Ford Fiesta’s future in Australia unclear, Focus cloudy too

[AG3]

Ford Fiesta’s future in Australia unclear, Focus cloudy too
Car maker questioning the place of small passenger cars in Australia

The future of the Ford Fiesta in Australia remains under a cloud of uncertainty, with the brand clearly considering whether it makes economic sense to bring the next-gen model Down Under. And now the Ford Focus could be in the firing line, too.

CarAdvice spoke with Graeme Whickman, president and CEO of Ford Australia at the updated Ford Transit Custom launch this week, where the question of the Fiesta’s fate was raised.

“My comment on that is that we haven’t even got to a stage where we’re happy to talk about the next product incarnation, so speculation will always be out there, but we haven’t come out and said anything at this point,” Whickman said.

“Every vehicle we have in our cycle plan, we go through an in-depth process of development, tailoring, and so, no, we’ve yet to make, and come out with, a particular point of view on that product, or any other product for that matter,” he said.

“It’s not dissimilar to how we would talk about the next Focus, or the next anything. You know, when we’re ready to talk about it, we’ll come out and talk about it. But there’s plenty of water to go under the bridge, there.”

Even with that all on the table, though, Whickman made it clear that there is some serious research into the future potential of a light car from the Blue Oval brand when the current model ceases production out of Thailand. There are suggestions the new-generation car won’t be built in Thailand, though Whickman didn’t confirm that.

Read More: http://www.caradvice.com.au/560672/f...us-cloudy-too/

This is sad.

[Trump]

Woeful marketing hasn't helped their numbers one bit.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Trump

Woeful marketing hasn't helped their numbers one bit.

...that and the image-destroying PowerShift DCT which they got rid of in the 2018 Fiesta they launched in Europe.

In Australian car sales, the Fiesta ranks 10th in its class.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by AG3

...that and the image-destroying PowerShift DCT which they got rid of in the 2018 Fiesta they launched in Europe.

It left a very sour taste in many. Once bitten, twice shy and all that...

[Brazen]

The first company that does a decent compact SUV for $19,990 drive away with auto will win big time

[ebv8]

i bought a new one back in 2013 and it was the manliest small hatch on the market let down but ford marketing it as a girls car complete with high heel compartment under the passenger seat.
girls didn't want a fiesta they wanted a barina with bits of red highlights and more tech to link to their smart phone.

I did sell it after 11 months and bought a BA GT because i just couldn't live with myself after my brothers reminded me of the high heel compartment every day.

to make it worse they went form a 1.6 to a lower power 1.5 in the WZ......why!

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by ebv8

i bought a new one back in 2013 and it was the manliest small hatch on the market let down but ford marketing it as a girls car complete with high heel compartment under the passenger seat.
girls didn't want a fiesta they wanted a barina with bits of red highlights and more tech to link to their smart phone.

I did sell it after 11 months and bought a BA GT because i just couldn't live with myself after my brothers reminded me of the high heel compartment every day.

to make it worse they went form a 1.6 to a lower power 1.5 in the WZ......why!

The drop in size has to do with how cars are taxed in Asia, by engine capacity.

[Wretched]

I hope this is BS, Focus and Fiesta are a bloody good car let down by poor product planners and marketing.

[Nu66et]

Originally Posted by Wretched

I hope this is BS, Focus and Fiesta are a bloody good car let down by poor product planners and marketing.

I think it's BS. They'll shift production to China if need be

[Sprint XR8]

Ford recently announced that the US market Focus will be sourced from China from 2019. I wouldn't be surprised if the same happens with our Focus and Fiesta.
The split with Mazda and the end of plant sharing is the only reason the Thai plant isn't being retooled to make the new Fiesta. Ford will be keeping the Ranger plant when BT-50 production shifts to Isuzu and Mazda will keep the small car plant.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Sprint XR8

The split with Mazda and the end of plant sharing is the only reason the Thai plant isn't being retooled to make the new Fiesta.

A few years ago, Ford transferred Fiesta production from AutoAlliance Thailand to the newer Ford Thailand Manufacturing, the facility that builds the Focus and South East Asian EcoSport.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Sprint XR8

Ford recently announced that the US market Focus will be sourced from China from 2019. I wouldn't be surprised if the same happens with our Focus and Fiesta.
The split with Mazda and the end of plant sharing is the only reason the Thai plant isn't being retooled to make the new Fiesta. Ford will be keeping the Ranger plant when BT-50 production shifts to Isuzu and Mazda will keep the small car plant.

So where will the US spec ST range come from, Saarlouis?

[AG3]

Originally Posted by DJM83

So where will the US spec ST range come from, Saarlouis?

Most likely, some (unspecified) variants will be sourced from Europe.

Most of the initial models for North America will come from China, with additional variants coming from Europe.

- http://www.autonews.com/article/2017...tead-of-mexico

[Ratmick]

Originally Posted by DJM83

So where will the US spec ST range come from, Saarlouis?

The US-spec Fiesta ST is made in Mexico...

Originally Posted by Wretched

Sorry what?

Mustang (5.0 and EcoBoost)
Focus ST
Focus RS
Fiesta ST

Lukewarm? Try an actual world class range with class leading performance hatch (RS & Fiesta ST).

All true, the bottom three are made in Germany though and the quality is markedly better than my missus' Thai WT Fiesta TDCi.

I have a Fiesta ST, great little runabout. Can't tow jack but it's a superb handling well-built fairly toey little thing

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

The US-spec Fiesta ST is made in Mexico...

I believe he was responding to the post about the next US-spec Focus production moving to China.

Some models (unspecified) of the next US Focus will be sourced from Europe, most likely the performance models.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by AG3

I believe he was responding to the post about the next US-spec Focus production moving to China.

Some models (unspecified) of the next US Focus will be sourced from Europe, most likely the performance models.

Yeah correct post no US production.

As for those banging on about ford's quality of the current cars. My Ute albeit 6 years old ain't a patch on my old ST, not even close in regards to quality.

Seems having no falcon anymore some people are still very butt hurt about it. Move on.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ratmick

The US-spec Fiesta ST is made in Mexico...



All true, the bottom three are made in Germany though and the quality is markedly better than my missus' Thai WT Fiesta TDCi.

I have a Fiesta ST, great little runabout. Can't tow jack but it's a superb handling well-built fairly toey little thing

+1

The junk that comes out of Thailand is appalling in regards to Focus and Fiesta.

I've got one of the German made WS Fiestas and when the Thai made WT came out you could certainly tell the difference.

Same with the old man's WZ ST, German built.

The regular shopping models, the first new models seem to come from Germany, than the series II production comes from Thailand.

Forget it, not buying that crapola.

If you want a decent auto small car then its Mazda 3, do the Focus still use that terrible DSG? They shot themselves in the foot with that big time.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

+1

The junk that comes out of Thailand is appalling in regards to Focus and Fiesta.

I've got one of the German made WS Fiestas and when the Thai made WT came out you could certainly tell the difference.

Same with the old man's WZ ST, German built.

The regular shopping models, the first new models seem to come from Germany, than the series II production comes from Thailand.

Forget it, not buying that crapola.

If you want a decent auto small car then its Mazda 3, do the Focus still use that terrible DSG? They shot themselves in the foot with that big time.

The current Thai-made Fiesta's main issue is its optional PowerShift DCT which is made by "Getrag Americas" in Mexico, the same annoying transmission shared by Fiesta's built in other regions.

The current Focus in Asia-Pacific uses a 6-speed torque-converter automatic since it was upgraded with the more powerful 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine.

The dry clutch PowerShift DCT was designed primarily for lower torque engines.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

+1

The junk that comes out of Thailand is appalling in regards to Focus and Fiesta.

I've got one of the German made WS Fiestas and when the Thai made WT came out you could certainly tell the difference.

Same with the old man's WZ ST, German built.

The regular shopping models, the first new models seem to come from Germany, than the series II production comes from Thailand.

Forget it, not buying that crapola.

If you want a decent auto small car then its Mazda 3, do the Focus still use that terrible DSG? They shot themselves in the foot with that big time.

Nothing wrong with our Thailand built Focus. It's awesome!

[Kieron]

I think the articles title is misleading and the story itself is nothing.

Wickman simply gave CA the basics of the process they follow with products when asked.

[simon varley]

they are only selling a couple of hundred a month of each, compared with the couple of thousand each for Kia, Hyundai and Toyota. With high prices and low return it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they went away. Shame as they are really nice cars, especially the ST. We'd probably lose the RS too if there weren't any base models :(

[roddy1960]

I have absolutely no idea where this is all heading ..Yes I do..
DOWN HILL. Ford in Australia will end up as a very 'bit' player with passenger cars..So will Holden.
Bloody sad indictment on a once proud local manufacturer country . The cheap and cheerful mob are helping consign cars like Focus and Fiesta to oblivion.
For this little black duck they can take their low cost imported SUV's and crossovers built in China , Thailand and India and shove them up where the sun don't shine .....sideways for all I care. At least Japan and South Korea have earned their stripes over some decent time now with Aussie buyers...perhaps

[simon varley]

sorry dude, but Ford Australia have always been an also run bit player if you look globally. at their best 50,000 cars a year was a tiny, tiny drop in the ocean of global Ford sales, let alone compared to Toyota or GM.

Great cars for their time, don't get me wrong, but no longer what people want. Same is happening now with the small cars - people don't want great driving cars, they just want cheap ways to get from A-B, preferably with good reliability, good resale value, and dealers who don't take the ****

[malazn mafia]

Should read Ford's Future in Australia unclear. Pretty bad time to be a Ford dealer, nothing exciting in the range bar the Mustang, and even that is a bit lukewarm unless it goes through the aftermarket scene... If Ford australia left completely would they even be missed anymore? They are dead to me after falcon and territory died, and if there was no ford Australia, ford enthusiasts would source the real enthusiast Ford vehicles they really wanted from overseas anyway.

[AG3]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Should read Ford's Future in Australia unclear. Pretty bad time to be a Ford dealer, nothing exciting in the range bar the Mustang, and even that is a bit lukewarm unless it goes through the aftermarket scene... If Ford australia left completely would they even be missed anymore? They are dead to me after falcon and territory died, and if there was no ford Australia, ford enthusiasts would source the real enthusiast Ford vehicles they really wanted from overseas anyway.

I read the Ranger and Mustang are the top selling models in Australia.

What's keeping Ford alive in Asia-Pacific is the Ranger and maybe the Everest.
They can't rely on those two models for survival (long term), they need more successful models.

One of the main reasons Fiesta sales dropped significantly in Australia and Asia is because of its problematic PowerShift transmission.

This problem was solved in the new Fiesta in Europe (reverts to a torque converter auto) but now they decided they might not sell it in Asia-Pacific?

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by AG3

What's keeping Ford alive in Asia-Pacific is the Ranger and maybe the Everest.
They can't rely on those two models for survival (long term), they need more successful models.

PS: The PowerShift transmission and the car being "old" are the main reasons Fiesta sales have dropped significantly in Australia and around Asia. Ford launches a new Fiesta in Europe and gets rid of the problematic transmission, then decide they might not sell it on this side of the world?

Toyota has those covered and has decades more expertise than Ford on dual cab ute and SUV derivative, Ford just struck it lucky in 2007-2010 when Toyota were sitting complacently on their perch and Broadmeadows had the guts to knock the Hilux off the perch. But it's nearly 8 years on and Ranger has not progressed the way Toyota has. The rate at which Toyota is churning out new models every two or three years down from eight to nine previously, is quite astounding. And it seems they have finally mastered the art of designing decent looking vehicles, after probably being forced to by the Korean competition. Ford looks a bit iffy in some of their designs and don't update their models quite as often. I wouldn't care about these updates, or gadgets/tech gimmicks but it seems the general buying public are learning to expecting this and Ford and GM aren't delivering... The Koreans, and Jap-Thai's are certainly delivering in this area.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Toyota has those covered and has decades more expertise than Ford on dual cab ute and SUV derivative, Ford just struck it lucky in 2007-2010 when Toyota were sitting complacently on their perch and Broadmeadows had the guts to knock the Hilux off the perch. But it's nearly 8 years on and Ranger has not progressed the way Toyota has. The rate at which Toyota is churning out new models every two or three years down from eight to nine previously, is quite astounding. And it seems they have finally mastered the art of designing decent looking vehicles, after probably being forced to by the Korean competition. Ford looks a bit iffy in some of their designs and don't update their models quite as often. I wouldn't care about these updates, or gadgets/tech gimmicks but it seems the general buying public are learning to expecting this and Ford and GM aren't delivering... The Koreans, and Jap-Thai's are certainly delivering in this area.

Don't know where to start with this. Ranger offers a lot of things Hilux doesn't. It's a superior vehicle is every way bar maybe long term reliability, and it has had more updates over the past 6 years than Hilux has.

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Don't know where to start with this. Ranger offers a lot of things Hilux doesn't. It's a superior vehicle is every way bar maybe long term reliability, and it has had more updates over the past 6 years than Hilux has.

All Ford needs to do is offer the Ranger with the V6 ecoboost, call it Raptor and nothing will come close in the sales race. Or even better give us the F150 (wont happen soon), I'm bloody dying for a performance 4x4 over here. Would pick up a lot of previous SS/XRT ute buyers IMO. A market thats just waiting to be tapped.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Should read Ford's Future in Australia unclear. Pretty bad time to be a Ford dealer, nothing exciting in the range bar the Mustang, and even that is a bit lukewarm unless it goes through the aftermarket scene... If Ford australia left completely would they even be missed anymore? They are dead to me after falcon and territory died, and if there was no ford Australia, ford enthusiasts would source the real enthusiast Ford vehicles they really wanted from overseas anyway.

Sorry what?

Mustang (5.0 and EcoBoost)
Focus ST
Focus RS
Fiesta ST

Lukewarm? Try an actual world class range with class leading performance hatch (RS & Fiesta ST).

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Sorry what?

Mustang (5.0 and EcoBoost)
Focus ST
Focus RS
Fiesta ST

Lukewarm? Try an actual world class range with class leading performance hatch (RS & Fiesta ST).

Good on you for the brand loyalty, I wish I was as forgiving of Ford. That is a rather short list there. But take those Ford coloured glasses off and try driving both mustangs in stock form , ignoring what badge its wearing. Nothing to write home about, their beauty is skin deep, quality doesn't feel all that great, just about on par with the VF Commodore, which is just barely average (versus woeful for VE and older). I don't recall the last time I have seen a Current model Focus RS/ST or Fiesta ST. Plenty of old XR5 from back in the Ford glory days still putting around though. They are not competitively priced for what they are, and objectively , the Japs and Germans have the Hatch and performance hatch market stitched up and the sales numbers speak for themselves...