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  #1  
Old 18-07-07, 11:46
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Default A sad day for FORD Australia.

Well, the decision has been made to shut down six cylinder engine manufacturing in Geelong, Victoria today. It will come into effect in 2010 with the closure of the Engine plant and most likely Iron Casting as well. 600 jobs will go from Ford.
Instead Ford Australia will import a V6 direct from the USA ( the duratec 35, or possibly the duratec 37 once it's developed). All of us who work there are gutted. We are very proud of what we make and how we go about it. The engine plant in Geelong goes back to 1926. But this is Globalisation folks, and even though what we do is world class, someone else can do it cheaper.
I can tell you first hand there were people in tears today.
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  #2  
Old 18-07-07, 11:52
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Default Ford Closure

Hi Ryan
When I heard the news on the radio today I wondered if you would be affected, obviously you are. 600 workers is a large number to go onto the labour market and it will obviously have a flow on effect with Geelong businesses.
Sad Bob
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  #3  
Old 18-07-07, 14:13
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Angry This is Bullshit...

For those of you who don't know, I am a mechanical workshop manager. Between my current and previous job I see, service and repair Falcons, Commodores, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Volvo, Kia, BMW, VW ,Nissan and Peugeot on a regular basis. Plus many other brands on a not-so-regular basis. Mate I am as "Ford" as Henry himself. But I am severely biased to Aussie cars. Having said all of that can I also say that I honestly believe that the Aussie 6 cylinder in the current BF Falcon is the best value for money engine ever in any family car. That includes anything the US or Europe has thrown at us.
No other engine offers as much bang for your bucks, delivering excellent power & economy without the NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) of it's nearest competitors. The Aussie Ford Six is right up there with BMW, MB etc, but for a fraction of the cost.
Ford seems to miss the point that the reason we (Aussies) drive Falcons is because they are big and safe, and cheap to run, repair and service.
I am sure that the only reason this decision has been made is to prop upFord US. American family cars do not work in Australia. European cars do not work in Australia. (How many Mondeos did Ford sell here? 20? 30?) If the disastrous "Taurus" experiment of the late eighties didn't prove it then nothing will.
The decision to close the Geelong plant is a bigger mistake than the axing of the local V8 in the 80's. Ford Aus is still paying for that mistake today and has only just started to regain lost ground. The decision to close the Geelong engine plant will prove to be a disaster & spell the end for Ford in Australia.
In the 20 odd years that Jo & I have been driving, we have owned between us eight Australian built Fords (Two Meteor/Laser, Five Falcons and one Fairlane) and loved every one of them. The last Falcon had 400,000km on the clock and I'm dead set certain that I could have got another 400,000 out of her. It was simply that good.
If the dickheads at Ford Aus realy do start fitting Falcons with a smaller & inferior V6 engine then I know I certainly will not buy one.
I am (as you may have guessed) very passionate about this. This is worse than losing your full-foward to a soccer team. To say this is a little stinky is like saying Casey Chambers sings a little nasal.
To all the employees of Ford Geelong, be assured that millions of Ford fans around the country are behind you. In fact we are here to help you.
I want to start a petition. Right here. Right now.
AUSSIES! Email me via PM and we will get the ball rolling. Ryan, you collect a few email addresses too & I will be in contact with a text for the petition.
Let's save the Geelong plant! Lets save the arses of the undeserving pricks at Ford HO. We can do it!
Howard.
(People power saved Mitsubishi. It IS possible)
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  #4  
Old 18-07-07, 21:42
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Thumbs up Well said Howard.

Sorry in advance to sound so cynical, but bloody politicians make me feel this way. The b@&tards assess a situation, do a risk management on it then do the thing which will best protect their sorry backsides.

As you might expect State Government is fizzing at the bung now the announcement has been made trying to make political hay out of the situation by making paternalistic statements about how much they care about the Ford workers and trying to work out a scheme to ensure they're looked after in terms of redeployment... but I listened to an interview with the State Treasurer John Brumby who as much as said Geelong had a robust economy and 600 jobs wouldn't matter that much.

What I read from that is they've assessed the political implications for the closure and are prepared to make a lot of noise and do a few things on the edges, but they're unlikely to try to save the plant because the risk to them wouldn't justify the return.

The Geelong factory is where our Ford CMPs were built - it would be a sad thing to see it go - quite apart from the toll of buggering up so many people's livlihoods who are currently employed there. The ultimate threat of Ford pulling out of manufacture altogether in Australia is perhaps something which would make them take more interest on a Federal level as happened with Mitsubishi in Adelaide.

My sympathies are with you, Ryan and your mates at the Plant.
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  #5  
Old 18-07-07, 22:46
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That's really bad news to hear about all of the coming job losses. That's a huge number of people and their families who will be effected, and I assume many badly effected on financial, therefore other major, levels. Ouch.

I hate hearing about these big companies with so many workers who have put in so much to help build and maintain/sustain the businesses asses-etts only to be dumped with a pittance, if that, and an uncaring "tough luck and them's the breaks eh so suck it up?"

Sigh.

Karmen
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  #6  
Old 19-07-07, 03:55
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Default Thanks

Thank you for your kind words. Howard, a PM is coming your way.
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  #7  
Old 19-07-07, 04:16
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Default Howard et al...

If there's a petition I'll sign it, not because I have a long association with Aussie Fords (I obviously don't), but because I trust your judgements on this and because of the History Lost (which DOES have something to do with Canada) should the plant close.

Clear enough?

Go git'em, lads.

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  #8  
Old 19-07-07, 08:11
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Default Re: A sad day for FORD Australia.

Quote:
Originally posted by rynoki
Well, the decision has been made to shut down six cylinder engine manufacturing in Geelong, Victoria today. It will come into effect in 2010 with the closure of the Engine plant and most likely Iron Casting as well. 600 jobs will go from Ford.
Ford seem to be in deep do-do everywhere including their home US market.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle2080527.ece

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...cnvolvo116.xml

For instance. . . . . . . . .

The potential for 19,000 job losses plus those at specialist suppliers.

R.
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  #9  
Old 19-07-07, 12:13
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Default Aussie Fords

Australian Fords were first sold here in 1966 I seem to recall..I did an article once for RESTORED CARS. There are two companies selling them here: http://www.dreamscience.co.uk/html/home.html

and also Coleman-Milne who sell V-8 limos, hearse conversions, etc. The last cars that were sold here officially were the 1980 LTDs with the 352LC Windsor, i.e. Canadian, V-8.

I regret to say that Fords have totally wiped-out British Ford car manufacture, and Dagenham is a diesel engine factory, with Bridgend, Wales as a V-8 factory. We have thje local Transit van factory in Swaythling, Southampton, and they even do exports, but it's virtually a screwdriver operation. However, it has been under threat in the past and the effect on the economy locally would have been immense. That's why local politicians kick up whenever ther has ben a crisis.

It is however a sad day for Ford in Australia and Australia generally. You have the GM plant producing more and more engines for worldwide export, and the assembly plant building "Chevrolets" for export. However it seems that at the end of the day Ford and GM will always look to their core N Amefrican operations, and if that means shoring up engine plants at the detriment of overseas, then that's tough. Jaguar is being hived-off, Volvo is up for sale...Land-Rover may be next.
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Old 19-07-07, 13:20
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Default Ford has stuffed Land rover too

Add Land Rover to the list of Ford stuffups . The Solihull factory is presently up for sale . The word is the plant may be closed for good . The end of a era, beginning in 1948 with the 80" series 1 .

Jaguar lost big buck for Ford also .

My 1987 XF Falcon runs like a swiss watch . 200k on it and it's barely run in . I can buy parts for it anywhere . I paid 300 bucks for it at a scrap metal yard , and there were plenty to choose from .

Mike
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  #11  
Old 19-07-07, 13:33
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Default aussie fords

beleive it or not i am actually a ford man .i drive fords and am restoring a xp coupe
a good friend lives and works in america he was reading in american motor magazines about australian built fords compared to american built vehicles -surprisingly even coming from an american writer
-he said "if you drive a falcon compared to american equivalent there is no way you would even contemplate buying american .fuel economy ,handling ,safety features and overall build quality far surpass the american car "
as mentioned earlier in the thread about importing the v6 . i also believe this is a vain effort to prop up ford america .:horse:
as howard mentioned earlier the falcon motor you get more bang for your buck
it is very unfortunate to see yet another good aussie product get slammed by globalisation and the almighty dollar

-our thoughts are with the workers and their families and sincerly hope they can find other jobs where their great skills are not wasted and lost
wish you all the best of luck
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  #12  
Old 19-07-07, 20:04
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Default Re: A sad day for FORD Australia.

Quote:
Originally posted by rynoki
But this is Globalisation folks, and even though what we do is world class, someone else can do it cheaper.
I can tell you first hand there were people in tears today.

Ryan, you have my condolences also. Your comments about Globalization are all too true as we here in North America have also experienced first hand. Ford and GM are attempting to retrench in an effort to stave off bankruptcy. I've seen this first hand while working shutdowns at the many plants near me. I've worked on the assembly plants in Shreveport, Louisiana (Canyon, Colorado, H3, and Isuzu); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Envoy, Trailblazer); and Arlington, Texas (Yukon, Tahoe, and Escalade). I was dismayed to see how many parts assemblies were made in neither the U.S., or Canada but Mexico! GM Targetmaster engines are also made in Mexico. Further, many jobs are being lost to automation. Most of the work we do in these plants is installing robotics to do away with manual labour. The plant in Shreveport intalled magnetic strips in the floor so that the delivery of assemblies could be done by robotic carts, further reducing the need for human workers. In fact, GM just recently shut down the plant in Oklahoma completely, throwing thousands out of work. All the while, the company executives suck up any savings by voting themselves huge bonuses for "a job well done" Globalization and simple greed are at the bottom of a lot of sorrow these days! Derek.
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  #13  
Old 20-07-07, 08:00
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Angry Mailing List

For those of us who would like to make our voices heared about this...
I have created a web page (www.savegeelongford.info) which should be on line in the next few days.
In the mean while, go to http://www.shedfullofshit.com/ & sign up to the "Geelong Ford" mailing list, located lower LH side of home page.
Encourage as many people as possible to sign up so that we can keep each other up to date on the goings on at Ford.
Thanks to you have signed up already.
Howard.
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  #14  
Old 20-07-07, 11:57
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Old 21-07-07, 12:42
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Default Where did it all go wrong?

As faithful, Constant Readers of the forum will all know, in WW2 Ford Australia was a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Canada, which itself was independant of Ford US. The "Blame" for this latest decision is being attributed to the US head office.

My question is How/When did Ford Aust come under the control of Ford US? Is Ford Canada now owned by Ford US? Was Ford Aust sold off by Ford of Canada, or was it sold to the US along with the complete Canadian company? As a wild guess, I'd suspect it was some time in the late 60's-early 70's, as our early 62-on XK-XL-XM Falcons were of Canadian design, while the 300ci 6 cylinder used in the F350 of the early 70's was known as the Canadian block (As opposed to the "Aussie 6" being made at Geelong). After that, the references become more US related. I can't recall any Canadian references to components or engineering during the 80's and 90's. Did we stray from the true path?
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Old 21-07-07, 17:05
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Default Re: Where did it all go wrong?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tony Smith
[B]As faithful, Constant Readers of the forum will all know, in WW2 Ford Australia was a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Canada, which itself was independant of Ford US. The "Blame" for this latest decision is being attributed to the US head office.

Here's an interesting article I found on the 'net regarding the Geelong plant:



Josh Gordon
July 19, 2007
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
IT'S been a bumpy ride for Australian car makers.
The genesis of the closure of Ford's Geelong plant can be traced back more than 20 years, when Bob Hawke's industry minister John Button took up the sledge hammer to continue Labor's work of tearing down industry protection.
Contemplating the work he began decades ago after hearing of Ford's plans to close its Geelong engine plant, Mr Button yesterday maintained the process had been enormously beneficial to the car industry and consumers, despite the pain.
"It had to happen," Mr Button told The Age. "Of course it was a beneficial process, otherwise we would just have a lazy protected industry."
In the late 1970s, Australia's automotive sector was enjoying some of the highest tariff walls in the world, virtually immune from global competition.
Anyone wanting a foreign-made vehicle had to get past Australian customs — and pay a tax, or tariff, equivalent to 60 per cent of the price.
As if car makers needed any more protection, the tariff wall was buttressed by an import quota restricting foreign-made cars to a maximum of 20 per cent of sales, and a local content scheme promoting the use of domestic components in the manufacturing process.
By the mid-1980s, just 10 per cent of Australia's car fleet was being imported, with five companies producing 13 models at eight plants. Times were good.
But by then accepted wisdom of protecting local industries at the expense of denying consumers cheaper imported products had changed.
From 1985 governments began to dismantle the protectionist wall surrounding the car industry.
Today, Australia car makers are some of the most exposed in the world: the tariff on imported passenger vehicles is now 10 per cent, to fall to 5 per cent by 2010.
At the same time, local car makers are battling the loss of competitiveness triggered by the soaring Australia's soaring dollar, and fierce global competition from cut-price foreign producers.
Australian car manufacturers have watched their share of the domestic market shrivel from about 30 per cent at the end of 2002 to roughly 20 per cent, translating to about 90,000 fewer vehicles a year.
While dismantling protectionism was painful — particularly for Victoria, which relies heavily on manufacturing — economists say it was beneficial.
Had protectionism not been dismantled, HSBC chief economist John Edwards, a former senior economic adviser to Paul Keating, said Australia's car industry and manufacturing sector in general "would now be in the most appalling position". But he warned Australia still had problems.
Those six-cylinder, four-door sedans have been displaced by smaller models," Dr Edwards said. "The larger models have essentially been fleet sales, to governments and the like, rarely bought new by households. The industry has had its head in the sand, the Government has had its head in the sand and this is problem we need to face up to."
Peter Brain, executive director of the National Institute of Economics and Industry Research, said governments could be doing more to prop up the car industry, warning a vibrant manufacturing sector would be crucial to insulate the economy when the commodity boom wound down.
Even the architect of Australia's car industry reforms was cautious about the need for further tariff reductions. Mr Button said he believed the Federal Government should think very carefully about further tariff cuts given that the high dollar had already eroded the competitiveness of locally produced cars.
Industrial economist Martin Feil also questioned the wisdom of dismantling tariffs for the car industry. "Around the world governments are … promoting smaller, more environmentally friendly vehicles," he said. "(The car makers) haven't made the decisions to produce cars that increasingly nobody wants, governments have."
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Old 22-07-07, 13:47
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Default Zephyr

The British Zephyr nearly became Ford Australia's mass produced 6 cyl car . In the late 1950's , Ford here approached the Pommes with a view to mass producing the Zephyr for Australia . The English had a recalcitrant attitude towards the idea , and never seemed to take to the idea . Instead , Ford Aust. approached the Canadians ..... who bent over backwards to provide assistance and the Falcon was the ideal car . The XK had a few teething problems , weak ball joints were beefed up and the front end lasted over 20 years , into the XF model .

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Old 20-11-08, 09:20
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Ryan,
I hear today that the Geelong plant is to remain open. Is this true? I (we) hope so!
I also hear that the Aussie 4.0 litre engine is not part of the future plans. Hopefully NOT true.
Can you update us?
HH
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Old 20-11-08, 12:32
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Default Retitle a Great day for Ford Australia

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.
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Old 20-11-08, 12:45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rynoki View Post
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!!!!!
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Old 20-11-08, 13:02
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Question Short Memories

[QUOTE=sapper740;78735]
Quote:
Those six-cylinder, four-door sedans have been displaced by smaller models," Dr Edwards said... ..."Around the world governments are … promoting smaller, more environmentally friendly vehicles," he said. "(The car makers) haven't made the decisions to produce cars that increasingly nobody wants, governments have."
I dunno if it just because I am naive, or over-optomistic. But I remember quite well the early 70's fuel scare. I was only a young'n, born in '68. Everyone was doing what people are doing now, and trading their big cars for smaller & more economical ones. My Dad was always under pressure from all sides to get rid of his Falcon & trade to a small car. He didn't, thank goodness. But then the trends turned, and big cars became popular again. If we stop producing these cars now, we will never get them back...
BUY FALCONS, YOUSE BASTARDS!
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Old 20-11-08, 13:06
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Default Ford Australia President Marin Burela

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?
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Old 20-11-08, 13:12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard View Post
BUY FALCONS, YOUSE BASTARDS!
Hear Hear.
A new Ford Falcon can easily return fuel economy figures of 7-9L/100kms. As good as many 4cyl cars.
Ford is offering Fleet discounts to anyone in the country at the moment, and the employee discount has basically been doubled. Time to update the Falcon I think.
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Old 20-11-08, 15:10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rynoki View Post
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).
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Old 20-11-08, 20:24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Smith View Post
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.
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Old 20-11-08, 21:10
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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
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Old 24-05-13, 14:11
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Angry Doom & Gloom

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.
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Old 24-05-13, 18:05
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Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
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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
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Old 25-05-13, 01:09
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Ryan Ryan is offline
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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.
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Old 25-05-13, 01:36
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Ganmain Tony Ganmain Tony is offline
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Firstly Ryan I want to say I am extremely sorry to hear about your job going. I reckon you would be devastated.

I must say this is hit me harder than I thought. My family have always had Falcons. I drive an 07 RTV ute, dedicated gas. It is a magnificent car.

What I find frustrating about this whole thing is ALL, yes thats right, ALL manufacturers of Motor vehicles receive government financial support across the globe

What is equally frustrating is when our dollar does drop back to 50 cents US, and it will.. we will be bitching how expensive foreign cars are getting. Not to mention whinging how expensive servicing them will be.

In a couple of years motoring magazines (some who in my opinion have contributed to Fords and the Falcons demise here) will write articles on the brilliantly designed and built cars that Ford used to make in this country.

Bottom line is they are not selling...and that reflects on the Australian consumer......
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