Ford to Make Early Exit?

[EB#]

Winged Falcon could see Ford make an early exit
The Australian, February 11, 2015 12:00AM

COLLAPSING sales of Ford’s once iconic Falcon have intensified pressure on the company
to axe Australian production ahead of schedule, forcing premature job losses and escalating the
*urgency of structural reform in the embattled component sector.....

Full story here:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...dd6b9fd3dd9a10

[Fordman1]

No won't happen ...

[cheap]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

No won't happen ...

Why won't it happen?

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by cheap

Why won't it happen?

People said FG X wouldn't happen either, and it is here.

[cheap]

Plans change all the time.

They'd have several plans

a) the external plan they show and tell the public

b) the internal plan that HQ has discussed with Ford Australia Management

c) the real plan that HQ has up their sleeve, full different scenarios and options on how to to reduce the financial haemorrhage. There will be a point in time (if it hasn't already been reached) when the lack of Falcon sales simply makes more financial sense to close the doors early than keep the lights on.

[cheap]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

People said FG X wouldn't happen either, and it is here.

Where are they? I haven't seen a single unit.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by cheap

Where are they? I haven't seen a single unit.

I've seen 1 ute and 1 XR8 sedan. Had to rush past 300 VF sedans and wagons to get a closer look........

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by cheap

Where are they? I haven't seen a single unit.

I've see two so far. Not including unsold cars at dealer yards.

[Nikked]

Because Ford have there plan, FG-X was never going to boost production.

[FGX008]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Because Ford have there plan, FG-X was never going to boost production.

Hi

I have to agree with Cheap. Anything is possible especially if the production side of FOA is building the new FGX falcon's at a loss. Plans can be changed at any time.

Cheers, Brent

[Elks]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Because Ford have there plan, FG-X was never going to boost production.

This.

The line is set to run at (I think) 83 cars a day. The have forward ordered for compose try on longlead times.

If falcon was to fall in a complete hole. And I can't see that happening they could with less drama change the mix perhaps the 100% Territory but there's not a lot of advantage to that either. As falcon engineering and tooling is all done.

The only thing I could see happening is we may lose the ute before time. And that would be a very sad day.

[vztrt]

Ford will also have a minimum amount of cars that they need to make before they close.

[csv8]

This has been said so many times .but I cannt see it staying around once new Mondeo is launched ., Ford are doing nothing to help the Falcon, Dec 2015 closure????so sad to see a great car go out this way ,,,,

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by csv8

This has been said so many times .but I cannt see it staying around once new Mondeo is launched ., Ford are doing nothing to help the Falcon, Dec 2015 closure????so sad to see a great car go out this way ,,,,

The 300 odd sales are gonna do what?

[Elks]

The other factor you should consider is as the Aussie dollar falls back the 75 to 80 cents vs US dollar. It's 78.5 today. Local product will become more competitive as imports get dearer.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Elks

The other factor you should consider is as the Aussie dollar falls back the 75 to 80 cents vs US dollar. It's 78.5 today. Local product will become more competitive as imports get dearer.

Trouble is its only real competitor is made here already, and is slaughtering it in sales.

Really, who would buy one? Anyone with an FG, well, what's the motivation? New bumpers? A better touch screen? Hardly worth the changeover cost. And if you aren't already in a Falcadore, the VF is simply better. Its probably only those who are being offered a ridiculous deal to get in one, or die-hard Ford fans, who will buy one. And that's obvious not a lot of people.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by b0son

Trouble is its only real competitor is made here already, and is slaughtering it in sales.

Really, who would buy one? Anyone with an FG, well, what's the motivation? New bumpers? A better touch screen? Hardly worth the changeover cost. And if you aren't already in a Falcadore, the VF is simply better. Its probably only those who are being offered a ridiculous deal to get in one, or die-hard Ford fans, who will buy one. And that's obvious not a lot of people.

You do realise Falcon can never outsell VF simply because they don't build as much. Maybe management knows exactly where they stand with potential sales volumes, understand that a massive marketing blitz with say 0% finance deals will definitely gain them more sales but doesn't add to the bottom line.

Why do people (not you Boson) think Ford Aust is sabotaging Falcon sales by not advertising it like Territory. Maybe it's because Territory is part of the growing suv market and it's badge may live on in a future model and Falcon is part of the dying large car sedan market where Holden and Toyota are also giving up.
Maybe it's also cheaper for Holden to keep their sales up with big sales inventive then to cut back production and shed staff earlier then their 2017 closure. There are a host of possible reasons for why sales are where they are and unless we are given the minutes to management meetings we don't have the full story.

[uniacidz]

Originally Posted by EB#

Winged Falcon could see Ford make an early exit
The Australian, February 11, 2015 12:00AM

COLLAPSING sales of Ford’s once iconic Falcon have intensified pressure on the company
to axe Australian production ahead of schedule, forcing premature job losses and escalating the
*urgency of structural reform in the embattled component sector.....

Full story here:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...dd6b9fd3dd9a10

Cant read it


You've reached a subscriber-only article.
Would you like to become a subscriber for 50% less for the first 12 weeks?* Sign up now and access the full breadth of The Australian's content in minutes.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by uniacidz

Cant read it


You've reached a subscriber-only article.
Would you like to become a subscriber for 50% less for the first 12 weeks?* Sign up now and access the full breadth of The Australian's content in minutes.

Who would pay for that sensationalist BS

[mik]

Despite some people bringing this up at every opportunity, I think ford will try and stick to the plan,
that being said .....if enough people keep on about it over and over.... ford just might, like the stock market , ......... ..... It could be a self fulfilling prophesy.

[Syndrome]

If they were to pull the plug early the suppliers will ask for compensation. It won't happen.

[Spammy]

COLLAPSING sales of Ford’s once iconic Falcon have intensified pressure on the company to axe Australian production ahead of schedule, forcing premature job losses and escalating the *urgency of structural reform in the embattled component sector.

Dire sales figures for the Ford Falcon and poor results for the Holden Commodore have raised serious questions about the short-term sustainability of local production as the global car industry seeks ways to further rationalise the sector.

The Federation of Auto Parts Manufacturers warned yesterday that both tiers of government needed to urgently examine how they could assist the component industry to restructure ahead of the closure of Ford, Holden and Toyota production plants.

Sales of the Ford Falcon slumped to 381 units in January, one of the poorest results in the carmaker’s rich history, with the former top-selling vehicle now below October’s then record low of 396 deliveries.

FAPM chief executive Richard Reilly said there was widespread concern about the lack of sales volumes across the industry, with annual production across all brands diving last year to 174,000 vehicles, down from 211,000.

“That’s nearly 21 per cent. Everyone’s concerned about the lack of volume in the industry,’’ he said.

With Ford due to end local production in October next year, there is deep concern the company will use poor sales figures to justify an early closure of its plants, placing even more pressure on the component sector to find alternative, viable markets.

This includes greater attention to technologies such as carbon fibre and hybrid cars.

Concerns are so strong at Ford that the union responsible for most workers — the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union — is refusing to comment on the plight of its members, referring questions to the company.

Ford did not respond to The Australian yesterday.

Ford enthusiast Cameron Hartnett, 48, bought a Falcon GT in October last year to mark the end of an era, coming in the same month that sales started to hit the floor. The last Falcon GT rolled off the assembly line in Broadmeadows earlier that month and Mr Hartnett, a member of the Falcon GT Club of Australia, felt he had to have one.

Mr Hartnett said he was saddened that the company will no longer manufacture cars in Australia, but understood why.

“Unfortunately Ford hasn’t kept up with what the public want,” he said.

“People are going for the small SUVs and that kind of thing. They’re not buying the old Ford wagon.”

Questions over Ford’s future in the short term came as Holden last night ramped up its push to transfer to an all-offshore line-up once production stops in Australia by the end of 2017.

Holden last night announced its first step in the push to market a new range of European-sourced vehicles to the Holden brand off the production line in Russels*heim, Germany.

The monthly sales figures for the Commodore, with 1784 sales in January, are down 24.5 per cent on the previous January.

The numbers for the large car segment, as collated by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, show a sharp rise in Toyota Aurion sales to 241 — up 38 per cent compared with January last year.

Overall, the large car sector, encompassing vehicles valued at less than $70,000, was down nearly 19 per cent month on month.

The Victorian government is under pressure to lobby carmakers to produce local vehicles until their announced cut-off dates.

Victorian Industry Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Ford had committed to Victoria until 2016. “The challenges facing the automotive sector are exacerbated due to the Abbott government, which wants to rip $900 million of transitional support out of the automotive sector and has confirmed it will not join Victoria in continuing essential support through the Melbourne North and Geelong Innovation and Investment Funds,” she said.

“My office has been in contact with Ford and they reaffirmed their stated intent to manufacture until October 2016 — unless there is an actual announcement from Ford it is not our place to speculate on people’s livelihoods.’’

[arronm]

Ford stay open or close I don't care. As long as I can still get spare parts

[sprint347dave]

its a bit like watching something that is terminally sick or about to die,,,put it out of its misery i say.

[AUwindsor]

“The challenges facing the automotive sector are exacerbated due to the Abbott government, which wants to rip $900 million of transitional support out of the automotive sector and has confirmed it will not join Victoria in continuing essential support through the Melbourne North and Geelong Innovation and Investment Funds”

well, it's obvious the government was this sick puppy put to rest, sooner than later.

seeya

[V8 6I]

With no ads on TV or newspapers the puplic dont even know there is a new Falcon.I have asked workmates if they have seen the new Falcon most say they didnt even know it was out.I myself have not seen any on the road.At least they have 1200 orders for the XR8 on the books to be built.So keep making them to get rid of all those 335s laying around before closing early.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by V8 6I

With no ads on TV or newspapers the puplic dont even know there is a new Falcon.I have asked workmates if they have seen the new Falcon most say they didnt even know it was out.I myself have not seen any on the road.At least they have 1200 orders for the XR8 on the books to be built.So keep making them to get rid of all those 335s laying around before closing early.

Wouldn't the better question to your mates be, "which one of you wants to buy a brand new large car sedan"? And if any said yes then how many were thinking of a Falcon. If they aren't even shopping it doesn't matter what's on the self.

[V8 6I]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Wouldn't the better question to your mates be, "which one of you wants to buy a brand new large car sedan"? And if any said yes then how many were thinking of a Falcon. If they aren't even shopping it doesn't matter what's on the self.

My workmates all drive XR 6s,BA, BF,and FG,they are all car guys but not as much as me.One said he will have to have a look at a dealer, one other has eyes on a Wildtrack so we are not talking about average Joes here who drive buzz boxes.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by V8 6I

My workmates all drive XR 6s,BA, BF,and FG,they are all car guys but not as much as me.One said he will have to have a look at a dealer, one other has eyes on a Wildtrack so we are not talking about average Joes here who drive buzz boxes.

That's all good and well however my point was which mate is going to buy a new large sedan between now and next years shutdown?

[V8 6I]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

That's all good and well however my point was which mate is going to buy a new large sedan between now and next years shutdown?

I am not their accountant so no idea, none of my or your business anyway.Just making a point they drive big Fords but didnt know about FGX.