Ford Australia to shut Broadmeadows car factory,

by **staunchxr** » May 23rd, 2013, 9:17 am

FORD Australia is set to drop a bombshell on the car industry this morning. It is expected to announce the closure of its Broadmeadows car factory and its Geelong engine plant.
The struggling car-maker has sent out a media alert about an impending announcement later this morning, believed to be 10.45am.
Ford was due to release its financial results today but News Limited has been told the media conference is about "more than that".
Confidential sources say that Ford Australia will become an import-only brand. It is unclear when the factories will close but Ford was due to introduce a facelifted Falcon and Territory next year.
Journalists at the launch of the new Holden Commodore in Canberra were sent secret text messages by Ford Australia staff in the early hours of this morning, before they were about to drive the new model on public roads for the first time. Ford claims the timing is a coincidence.

Ford Falcon sales have fallen to their lowest since the Broadmeadows factory opened in 1960, and Ford’s overall sales in Australia last year were lower than they were 20 years ago.

Ford Australia is refusing to take calls from media until the announcement. News Limited will update the story as more information comes to hand.

by **needfordspeed** » May 23rd, 2013, 9:40 am

We'll find out soon but I hope it's not true

by **justa6** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:00 am

****..I know its been coming, but it may actually be here.

by **Mr_4.0** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:01 am

Ford will cease manufacturing in Australia as of October 2016.

by **SnyperEB** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:03 am

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/fo ... 6648895882

by **Dumpsta** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:11 am

It was bound to happen. I don't see any ford taxis these days, it's all Toyota where as in the 90s it was falcons and commodores.

I'm pretty sure most government agencies use jap cars am I wrong? Politicians drive the high end jap/euro cars.

That leaves the private sector where I'm guessing the majority (and I include myself here) drive foreign cars, of the smaller percentage left that drive locally made cars it would seem that the majority are on the Holden bandwagon. Doesn't leave much room for the blue oval brand.

by **private9** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:13 am : *Shufflin* Likes this post

Mr_4.0 wrote:Ford will cease manufacturing in Australia as of October 2016.

We just got the news at work in a mass meeting.

Really sorry to hear mate.

This is bad news for our country and no doubt Holden will be next within the next decade. Has a much bigger flow on affect than most people understand or realize.

by **EFFalcon** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:17 am

spot on Justin, huge impact.

by **GIFFO97** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:25 am

Heartbreaking news. I expected it to come soon but not this soon, I read somewhere that the 3500 jobs lost at Ford ends up being 17000 by the time everyone else is affected. I hope the Government pulls something out of their a*se and gives Ford the support they need. I've already heard rumours of Holden offering financial support.

A really sad day, Falcon is argubly the best bang for your buck you can get, I mean we just got a Brand New FGII XR6 Limited Edition Ute for $29,000. Very sad indeed, But hey, we've still got 3 years and a facelift next year so I'm hoping sales pick up!!!

private9 wrote:Has a much bigger flow on affect than most people understand or realize.

So true. There are many ignorant flogs out there. The local infrastructure that manufacturing requires has kept many workers employed for decades -- and not always in obvious fields. Think Engineering, Maintenance, IT, Telecoms, Transport, Advertising, Retail, Servicing, ...

It all went to shit with the removal of import tarrifs. Recent media blowups over subsidies (ie. using a 10 year cumulative total to make a big headline) didn't help. Government could have made it more attractive for departments/owners to use locally made cars for fleets/taxis/etc with stamp duty discounts -- supporting the industry and keeping people employed.

We're going to have some big employment issues over the next decade or two.

now wait till the AUD dives to 80c and all those imported cars get a bit more exxy again.

by **TUFED6** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:34 am

EFFalcon wrote:now wait till the AUD dives to 80c and all those imported cars get a bit more exxy again.

That will be the hilarious part - people wont realise why local manufacturing is important until its too late.

by **Dumpsta** » May 23rd, 2013, 11:18 am

The facelift isn't gunna happen.

by **Mr_4.0** » May 23rd, 2013, 11:20 am

Yes the facelift still happens guys.

by **Dumpsta** » May 23rd, 2013, 11:22 am

Sweet, I was just going by all the articles.

by **dylby1** » May 23rd, 2013, 11:24 am

Great. As if it wasn't hard enough to find a job

by **Dumpsta** » May 23rd, 2013, 11:28 am

At the very least, lets hope they offer us the Awd Taurus SHO platform. The current model makes fgs look boring.

http://www.hrsprings.com/projects/detai ... urus-sho/#

by **sec** » May 23rd, 2013, 11:35 am

You got to feel for these poor guys and their families, I think it's about time the government started to think about the welfare of the people, how I don't know maybe raise the import duties or something.
Maybe we are not so much the Lucky Country.

Cheers

by **Bipolar** » May 23rd, 2013, 12:35 pm

They should go all out now and make a GTHO with spastic power. Government doesn't support them like they used to anyway so no fear of them pulling contracts like in the 70s. It'd be great if they based their purchases on carbon emission from conception to destruction, rather than just the tailpipe. Desk-bound no-nothing geniuses strike again.

Also doesn't help the media smashing the sales figures and fuel efficiency, which most non-car people I talk to actually believe.

I planned on buying at least one in my lifetime. Now there's a fricken deadline. Not because I need a new car, but to keep the money local and to have the side impact protection for my kids that the EL doesn't come with.

by **Nikk O'lass** » May 23rd, 2013, 12:58 pm

Today I pic up my AU XR8 and this happens...

Sad day, and terrible for the families and companies affected.

by **tqure** » May 23rd, 2013, 5:29 pm

drove past the broadmeadows plant just then, full of news reporters! My whole family drives falcon's and my grandfather and dad worked for ford on the assembly line. feels like apart of us is dieing with it...

by **justa6** » May 23rd, 2013, 5:36 pm

Talking about it on triple j

by **staunchxr** » May 23rd, 2013, 6:14 pm

Not good hopefully the government chips in and helps out on the
News there saying people just don't want big cars well I myself love
A big car heaps of room for the family and dog there's a place in the market
For big cars that's for sure! I would hate to see everyone driving fiestas etc!

by **SnipeZ** » May 23rd, 2013, 6:26 pm

They said even if te government chips in a support package it won't be big enough to help

Cheers

by **Mr_4.0** » May 23rd, 2013, 6:28 pm

The decision is final.

by **justa6** » May 23rd, 2013, 6:33 pm

The large car market is definitely smaller then what is was. but more the point of how cheap it is to build cars overseas, compared to here. It was always going to be a struggle to keep operating here. As the other makers have indicated as well.

by **thebeast.** » May 23rd, 2013, 7:12 pm

This blows. Would be good to have one of the last falcons. I better start saving.

I dunno if it's just me but it kinda feels like someone has died, not someone close but someone you used to see around maybe more of an acquaintance.

Really sucks that this has happened, hope everyone who will lose their job is able to find something else without too much hassle.

by **GIFFO97** » May 23rd, 2013, 7:27 pm

needfordspeed wrote:I dunno if it's just me but it kinda feels like someone has died, not someone close but someone you used to see around maybe more of an acquaintance.

You're not the only one who feels that way.

by **Troutman** » May 23rd, 2013, 8:46 pm : **Bipolar, ronza Likes this post**

Nope, I pretty much feel like an actual family member has died.

Ford is doing what has to be done, all that remains is commenting on how this happened. Ford has made numerous famous mistakes throughout its history (the 1980s axing of the 'hero' V8 model, the rushing of the EA to market and the inappropriate AU styling being among the biggest) which probably had the cumulative effect of making a number of average punters lose interest, especially combined with an increasingly competitive market with all manner of seductive imported alternatives.

The government's actions of cutting import duty, then offering regular 'bail-outs' seems a very strange strategy. Many opportunities were also missed in terms of exports, as Holden's intermittent success in international niche markets demonstrates.

But in my opinion, the biggest change since the 1970s heyday is a cultural one. Slowly but steadily, we have gone from being a brotherly nation looking our for our neighbours and community, to an every-man-for-himself society laden with selfishness, apathy and narcissicism - and in many ways, the popular Eurosnob cars of today reflect that change. Other trends - job outsourcing, for example - typify the same cannibalism of today's world.

But alas, without going too far off topic, I can only summarise by saying that the Falcon will be missed for many reasons, and will stand alongside VW Kombis and Model Ts as iconic and historical cars reminding us of better days.

by **Sunboost** » May 23rd, 2013, 8:57 pm

Troutman wrote:But in my opinion, the biggest change since the 1970s heyday is a cultural one. Slowly but steadily, we have gone from being a brotherly nation looking our for our neighbours and community, to an every-man-for-himself society laden with selfishness, apathy and narcissicism - and in many ways, the popular Eurosnob cars of today reflect that change.

This hits the nail on the head. I want to elaborate on it with my thoughts but I'm too tired and it's already been covered.

needfordspeed wrote:I dunno if it's just me but it kinda feels like someone has died, not someone close but someone you used to see around maybe more of an acquaintance.

Definitely, but for me someone close!

by **XHBrad** » May 23rd, 2013, 10:47 pm

It really is like loosing a life long friend, when ford runs through your veins, it's not an easy thing to come to terms with. As far back as i know my family has been ford through and through..My earliest memory of being in a car was my parents ED Futura, the first car I learned to drive in was the same ED Futura, then having all the ford posters on my bedroom walls, my first car a falcon ute and owning 5 more falcons after... All to hopefully lead up to the day i would be driving a brand new falcon out of the dealership someday... Then the sudden realisation that it may never happen its really like a kick in the guts..

The death of the true Aussie Icon..

by **ERUPPT** » May 24th, 2013, 12:26 am

It's really sad seeing that this is actually happening.
Like most here, Ford runs in my veins & throughout my Family. I suppose it's too little too late for anything major to be done. Once Ford is gone, Holden will shortly follow & the after effect will be so upsetting. Knowing my kids won't see the days that I've seen is sad enough!

Just hoping Ford will go out in style & be remembered as I'll remember it. One of the best car companies in Australia, PERIOD. Going to start saving to pick up whatever they end up out on. I'm hoping a re-birth of its most famous car, the GT-HO that'll show GM's how its really done!
RIP Ford Australia.

by **sec** » May 24th, 2013, 3:42 am

Do you think ford will ever close the doors in Australia God I hope not, what I see is ford tooling up in China or some such country and importing the cars.

If that does happen it will be a dark day.

Like I said before you got to feel for the workers and their families, there just isn't that much work around now so its going to be a battle for them.

Cheers

by **Dumpsta** » May 24th, 2013, 6:59 am

I was only telling my old mans best mate the other day that I still remember my earliest memory in a ford. He had just picked up a brand spanka burgundy el gt and it was sitting next to his black eb gt. Ford heaven in 1997.

Lets just say that shortly after was the first time I experienced the sideways motion of a car haha. 16 years on and I'm building an el. Coincidence? Naaaaah.

by **krisisdog** » May 24th, 2013, 7:44 am

Pretty sad to see all the inbred bogan windowlickers commenting on various Facebook pages that "Fords shit, go Holden!", "**** ford" and similar shit.
Fucking retards.

by **Staff** » May 24th, 2013, 8:07 am

Lot's of poor decisions made by Ford so this has been an obvious future for some time.

Holden will go down the same path too. They can only be funded by the Govenment for so long. So the bogans will soon shut up.

So 2016 will be the year that dealers will phase out Australian built cars for the cheaper imports. No more fun RWD's or V8's.

2017 will probably be the last time we have a local (or any) car racing Bathurst 1000.

Gone will be the Ford Vs Holden rivalry.

Sad times gentlemen.

by **braad** » May 24th, 2013, 8:09 am

Its terrible news but how can you sell what you dont advertise?
I was speaking to a big ford dealer mate of mine and he acknowledged their marketing team was shit and has been since before the FG. You cannot sell without advertising! Then even the best articles written on the falcon always state "but no one wants it". If you're buying a car people believe the crap written in papers, just look at the mitsubishi 380. A great car that was killed before it left the factory.
There are so many reasons this was on the cards, most have already been mentioned, but at the end of the day its incredibly sad for those workers and all those suppliers.

Once again the government and "society" dont particularly care about the car community, in any way.

A very sad day in the history of Australian Culture

by **sec** » May 24th, 2013, 9:00 am

braad wrote:Its terrible news but how can you sell what you dont advertise?
I was speaking to a big ford dealer mate of mine and he acknowledged their marketing team was shit and has been since before the FG. You cannot sell without advertising! Then even the best articles written on the falcon always state "but no one wants it". If you're buying a car people believe the crap written in papers, just look at the mitsubishi 380. A great car that was killed before it left the factory.
There are so many reasons this was on the cards, most have already been mentioned, but at the end of the day its incredibly sad for those workers and all those suppliers.

Once again the government and "society" dont particularly care about the car community, in any way.

A very sad day in the history of Australian Culture

----------

Good point come to think of it I don't remember seeing add's for FG Falcons on the TV, but then again maybe I just take notice :scratch:

by **krisisdog** » May 24th, 2013, 9:21 am

Staff wrote: No more fun RWD's or V8's.

Mustang.
If only

There is and always will be a market for a tuff v8 sedan in Australia. Ford went the wrong way and told the public what they wanted. The public told Ford what they wanted when they went and bought the big cube Commodores.
A decent hero car, something outlandish, could have done so much for the Ford image 10 years ago. And no, a red and black paint job does not qualify.

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