Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated.

Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > General Topics > The Pub

The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 18-02-2009, 07:26 AM   #1
spatel
Falcon Fan!
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 61
Default Ford NZ trims range to ease burden

Big blow to the Falcon range in NZ, funny as there are quite a few G6s on the road...

Ford NZ trims range to ease burden

FORD has cut its vehicle line-up in New Zealand to concentrate on core product as sales numbers fall.

Newly appointed Ford NZ managing director Trevor Auger told GoAuto that Ford had trimmed its list to decrease the number of models that dealers must carry on the showroom floor.

“That reduces a dealer’s operating expenses so we’re freeing up cash for them to do business with on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

Finance company UDC, which stepped into the breech to provide floorplan funding for all Ford dealers when Ford Credit left NZ two years ago, believes Ford is on the right track with the moves.

UDC Finance head of auto and agriculture Glenn Tasker said that when Ford saw issues with the funding market up to two years ago, it decided to address it immediately, while at the same time cutting staff by a quarter.

“I think they were ahead of the game and they and their dealers will be in good shape because of that,” Mr Tasker said. “The last six months have been quite trying for most people in the industry and most have been over stocked, which presented them with a number of problems.”

In NZ, the Ford Focus small car competes in a segment with 20 brands, 15 of which suffered a drop in share last year. Focus share rose 1.55 per cent to 10.4 per cent, but Mr Auger nonetheless has axed three models – the 1.6 manual hatch and wagon, and the 2.0-litre manual hatch.

The decision acknowledges the market’s continuing shift to autos.


The XR5 Focus remains, but the XR5 Mondeo has gone. Diesel Mondeos account for a quarter of local sales, thanks to their fleet appeal. The model increased its segment share, but the 2.0-litre sedan and wagon manuals will be cut, along with the Zetec sport pack and XR5, which is only available in manual in a bracket that demands autos.

Mr Auger said just 20 sport pack cars were sold last year, along with 31 XR5T (including press test cars), leaving 15 still on dealer floors to compete with low-end Falcons.

Falcon retains its fourth spot on NZ’s model charts and gets the smallest cut. Only G6 will leave the range. Falcon sales since the FG’s launch number 2181, of which only 264 were G6. Mr Auger said the G6 was pitched too close to XR6 and potential buyers stepped up to G6E or ET.

Meanwhile, the Falcon ute line-up has been slashed. Only XR6 4.0 five-speed auto and XR8 5.4-litre six-speed auto variants remain, with XL cab-chassis and pickup and XR6T pickups gone.

Mr Auger blames increased refinement of double-cab workhorse utes for the drop in sales, but the main driver is that small-business customers who traditionally considered car-based utilities now are thinking twice about a new car.

Ford NZ sold 119 FG utes in the last six months of last year, “which is hard on dealers with cash tied up in inventory”, according to Mr Auger. He plans rigid control of inventory.

UDC’s Mr Tasker confirmed that Ford now had its stock well under control.

He said companies that had their product and prices right and were strong in customer satisfaction would do well this year.

Meanwhile, Mr Auger said Ford's priorities were to finance the business plan, improve the balance sheet and maintain liquidity. He had no plans to drop dealers.

“I have a good relationship with dealers,” he said. “But I have to balance that with the fact I’m going to have to say and do some things that won’t be popular.”

However, he is confident Ford and its dealers will pull through. “If we go through a bit of a storm, they’re as well placed as any dealers in the country to get through that storm.”

Mr Auger’s CV includes a psychology degree and finance and customer service roles. This background may stand him in good stead as customers and industry batten down the hatches.

Mr Tasker said that UDC was investing more now than 12 months ago “as the market will get out of the doldrums and we’ve got to be ready for it”.

“You can’t cost-cut out of a recession,” he said. “I believe the motor industry is here


Last edited by spatel; 18-02-2009 at 07:29 AM. Reason: typo
spatel is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 18-02-2009, 04:47 PM   #2
BFZ Wagon
Formerly All Wheel Drive
 
BFZ Wagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
Posts: 312
Default

Shame about the Falcon XL & XR6T Ute getting cut and the G6 as well. Wow, NZ got manual Mondeo sedans and wagons as well as manual Focus wagons? lucky them. But there's a problem if no one buys them.
Ford seems to do alright in NZ considering they have a LOT of competition out there including the many different cars available to import from Japan.
__________________
2015 MD Ford Mondeo Trend TDCi wagon in Ruby Red.
BFZ Wagon is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 18-02-2009, 05:58 PM   #3
XR6_190
BF XR6, oh yeah!!
 
XR6_190's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Melton, Vic
Posts: 1,015
Default

Makes sense to me, why pay to stock cars people don't want? I also get the feeling that most ute buyers in NZ, either buy a jap' style pick up or an aussie style sports ute.
__________________
Current ride: 2005 BF XR6 Sedan, Lightning Strike, ZF Auto
Previous ride: 2001 AUII Futura Sedan, Narooma Blue
XR6_190 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 10:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL