A sad day for FORD Australia

[Ryan]

Hi Howard,
Ford today announced that the Geelong Engine Plant will not be closing in mid 2010 but staying open! The plan to import the US V6 and install it in our Aussie Falcon has been dropped. Our I6 will be updated to Euro 4 emission standard and continue on.
We were cheering. We are so bloody happy.
A new Ford Australia President is now in control and he just happens to be a Geelong born and bred boy.
Spread the word Howard.
Now we just need the Fairlane back too.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by rynoki

Hi Howard,
Ford today announced that the Geelong Engine Plant will not be closing in mid 2010 but staying open! The plan to import the US V6 and install it in our Aussie Falcon has been dropped. Our I6 will be updated to Euro 4 emission standard and continue on. We were cheering. We are so bloody happy.
A new Ford Australia President is now in control and he just happens to be a Geelong born and bred boy. Spread the word Howard.
Now we just need the Fairlane back too.

Oh Yeah! I'll be spreading the word allright!
Have you ever noticed how Ford Aus goes to s**t when there is a Pom leading the charge. (Or was he a Yank?). It is not because "he is a Pom", but because the Australian motoring public, and therefore the industry, is very, very different to the rest of the world. We are not European, We are not Yanks, We are not Asians. We are Aussie and we like to do things our way. Because, usually, our way is the best for us.
I am (obviously) very passionate about this... and when the I6 does meet/exceed Euro4, just you watch & see it set the bench-mark in the world of RWD sedans! Good on you Ryan. Can you tell me the new CEO's name so I can send him an email! He's a champion for standing up to the Yanks!!!!!
Australia-01-june.gif

[Ryan]

That's his name Howard. Ford I6 fans across the country are cheering tonight.
This decision is good for us, for Geelong and for manufacturing across Australia.

We were all called into a meeting with Marin, the Vic State Premier and the Federal Minister for manufacturing before the media conference today. The applause was loud and long.

During this there was a mention by the state premier that he was interested in getting together with Ford in producing "rolling stock" for the state. I take that to be trains. Am I correct?

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by rynoki

Ford today announced .... The plan to import the US V6 and install it in our Aussie Falcon has been dropped. Our I6 will be updated to Euro 4 emission standard and continue on.

I wonder how much of that decision revolves around the worsening AU:US $ exchange rate (which has made US imports to Aus 50% more expensive in the last 6 months), and the shaky state of Ford US (and GM and Chrysler).

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

I wonder how much of that decision revolves around the worsening AU:US $ exchange rate (which has made US imports to Aus 50% more expensive in the last 6 months), and the shaky state of Ford US (and GM and Chrysler).

Probably quite a bit Tony no doubt. But we're not complaining.

[aj.lec]

That is great news for the employees ,Ford Aus and the country

Fantastic news that the i6 is staying too instead of installing that piece of crap yank ,mexican built ill performing abortion of a v6

Also hoping that Ford and GM get their act together ,start thinking and not sell off to the chinese or indian interests that has been rumoured of late

[Howard]

Well it is hard to believe that the above was 5-6 years ago.
Ford announced yesterday that it will cease ALL Australian production.
This means closure of the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants.
Link to article - Drive.com.au
I'll no doubt have more to say on this a bit later, but in the mean time, I'd like us to spare a thought for the 1200 employees who now have three years to plan for the inevitable.
One of these 1200 is MLU member Ryan. We are thinking of you Ryan and if there is anything we can do for you, let us know.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Howard,

Indeed hard to believe, it even made the newspapers here. Ford is also closing it's plant at nearby Genk, Belgium, so it seems to be a global trend. Serves us right for driving around in 70 year old Fords, we should buy new ones. My first car was an umpeenth hand Fiesta, my last new Ford was a Focus back in 2001. But these days it's an Eastern Europe-built car with 90% German technology injected....

Ryan, sorry to hear about the imminent loss of your job.

Hanno

[Ryan]

I am greatful that I am not turning up to work to find the gates locked. Three years is a big heads up. Doesn't make the news any brighter though.
But it's such a loss, 90 years of history. The whole of manufacturing gone. Engine plant, Casting plant, Stamping plant in geelong and the assembly plant in broadmeadows.
We had been winding and cutting back but it was still a shock to most. We thought some would survive. Product development and the proving ground will remain but aussie Fords wont. They'll be foreign built cars. An Australia without a Falcon. Doesn't seem real.
Dearborn got its way.
They are happy to use our ideas and knowledge but they'll use cheap asian or indian labour to build them.
Falcon was never going to save Ford Australia. Getting onboard with a global platform would have. Being a building and export hub just like Toyota in Altona. Did you know Toyota just up the road is currently employing 140 workers and will soon be adding a third vehicle to its production? Last year they opened a brand new $300million engine plant.
They can do it. Why not Ford?
It's hard not to be angry and feel sold out.
And I knew about Genk too Hanno. It's crap. Selling out Belgium workers for cheap Romanian or further east labour.
History and pride and loyalty mean nothing to global execs on millions.
But we'll still build Falcons and Territories while we can, and we'll do it to a high standard with pride. Because we love what we do.
Yeah, and all this under a 'labour' government that has jobs, jobs, jobs as their priority. Pigs arse.
I worry for Holden.
A country that cannot manufacture its own goods is a country that cannot defend itself, no matter the courage it's soldiers may show.