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bornwild
23rd July 2007, 09:51 PM
What are your thoughts on Ford's plans to build the Focus in AU? I reckon that more Aussies will start buying it, which is good! :) It would be pretty neat if Holden did the same with the Astra.
OZChris
23rd July 2007, 09:55 PM
What are your thoughts on Ford's plans to build the Focus in AU? I reckon that more Aussies will start buying it, which is good! :) It would be pretty neat if Holden did the same with the Astra.

I wonder if it will be CKD, like when Ford assembled KA Lasers in Australia?
CJB
23rd July 2007, 09:57 PM
Why are Ford making it here? I thought they just announced sacking 600 people and th Falcon and Territory would come from overseas, or did I hear wrong? (which is more then likely)...

But even if Im wrong with the Falcon and Territory info, why are they bringing it to Aus?
bornwild
23rd July 2007, 10:01 PM
The Falcon and Territory will certainly not be coming from overseas. You probably mistook it for, 'they will be exporting more overseas'.

They are making it here to make up for the 600 sackings. The new focus line will create another 300 jobs in Campbellfield.
OZChris
23rd July 2007, 10:02 PM
The Falcon and Territory will certainly not be coming from overseas. You probably mistook it for, 'they will be exporting more overseas'.

They are making it here to make up for the 600 sackings. The new focus line will create another 300 jobs in Campbellfield.

Here's the report from 'The Age' http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ford-shifts-focus-to-new-car/2007/07/23/1185042989026.html
CJB
23rd July 2007, 10:04 PM
Here's the report from 'The Age' http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ford-shifts-focus-to-new-car/2007/07/23/1185042989026.html
ahhh, explains all...

cool. Cant wait to see concepts... :)
bornwild
23rd July 2007, 10:21 PM
New RS: http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/06/29/spy-shots-next-generation-ford-focus-rs-hits-the-track/

Bloody hell!

There was some concept shots of what the next-gen focus would look like but I can't find the link now.
It looked like the Mondeo/Iosis and it was a 2-door coupe. Looked very nice! I can't find the bloody web-site now...
dieselhead
23rd July 2007, 10:29 PM
It will take 4 years to see a locally built Focus... I'm afraid this could be only a stunt, designed to silence the unions and the politicians before the elections...
bornwild
23rd July 2007, 10:30 PM
It will take 4 years to see a locally built Focus... I'm afraid this could be only a stunt, designed to silence the unions and the politicians before the elections...

I highly doubt it's a stunt. If anything, it's a long overdue move.
dieselhead
23rd July 2007, 10:36 PM
Well, we'll see about that. Even a kid knows the margins in small cars are tiny. The Oz market is small, and since our dollar is so strong, exports would be expensive. Why would Ford build small cars here instead of SE Asia or China? They have done too many bad decisions lately. Hope this isn't just another one of those...
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it happening, but the business world is not always fair you know... Just look at the market leader, Toyota. They sell heaps of Corollas here, why don't they build them in Melbourne? I sincerely doubt the fact Ford will ever reach similar figures with Focus, even if it was manufactured here.
Tfer
23rd July 2007, 10:40 PM
I guess a Ford Australian design team penned the Focus sedan and oversaw the construction in India, so maybe this is the next stage up the ladder in the Ford corporate heirachy for Ford Australia ;)
stevedee3
23rd July 2007, 11:54 PM
It's a lot of effort to get an XR5 with cruise control... :)
Apex
24th July 2007, 08:24 AM
Good news for Ford AU workers!

Will keep the price of the new focus down too :)
rjastra
24th July 2007, 09:27 AM
Lets see... only Australian built small fuel efficient car.
What do you think governments will put on the top of their lists for fleet purchases then.

And 2011 is about the time the Falcon will get a new engine. Most likely without an LPG option. So, it could see its fleets sales of that car even more eroded.

Ford aren't stupid.
bornwild
24th July 2007, 09:51 AM
Lets see... only Australian built small fuel efficient car.
What do you think governments will put on the top of their lists for fleet purchases then.

And 2011 is about the time the Falcon will get a new engine. Most likely without an LPG option. So, it could see its fleets sales of that car even more eroded.

Ford aren't stupid.

Exactly what I was thinking. This is a win-win move, no matter what.
Wraith
24th July 2007, 11:39 AM
Yes, I also read about this yesterday.

Regardless, I think it's a good move, the Focus being produced locally would be great, it'll increase sales for the type for sure :)
MatsHolden
24th July 2007, 07:22 PM
Note that they won't be fully manufacturing the Focus here (if it does go ahead), they will come to Australia as knock-down kits.
And at 40,000 units per annum, they would only be assembling the Focus for the Australian market would they not?
RudeOne
24th July 2007, 08:32 PM
Note that they won't be fully manufacturing the Focus here (if it does go ahead), they will come to Australia as knock-down kits.
And at 40,000 units per annum, they would only be assembling the Focus for the Australian market would they not?

Agreed thats how I understood it
bornwild
26th July 2007, 01:55 PM
Note that they won't be fully manufacturing the Focus here (if it does go ahead), they will come to Australia as knock-down kits.
And at 40,000 units per annum, they would only be assembling the Focus for the Australian market would they not?


...and for the South Africa, New Zealand market.

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,22131545-21822,00.html
dieselhead
24th July 2009, 09:30 PM
Well, so much about the Oz built Focus...

Ford Australia has cancelled plans to build the Ford Focus at its Broadmeadows plant and will instead develop new green engines for its Falcon and Territory. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/24/2635566.htm?section=australia)
Taffy
24th July 2009, 11:55 PM
What are your thoughts on Ford's plans to build the Focus in AU? I reckon that more Aussies will start buying it, which is good! :) It would be pretty neat if Holden did the same with the Astra.

None of the idiots I work with believe me that it's not already Australian designed and built. Same goes for the Astra and Corsa. Anything with a Ford or Holden badge on it is pure Australian apparently. :confused:
USC
25th July 2009, 01:01 AM
Bad news - Focus to be imported from Thailand!!
Falcon will be fitted with 4 cylinder turbo and better LPG engine!! Aussies are still gona make only bloody falcons and territories.

More info on the age.
Wraith
27th July 2009, 10:16 AM
Blast from the past thread...

And here I was thinking Mr Bornwild was back in town :lol: