Government insider reckons Ford's local ops are gone in 2016

[GTP534]

Dowling is certainly on an agenda.

[XWGT]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

This was my reply to Downling's article today :


We need to get in touch with a credible journalist, collate all these negative articles and other facts that contradict it, and get said journalist to run an article systematically debunking and dissecting Dowling's agenda. He only keeps writing the articles because if he creates enough negative press to tip it over the edge, that's his big break and career highlight.

No.

FORD need to get off their **** and give journalists something positive to write about rather than allowing themselves to be torn to pieces publicly.

A multimillion dollar company does not and should not need an enthusiasts forum to be its public voice.

Ford. Get off your *** and either fix this situation or get out of Australian manufacturing.

[BroadyFord]

Originally Posted by XWGT

No.

FORD need to get off their **** and give journalists something positive to write about rather than allowing themselves to be torn to pieces publicly.

A multimillion dollar company does not and should not need an enthusiasts forum to be its public voice.

Ford. Get off your *** and either fix this situation or get out of Australian manufacturing.

This.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by XWGT

No.

FORD need to get off their **** and give journalists something positive to write about rather than allowing themselves to be torn to pieces publicly.

A multimillion dollar company does not and should not need an enthusiasts forum to be its public voice.

Ford. Get off your *** and either fix this situation or get out of Australian manufacturing.

Exactly right.
Ford is a multinational, multi billion $$ company with resources everywhere.
They should be smart enough to get their PR team in order to spin something.
They are not an organisation that needs to be spoon fed or have their hand held, i mean they have been building cars since 1903 (and they like to tell us that) so it is about time they started acting like a corporation of their size.

[ryeman]

A lack of 'positive' statements in the face of all this 'negative' speculation says it all.....unfortunately or maybe all of senior management have fallen in to a coma at the same time.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by XWGT

No.

FORD need to get off their **** and give journalists something positive to write about rather than allowing themselves to be torn to pieces publicly.

A multimillion dollar company does not and should not need an enthusiasts forum to be its public voice.

Ford. Get off your *** and either fix this situation or get out of Australian manufacturing.

Point taken, but if Mr Dowling is allowed to express his "opinion", then why can't Ford enthusiasts on a Ford forum do the same?

The other thing is - and this is a philosophical question - because Ford won't speak to News Ltd or Mr Dowling, does that give him/them a right to make up anything they like?

[Brazen]

Why isnt Ford just announcing that they have plans for an upcoming Falcon/locally produced car?

[XWGT]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Point taken

Gday RW

I was not having a go at you so please dont take it that way.

And your right, Dowling should not have poetic licence, but he does. I have public called him out on it as others have and have actively dismantled his arguments in other forums and on his own blog and articles in the press.

However, if someone was trashing Nokia, Samsung, Apple, Mercedes or Audi I would expect them (and they would) to stand up for themselves and put the correct story into the market (whether it be true or not) to protect their brand.

Ford Australia are providing free hits to clowns like Dowling every day of the week because they simply wont take control of the message they want to send to the market and the method of sending it. Thats there responsibility and it should be marketing 101 for any decent sized organisation.

I've fought too many battles in too many forums for the Falcon I'm afraid. Its time Ford pulled their finger out and fought their own battles.

[Brazen]

The next Falcon is only three years out, and with Australia having such a small supplier base surely people on this forum have some goss on it. It would be nice to have some positive talk.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Why isnt Ford just announcing that they have plans for an upcoming Falcon/locally produced car?

They do, one in late 2014 that may go beyond 2016 but fortunately, journalists seem to be looking for longer commitments.
At the moment, Ford is probably not making commitment decisions beyond two years, the 2016 car will be decided as the 2014 is released..

And if anyone is taking a huge gamble, it's Holden. They have spent much more on the VF with a full skin change and interior,
when there's that much investment, the anticipation of more sales than Falcon becomes a mandatory objective...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by XWGT

Gday RW

I was not having a go at you so please dont take it that way.

And your right, Dowling should not have poetic licence, but he does. I have public called him out on it as others have and have actively dismantled his arguments in other forums and on his own blog and articles in the press.

However, if someone was trashing Nokia, Samsung, Apple, Mercedes or Audi I would expect them (and they would) to stand up for themselves and put the correct story into the market (whether it be true or not) to protect their brand.

Ford Australia are providing free hits to clowns like Dowling every day of the week because they simply wont take control of the message they want to send to the market and the method of sending it. Thats there responsibility and it should be marketing 101 for any decent sized organisation.

I've fought too many battles in too many forums for the Falcon I'm afraid. Its time Ford pulled their finger out and fought their own battles.

No problem, and all your points are valid. I guess what I struggle to grasp with is the concept of "making nothing from nothing" and doing damage in the process.

I feel that the silence has a bit to do with the federal election. They could be a bit nervous about that. It would explain a lot. The policy position form the Coalition on the car industry has been a bit foggy.

Originally Posted by Brazen

The next Falcon is only three years out, and with Australia having such a small supplier base surely people on this forum have some goss on it. It would be nice to have some positive talk.

It is there, but people can't go into a lot or any detail because it is too easy to follow the breadcrumbs back to the ginger bread house. We're talking about grounds for dismissal here, or termination of contracts if it's suppliers we're talking about. The FU/2014 Falcon will probably have a lot more offshore-supplied content from Ford's global parts suppliers so it could explain why there's not much more around than there is.

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Point taken, but if Mr Dowling is allowed to express his "opinion", then why can't Ford enthusiasts on a Ford forum do the same?

The other thing is - and this is a philosophical question - because Ford won't speak to News Ltd or Mr Dowling, does that give him/them a right to make up anything they like?

A big concern with what you have raised is that Dowling can reach a broader range of consumer with his dribble, then what any of us or a so called enthusiasts forum can in comparision.

Unfortunately he has the power to be more dangerous, then we can be pro-active.

Ford themselves (including Ford Aus) need to be much more proactive in their philosophy.

[FalconXV]

Originally Posted by XWGT

No.

FORD need to get off their **** and give journalists something positive to write about rather than allowing themselves to be torn to pieces publicly.

A multimillion dollar company does not and should not need an enthusiasts forum to be its public voice.

Ford. Get off your *** and either fix this situation or get out of Australian manufacturing.

What do you want them to do, lay their post 2016 plans bare?
The 2014 Falcon teaser and the presentation that David Katic and Sinead Phipps held last August (which I attended) was something of a response.

Would there even be a decision made about 2016 yet? How the hell can they justify an investment in a major facelift (2014) with only 2 years? That isn't enough to get a return it would seem.

The way I see it, if the downward trend continues after FH, then 2016 is possible but they can't commit beyond that until they see how sales go, or VF goes.

[GCRXR6]

So, we're all on here, using our Windows or Apple computers (and others) grilling Ford for not telling the world exactly what they have planned for the Falcon. Try asking Microsoft what Windows 10 will be lile, or if there will be a Windows 10. Ask Apple about the iPad 8. You'll get the same result. What has Rolls Royce got planned for it's next beast ... will there be another one?

[Bossxr8]

I read a recent bulletin at work from the President in regards to the future, basically along the lines of they are still looking at what happens in the post 2016 period, and they hope to come to a decision soon. I'd say we will definately know sometime within the next 6 months, but if it's bad news will they want to come out and admit it, or try to keep it under wraps? If it's good news there's no doubt they will want to get the message out.

Just look what happened in 2007 when the engine plant was due to be closed, it wasn't revealed until it was leaked to the media and it still took Ford at least 3 or 4 days to come clean about it. I think if it wasn't exposed they would have kept it under wraps for as long as they could, not 3 years before it was due to happen like it was.

[Joe5619]

Just more damage being done to brand 'Falcon" & just a bigger whole Ford is creating. If people don’t get the theory of the brand image selling a product over the product itself selling the product, then they just won’t get the damage being done to brand 'Falcon'.

It is why Nissan has brought back pulsar, Mitsubishi brought back Mirage, Why Holden called its small SVU Captiva 5 (and not something new), its new light car Barina Spark (and not something new), it why Toyota calls the Prado the Landcruiser Prado. It is why the Mazda 3 is still the best selling car at the moment; even though it is one of the oldest & less tech'ed up small cars on the market today. It is why the Falcon & Commodore dominated for so many years... However, it is these very names that have now turned to poison that is a factor in poor sales! Not the only reason, but one of them. It seems almost fashionable to talk down the Commodore & Falcon these days. These stories just give those people more fuel & more people keep joint them every month.

But hey Ford, keep treating us fans like crap & then you'll wonder why some many have left. Only Ford can change the direction from damage to building brand ‘Falcon’ before it becomes too late!!

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

So, we're all on here, using our Windows or Apple computers (and others) grilling Ford for not telling the world exactly what they have planned for the Falcon. Try asking Microsoft what Windows 10 will be lile, or if there will be a Windows 10. Ask Apple about the iPad 8. You'll get the same result. What has Rolls Royce got planned for it's next beast ... will there be another one?

You can bet your bottom dollar they would be crowing from the rooftops they have upcoming products if there were persistent rumours of their closure from the media... Especially if they had recieved hundreds of millions in taxpayers money.

Ford even has less excuse as unlike buying a phone, buying a car is such a large investment in someone's life that the consumer doesn't want to feel they are buying an orphan.

[mik]

Mr Dowling always seems to bring in a doom comment about FoMoCo manufacturing in Oz even when there`s something good to say , yet it seems you will never hear a bad word about his pet company Holden, as for Ford not stating it`s business plan for nearly 3 years into the future when the current model update is`nt even released yet, i would`nt either.

[ivorya]

I don't intend to make this political....pls...

But isn't the recent/ squashed media laws that the govenment was trying to get thru parliment supposed to make it ilegal for these knob-jocky's from writing/presenting anything that has no truth?
Geez, the media screwed over Mitzu, now its Fords turn.

Will they have the balls to move onto Holden next??

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by ivorya

I don't intend to make this political....pls...

But isn't the recent/ squashed media laws that the govenment was trying to get thru parliment supposed to make it ilegal for these knob-jocky's from writing/presenting anything that has no truth?
Geez, the media screwed over Mitzu, now its Fords turn.

Will they have the balls to move onto Holden next??

I don't think that has much to do with it.

However I feel politics are in play with Ford and their decision to stay quiet at the moment, whichever way you look at it, the Coalition is a shoe-in to win the federal election and Ford are probably waiting to see what policy they come up with with regard to the car industry. There has been a lot of populist, vote grabbing 'tough talk' from the likes of Joe Hockey and that muppet Sophie Mirabella, but nothing of substance in relation to policy. These things get foggy in an election year, so Ford is probably worried about the intentions of the Coalition with regard to assistance and are deferring their "final decision" until they have a clear picture from the Libs about how things are gonna roll.

[ryeman]

People contemplating buying a large sedan will likely not consider a vehicle that is thought to be on its last legs.....if Ford continue to refuse to say anything in support of continued production, that's all, what are we to conclude?
Or they don't believe in marketing!?

[BroadyFord]

I'm not afraid to say it, but my personal opinion is that Ford have no intention of continuing manufacturing past 2016; there are just far too many things that are adding up to give weight to this theory.

Before everyone attacks me, I want to make it clear that I love the Falcon and Territory and would give anything to see them continue past 2016, or at the very least see a continuation of manufacturing something beyond that time frame.

Like I said, there are just too many things that are adding up against continued production. Think about it: Ford have ruled out nearly every viable option for Broadmeadows (Ranger, small car and SUV), we have a bastard of a currency that will destroy any prospect of exports, political instability and government incompetency that is damaging business and inflaming uncertainty, energy/input and wage costs are spiraling out of control, productivity in our economy is woeful, need I go on?

It's extremely difficult to operate any kind of factory in this country now, let alone a major car manufacturing plant - indeed, people I speak to who work in manufacturing tell me it's near impossible to make a buck these days.

Again, this is my personal gut feeling - something which we're all entitled to on this forum.

Hate to say it but I believe this is a realistic view as opposed to a pessimistic one.

[turbodewd]

Broady

it certainly doesnt help that the NSW and Qld governments have a 4cylinder preference, brought in under Labor! If they want to save a buck simply changed the disposal rules. Currently u can dispose of a govt car after 2yrs/40,000km. Well shtt, why not just buy an Aussie car and make it 3yrs/60000km. We all know that constantly buying new cars is disastrous in terms of depreciation.

And yet Federal Labor gives industry assistance. One does damage, one does good. Absurd!

This includes the ACT Labor government...the rotters.

If these damn State govts just bought Australian in the first place, we wouldnt need as much industry assistance!

[BroadyFord]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Broady

it certainly doesnt help that the NSW and Qld governments have a 4cylinder preference, brought in under Labor! If they want to save a buck simply changed the disposal rules. Currently u can dispose of a govt car after 2yrs/40,000km. Well shtt, why not just buy an Aussie car and make it 3yrs/60000km. We all know that constantly buying new cars is disastrous in terms of depreciation.

And yet Federal Labor gives industry assistance. One does damage, one does good. Absurd!

This includes the ACT Labor government...the rotters.

If these damn State govts just bought Australian in the first place, we wouldnt need as much industry assistance!

Correct.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the PM riding around in a BMW 7-series in 5 years!

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

So, we're all on here, using our Windows or Apple computers (and others) grilling Ford for not telling the world exactly what they have planned for the Falcon. Try asking Microsoft what Windows 10 will be lile, or if there will be a Windows 10. Ask Apple about the iPad 8. You'll get the same result. What has Rolls Royce got planned for it's next beast ... will there be another one?

if Apple, Microsoft et al market position was as weak as Ford Australia I would expect you would hear them screaming about a positive long term future, in order to protect its market share. Indeed in Apples darkest days, that is exactly what Steve Jobs did when he returned to the company.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by ivorya

Will they have the balls to move onto Holden next??

When Falcon production is gone, I would absolutely expect they will.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by ryeman

People contemplating buying a large sedan will likely not consider a vehicle that is thought to be on its last legs.....if Ford continue to refuse to say anything in support of continued production, that's all, what are we to conclude?

Why its still a current day great car, the awards speak for themselves.
I have no problem buying another Falcon regardless of what the outlook is, buy on whats in front of you and not what may or may not be around the corner.
Models are dropped all the time from line-ups, this is only 1 model in Fords vehicle range, what ever happens Ford are still here to stay.
Its the Ford Motor Company not the Falcon Motor Company, so what ever model Ford where buying Ford is still here to share your journey.

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

When Falcon production is gone, I would absolutely expect they will.

Should never say never but the badge is something I couldn't look at even when hiring a car.
Its changing world market and Ford have plenty of great looking vehicles that are sold all over the world, wouldn't it be great to experience more of these vehicles in Australia.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Broady

it certainly doesnt help that the NSW and Qld governments have a 4cylinder preference, brought in under Labor! If they want to save a buck simply changed the disposal rules. Currently u can dispose of a govt car after 2yrs/40,000km. Well shtt, why not just buy an Aussie car and make it 3yrs/60000km. We all know that constantly buying new cars is disastrous in terms of depreciation.

The whole point of governments buying and selling new cars at 2 years/40,000 km is so that we, the tax payers are not out of pocket.
The discount that government fleets receive is almost equivalent to the price the cars are sold for two years later at auction.

So holding onto vehicles for an extra year means 1) less sales to local production and 2) a short fall at sale time.
Neither of those two outcomes advantage anyof the stakeholders in the change you propose..


What Ford should be doing is assembling 1.6 Ecoboost and hybrid Fusions here in Australia
do a Toyota and start building vehicles that people and govcos will want to buy..

[Archilino]

Originally Posted by ryeman

People contemplating buying a large sedan will likely not consider a vehicle that is thought to be on its last legs.....if Ford continue to refuse to say anything in support of continued production, that's all, what are we to conclude?
Or they don't believe in marketing!?

I can see where you're coming from but speaking from personal experience a close friend last week bought a brand new FGII XR6 turbo last week, when asked if it concerns him that the falcon may be gone in 3 years he simply said "No, I simply get the best car that suits my needs." 3 years is still a long lead in time, if it were 3 months then different story.

[Jason[98.EL]]

ford U.S have posted this on facebook if ford au have these then design time would be cut by years so could be one of the reasons we have no word on the future of pruduction here as yet

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