Will Ford's Australian R&D facilities survive?

Syndrome · 17-02-2020, 07:00 PM

I've always seen the local R&D division as a token effort by Ford to show they are "still dedicated to Australia" after they ceased local production of vehicles.

Today's announcement by GM to terminate the Holden brand, will it cause Dearborn to reconsider Ford's presence in Australia?

XR6Noir · 17-02-2020, 07:05 PM

simon varley · 17-02-2020, 07:12 PM

hey, I may be a white middle aged male but I ain't a 'token' anything thanks

**Fordman1** · 17-02-2020, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndrome

I've always seen the local R&D division as a token effort by Ford to show they are "still dedicated to Australia" after they ceased local production of vehicles.

Today's announcement by GM to terminate the Holden brand, will it cause Dearborn to reconsider Ford's presence in Australia?

You need to get back into that AU Forte.

Good luck 😉

Dr Smith · 17-02-2020, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndrome

I've always seen the local R&D division as a token effort by Ford to show they are "still dedicated to Australia" after they ceased local production of vehicles.

Today's announcement by GM to terminate the Holden brand, will it cause Dearborn to reconsider Ford's presence in Australia?

Has Ford pulled out of the UK, Thailand, India or South Africa and said it will stop building RHD vehicles across the globe? The local R&D centre will only cease if it fails to win more work and at the current exchange rate that doesn't seem as a handicap.

Vormund · 18-02-2020, 01:55 AM

I doubt it will have a direct affect. R&D do not get involved between businesses (unless it’s a joint venture) Different to manufacturing which has economies of scale with suppliers.

Ford17 · 18-02-2020, 11:29 AM

Ford Motor says it will hire more staff and commit $500 million to Australian market following Holden’s collapse:
https://www.news.com.au/technology/i...fa2232881e28ae

Ms Hart says Ford has a big design and engineering team in Australia and is “hiring at the moment”.

“I am sure there is some great talent in that Holden team. We would definitely be looking for that skill set that would fit with us and there may well be opportunities for that team at Ford in the future,” she told ABC radio on Tuesday.

However, she said any long-term decisions about the future of Ford’s Australian operations would be considered and made by its US-based parent company.

Wretched · 18-02-2020, 11:31 AM

As long as there is a pipeline of work..

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-...kh6P-nJjx-BoAE

Bossxr8 · 18-02-2020, 02:17 PM

I don't know why people are linking the 2. Holden did little jobs for GM. Nothing sustainable, and the decision to stop building RHD cars cause they only sell to 3 markets in Oz, NZ and Thailand, because they have killed off all the other RHD markets in Europe, South Africa and India, was the cause of Holden dying.

Ford will still be here unless Ford get out of all their RHD markets, which isn't happening anytime soon. As for FoA Product Development, they have already come out and said it's safe for the medium term. No one has a crystal ball to see beyond that though. Anything could happen. But the success of Ranger globally makes it worthwhile to continue here.

jpd80 · 18-02-2020, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I don't know why people are linking the 2. Holden did little jobs for GM. Nothing sustainable, and the decision to stop building RHD cars cause they only sell to 3 markets in Oz, NZ and Thailand, because they have killed off all the other RHD markets in Europe, South Africa and India, was the cause of Holden dying.

Ford will still be here unless Ford get out of all their RHD markets, which isn't happening anytime soon. As for FoA Product Development, they have already come out and said it's safe for the medium term. No one has a crystal ball to see beyond that though. Anything could happen. But the success of Ranger globally makes it worthwhile to continue here.

Ford US is greedy,
now they have Bronco, they will want Ranger and next gen development in the USA,
let's hope any moves like that is a long way off in the future.....

simon varley · 18-02-2020, 09:23 PM

Ford US simply cannot design and deliver a new Ranger. They don't have the numbers, even with smart efficiencies and a combined Ranger/F150 platform. Nothing is guaranteed, but I am pretty confident they aren't taking Ranger from us. We could stuff up and lose it, but they aren't taking it.

Bossxr8 · 19-02-2020, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

Ford US simply cannot design and deliver a new Ranger. They don't have the numbers, even with smart efficiencies and a combined Ranger/F150 platform. Nothing is guaranteed, but I am pretty confident they aren't taking Ranger from us. We could stuff up and lose it, but they aren't taking it.

Would be hard to get their heads around selling a vehicle in over 180+ countries. Once they figure out there is actually other countries outside North America of course.

Pretty much everything they do is specific to North America. They wouldn't have a clue what other markets would require.

**Polyal** · 19-02-2020, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Would be hard to get their heads around selling a vehicle in over 180+ countries. Once they figure out there is actually other countries outside North America of course.

Pretty much everything they do is specific to North America. They wouldn't have a clue what other markets would require.

Mustang would be about the only true global car they do wouldnt it?

Bossxr8 · 19-02-2020, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Mustang would be about the only true global car they do wouldnt it?

It would be. And it doesn't go everywhere. From what I can find, 146 countries.

superroo · 19-02-2020, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Mustang would be about the only true global car they do wouldnt it?

This is global according to Dearborn

superroo · 19-02-2020, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

It would be. And it doesn't go everywhere. From what I can find, 146 countries.

I count just under 140 for Mustang.
Ranger is just over 170 countries

Paul22 · 19-02-2020, 07:18 PM

Interesting discussion thus far. From memory, when Ford decided to increase the capability of the R&D division here, one of the advantages stated that they had a full and unfettered access to their super computer in the States being that we were using it during their night. It was known as CRAY. Now, I understand that modern technology has negated that priority somewhat I reckon there's a fair bet that this still forms part of Head Office thinking, In addition, they've also discovered that the Australian R&D division is without equal in efficiency and outcomes and that includes the States. I would like to think they're safe here.

Bossxr8 · 20-02-2020, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superroo

I count just under 140 for Mustang.
Ranger is just over 170 countries

I was going off official Ford press releases. It says 146 for Mustang.

Ranger is 180, but I think that was before they started building them in the US, so you could add a few more to it if you include the USA and Canada. Maybe Mexico?

vztrt · 20-02-2020, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I was going off official Ford press releases. It says 146 for Mustang.

Ranger is 180, but I think that was before they started building them in the US, so you could add a few more to it if you include the USA and Canada. Maybe Mexico?

Thought Mexico gets our ranger. Not the US one.

simon varley · 20-02-2020, 10:36 PM

more importantly to my mind is that Ranger is built in 4 countries around the world, plus assembled in several more from kits. All Mustangs are built just down the road (sort of). Hope the American engineers all have passports and visas to support the launch activities

jpd80 · 21-02-2020, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon varley

more importantly to my mind is that Ranger is built in 4 countries around the world, plus assembled in several more from kits. All Mustangs are built just down the road (sort of). Hope the American engineers all have passports and visas to support the launch activities

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

What was he testing, the airbags?

Agree entirely and up until recently, the Americans had no idea just how immense / complicate the T6 program was in order to be a truly global product.

I get this vision of some well intentioned short term hire US goober taking over US Ranger / Bronco I P and being blown away by the immense engineering behind T6 and probably realising that he’s out of his depth.....

Bossxr8 · 21-02-2020, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Thought Mexico gets our ranger. Not the US one.

More likely the Argentinian built ones. Not Thai. But yeah, they are not US Rangers going off the Ford Mexico website.

jpd80 · 21-02-2020, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

More likely the Argentinian built ones. Not Thai. But yeah, they are not US Rangers going off the Ford Mexico website.

Until recently the 2.5 petrol engine was still available it think it was in the 2WD dual cab.

Crazy Dazz · 21-02-2020, 05:51 PM

I worked in Indonesia and Viet Nam.
Not sure why, but even back in the day when it was a re-badged Mazda, the Ford Ranger was extremely popular. It just seemed to represent very good value for money in the light-truck segment.
(Oh, and Indonesia is also RHD.)
I've never been able to confirm, but they MUST have been assembled within Indonesia (to avoid the crippling import duties.) Perhaps they came in CKD?
Again Ford has an assembly plant in Viet Nam for the same reason.

My point is that the Ranger is popular throughout SE Asia in a way GM products never were. Don't know whey, just the way it was.

So as long as the Ranger remains popular, and Australia remains the design centre for the Ranger, I guess their jobs will remain.

Something else to keep in mind, is that Ford is still family controlled.
So whilst companies like GM will cut off their own penis if it isn't profitable, Ford will always be a little bit more reluctant to abandon a market.
Same reason why Ford has always preferred to put their own name on cars.

vztrt · 24-02-2020, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

More likely the Argentinian built ones. Not Thai. But yeah, they are not US Rangers going off the Ford Mexico website.

I mean the chassis is non US chassis. They don't get the US one.

Bossxr8 · 25-02-2020, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

I mean the chassis is non US chassis. They don't get the US one.

Yeah I got that. Was just pointing out they most likely get their cars from Argentina.

**roddy1960** · 25-02-2020, 07:27 PM

The Yanks are a strange mob...It's only global if it suits them . Stuff everybody else if it doesn't . There's a lot of great vehicles that will probably be banned from being sold in America but it's okay for them to have this mish mash of manufacturing involving US and overseas companies as depicted here a couple of years ago . https://www.hotcars.com/10-foreign-c...rs-that-arent/..

Good luck figuring where all the R&D goes on with all that .

vztrt · 26-02-2020, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Yeah I got that. Was just pointing out they most likely get their cars from Argentina.

Mexico have a FTA agreement with Argentina so it would be the smartest place to build it.

**roddy1960** · 29-02-2020, 09:55 AM

Maybe the R&D crew from Holden and Ford that lost their jobs recently and over the last few years together with a few bob from someone could revisit a modern version of the Bolwell Nagari.....Get the rights to the now defunct manufactured Barra T or hybrid or electric or......Begin as a kit making company or build to order cottage industry , use new tech from different Aussie suppliers that does exist and maybe a few of those engineers could work on a car with little or no beholdings to a big brother ..Maybe ol Scomo could sling a few shillings in too to encourage local enterprise that him and others bang on about from time to time..

Shannons TV take on the Nagari ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTz3HfY2Luk&t=124s.

**roddy1960** · 29-02-2020, 10:25 AM

Maybe the R&D crew from Holden and Ford that lost their jobs recently and over the last few years together with a few bob from someone could revisit a modern version of the Bolwell Nagari...Even if some components were outsourced or built under licence , engine/transmission for example......Begin as a kit making company or build to order cottage industry , use new control technology from different Aussie suppliers that does exist and maybe a few of those engineers could work on a car with little or no beholdings to a big brother ..Maybe ol Scomo could sling a few shillings and compliance aid in too to encourage local enterprise..

Shannons TV take on the Nagari period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTz3HfY2Luk&t=124s.

Then again ...Australian's designing and building our own car using Aussie materials and ingenuity...Nah , couldn't ever happen ...perish the thought ..