big as the two locals...