Will another manufacturer step in?

[rdmr]

As we know our three local manufacturers are going to close between 2016-18.
A wealth of skilled employees, a mountain of plant equipment and a collection of factories including quite modern ones will be left behind.
What are the chances another brand is looking at moving in to take up residence? And who would it most likely be?
Are there any rumours being heard to support such an idea?
If it was to happen I believe it would be a Chinese or Indian brand, but South korean may not be too far fetched. Imagine Hyundai making a new range of utes here for a global market.

This is more of a hope than anything else but what do people think?

[Polyal]

They would have to be completely insane. Any multinational would look at the BS that goes on here and say no.

Only possibility would be a low volume seller who can have enough margin to do business here; much like what the UK has gone through.

Ontop of that Oz exports are a PIA. We just have alot stacked against us.

[Road_Warrior]

They will take all our gear and send it offshore. Indonesia seems to be the new target for the carmakers.

[MercurySilver]

thats what i was wondering road warrior
wheres all the gear going to go
there would be some serious machinery in the holden plant up the road (ok 40 odd kms away from me)
be worth a fortune, surely someone is going to buy all this stuff from the big 3 and do something with it
and god knows whats going to happen to the holden site
christ thats a big site. some serious storage options there for other industries maybe?

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by MercurySilver

thats what i was wondering road warrior
wheres all the gear going to go
there would be some serious machinery in the holden plant up the road (ok 40 odd kms away from me)
be worth a fortune, surely someone is going to buy all this stuff from the big 3 and do something with it
and god knows whats going to happen to the holden site
christ thats a big site. some serious storage options there for other industries maybe?

Holden, Ford and Toyota will keep what they determine to be worth keeping and re-purpose it elsewhere (or for a new plant somewhere else) and auction off what they don't want probably via Grays Auctions or one of the others.

Although Ford may keep a small amount of manufacturing gear to support the design and product development operations because with new cars they need to "test build" them in a factory environment sooner or later to validate new or different manufacturing and assembly processes before the plants responsible for making that car actually start production.

[xisled]

The basics of it all.

If Ford, Holden and Toyota could not make money manufacturing cars in Australia, no one will.

[HULK_I6T]

what does it mean for the tuning shops?

What cars will people get excited about?

They will have the trailors of fords/holdens for maybe 5 years after they close down but after that?

[Nova 8]

I've been told some rumours that Mercedes-Benz and Audi are looking into moving production to Elizabeth if the everything but the current paint shop is leveled from the holden plant. I've heard it from a few different people but it seems implausible to me.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

what does it mean for the tuning shops?

What cars will people get excited about?

They will have the trailors of fords/holdens for maybe 5 years after they close down but after that?

Falcon and Commodore variants are not the be all and end all for tuners.
Many cater for various brands (as any decent business should) and configurations (FWD, RWD, AWD, Euro, Japanese, US, etc).

Tuners will always have something to modify.

Excited about? Kidding me? Open your eyes, there is a whole market out there.

As to the original post, not a chance, no one will take up on the offer to manufacture here. AU is so far behind the 8 ball in just about everything. We're essentially a 3rd world country that believes we're 1st world.
Our basic infrastructure is in shambles, our tax system is a mess, the IR laws need review and among the rest of the costs of doing business here our mobile and internet infrastructure is so poor and costly, essentially putting us a decade behind the rest of the world.

We do not deserve to have the business here. Australia needs a complete re think, an industrial revolution.

[zilo]

Electric car manufacturing is the way to go.

[danzvtil]

Not.A.Chance.
To think some overseas manufacturer is crying into their weeties that some aussie car manufacturing nous will be lost is to totally overestimate australias importance to worldwide affairs.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by zilo

Electric car manufacturing is the way to go.

In China.

[Crazy Dazz]

Barack Obama was informed that Thousands of Australians would lose their jobs when American Car manufacturers pulled out.

He was visibly moved.
"Wow, we really should do something to help all those folk..."

"Tell me again, is an 'Australian' MORE or LESS than a 'Brazilian'?"

[Nikked]

I can't honestly see any company taking over our facilities, its not like they can just walk in and start producing Audi A3's with the Ford robots, welders etc, the whole assembly line would have to be refitted with equipment anyway, meaning that all that would really useful is the building itself.

[Crazy Dazz]

It would be INTERESTING to ask Ford if they would sell the whole setup, including intellectual rights to allow production of the Falcon & derivatives to continue.

[Franco Cozzo]

I6 will probably be sold off to the Chinese for it to come back here in a different car under Chingy Chong or some odd brand lol.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I6 will probably be sold off to the Chinese for it to come back here in a different car under Chingy Chong or some odd brand lol.

They sell the I6 to various third party companies to make generators and stationary engines, maybe there is someone who wants to pick up that engine and keep making it in low volumes?

[Bossxr8]

Ford had the chance to sell off stuff, and they refused.

They will not share intellectual property with any potential rivals, especially the LPi tech.

[CyberWasp]

Maybe Match Box, Hot Wheels or Tamiya would be interested.

The workers on the assembly line might get a sore back though, leaning over all the time.

[FormulaFG]

Originally Posted by Nova 8

I've been told some rumours that Mercedes-Benz and Audi are looking into moving production to Elizabeth if the everything but the current paint shop is leveled from the holden plant. I've heard it from a few different people but it seems implausible to me.

I heard the same rumor, except it was BMW.

Its all hot air.