WHEELS Jan 2016 The Future of Ford Australia.

[csv8]

Interesting!!

[Eaturbo]

Originally Posted by csv8

Interesting!!

Well this has got to be the most useless thread ever, what's interesting.

[Syndrome]

Summary: A bit player in a market they once dominated.

[Road Games]

Or more importantly how was he able to edit it 18hr's after he posted it ???

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by DAZZLR

Or more importantly how was he able to edit it 18hr's after he posted it ???

Hey.......get back on topic

[paule11]

Will be interesting top see what happens with car prices. When the dollar was parity or better Ford Australia announced stopping manufacturing in Australia, Now we are at 70 cents does not make sense to stop manufacturing

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by paule11

Will be interesting top see what happens with car prices. When the dollar was parity or better Ford Australia announced stopping manufacturing in Australia, Now we are at 70 cents does not make sense to stop manufacturing

i think it was probably marginal at 70 cents before parity. It's unlikely to be more lucrative unless we go back to the bad old days of tariffs and protectionism.

[csv8]

Its in the January 2016 issue of Wheels magazine, page 28.."The Wheels Report, Passing Judgement on Oz's top car brands and how they will go in 2016." 1st Toyota, 2cnd Mazda, 3rd Hyundai, 4th Holden, 5th Mitsi, 6th Ford, 7th Nissan, 8th VW .....32cnd Jaguar.. and no one finds it interesting ?...what they say about Ford is true but at FM, the truth hurts." Falcon down 4%, Fiesta down 32%, Focus down 58%, Kuga down 22%...New Mondeo outsold by the old model..Summary : Rarely listens and doesnt seem to learn. A poor performer in recent years, with little to suggest thats going to change in 2016. Ford neeeds to change -and quickly-if its to to regain some of the ground lost in recent years. But some key rivals are also in for a tough year, so the brand is likely to attain 5th." ok..flame suit on..fire brickbats..

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by csv8

Its in the January 2016 issue of Wheels magazine, page 28.."The Wheels Report, Passing Judgement on Oz's top car brands and how they will go in 2016." 1st Toyota, 2cnd Mazda, 3rd Hyundai, 4th Holden, 5th Mitsi, 6th Ford, 7th Nissan, 8th VW .....32cnd Jaguar.. and no one finds it interesting ?

It's not so much that no one finds it interesting, but without a link, or at least a cut and paste from the mag, your first post was somewhat meaningless.

[csv8]

GasOLane..didnt know what everyone was on about. Checked my original post and original cut/paste is gone !!!!this has happened before!!!.. re posted
http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/ze...=copy&sp=false

[Bossxr8]

It's a fair summary. But Ford are no longer going for sales numbers to fleets at low profits. They have moved away from that and are going for higher profit private sales. Sure it's costing them sales now, but they are totally looking at the Mazda sales model where nearly all their sales are private. It's quite clear they have analysed what makes Mazda work and they want to be just like them. That's why they are also trying to get their dealerships sorted.

Problem is a lot of the dealerships are stuck in the 80's and will take years to get with the program.

[WindsorXR]

Originally Posted by tempted

I have heard that song before from Ford in regards to the Falcon. Then some figures came to light which proved that it was all BS.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty certain that the Global Ranger has become one of the most profitable Global vehicles Ford has in the lineup. That is coming from our Australian development. Everything is turning global these days. If Ford is going to head towards more profit vs car sales, I think they are on the ball. It's the only way that car companies can continue to survive and maybe even grow.

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by tempted

Of course it's going to be profitable when it's built by slave labour in a third world country. Not sure how this has any relevance to what I posted though.

How is it slave labour?

[WindsorXR]

Originally Posted by tempted

Of course it's going to be profitable when it's built by slave labour in a third world country. Not sure how this has any relevance to what I posted though.

The relevance was where you said you had seen the "numbers" and said it was BS. From what I have heard, from very credible sources, is that Ranger is going with Fords current trend of using profit margins.
....and calling it "slave labour" is just ridiculous and idiotic. No car company is going to build, in mass, in Australia after 2017.

[simon varley]

The product mix now is such that what sells at least now makes a profit. Previously in some segments that wasn't true. A long way to go sure, but they are on the right track.

and actually, sales is only part of the story - there are 1500 development engineers in Australia now working on some very exciting products that are timed a lot further into the future than most people would guess

[FNQracing]

How do they intend to sell the cars? 10 years ago I passed 3 Ford dealers on the way to work. Exact same route today - they are all gone. I don't even know who my "local" dealer is any more. Mazda, Hyundai and Toyota dealers *everywhere*. 2 NEW Toyota dealerships have been constructed on the same route! And for what its worth, the same route I pass 2 Holden dealerships, 1 new.

Is it the cars, the marketing, or the dealership network, or lack of one? Who wants to take a bus and a ferry to get their car serviced?

[csv8]

Wasnt building vehicles in Thailand supposed to make them cheaper?? or not more expensive ??? ie they would be more expensive if not built in Thailand??????? The Thai Free Trade Agreement doesnt seem to give Australia any advantage. Despite what we are told..

[Eaturbo]

You don't go from a fat lady to Jennifer Hawkins overnight no matter how many fat pills you take. This will take years to change and they are already on the right track. Starting to see a few Everests and lots of rangers, Mustangs will give Ford plenty of exposure, Focus will get more exposure with new RS. It will take time and I don't think they will ever get back to where they were given the improvement in the competition. Ford probably havnt gone backwards in terms of product but more the competition have improved big heaps. To just stay in the top 5 would be a big achievement.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by Eaturbo

You don't go from a fat lady to Jennifer Hawkins overnight no matter how many fat pills you take. This will take years to change and they are already on the right track. Starting to see a few Everests and lots of rangers, Mustangs will give Ford plenty of exposure, Focus will get more exposure with new RS. It will take time and I don't think they will ever get back to where they were given the improvement in the competition. Ford probably havnt gone backwards in terms of product but more the competition have improved big heaps. To just stay in the top 5 would be a big achievement.

Agree.

The article says that Ford need to change. This is what they are doing aren't they?

I have been a Falcon owner for the last 20 years and when Ford announced that they were finishing Falcon I was probably like a lot people on this forum - I was pretty ****ed off.

However, after getting over it I am now starting to get excited again about the WHOLE Ford range.

We currently own a Focus and will look at a Ranger in the next 18 months.

Good times ahead........

[SYZ]

Manufacturer sales figures have no impact on buyer decisions in my opinion. Just because GM sells more vehicles than Ford isn't gonna alter my decision to by an Ford XR8 over a Commodore SS.

I guess that sales figures concern the manufacturers, obviously, but I can't see the relatively small Aussie market share affecting the overall US and Asian production decisions. I'd imagine that GM and Ford will sell just as well—or as poorly—as their existing Asian/Mexican/Sth African/Polish etc peers do today.

And rather than wasting billions of taxpayer dollars propping up GM and Ford Australia recently, the government should've been subsidising this vehicle in its moment of dire stress way back when...

[csv8]

"ADELAIDE car parts manufacturers are being promised a discount workforce earning just $1.12 an hour to lure them to set up offshore operations.

The Thailand Board of Investment dangled the carrot of cheap labour in front of about 30 car suppliers at a free seminar at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel yesterday.

There was also a chance for the suppliers to have private meetings. A similar event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.

The head of Federal Government-funded car lobby group Automotive Supplier Excellence Australia, Linsey Siede, organised the tour of the Thai delegation.

Skilled workers 'not stealing jobs', report says

Duangjai Asawachintachit, deputy secretary general of the Thai board, said yesterday she wanted Australian car suppliers to take advantage of opportunities in Thailand.

"Wages are significantly lower than they are in Australia, the minimum wage is 300 baht a day, which is about $A9 for an eight-hour day. We hope that's our competitive advantage," she said.

"This is a very good opportunity for Australian companies particularly with the market growth in Thailand."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1226445137821

[stig_3754]

Originally Posted by csv8

"ADELAIDE car parts manufacturers are being promised a discount workforce earning just $1.12 an hour to lure them to set up offshore operations.

The Thailand Board of Investment dangled the carrot of cheap labour in front of about 30 car suppliers at a free seminar at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel yesterday.

There was also a chance for the suppliers to have private meetings. A similar event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.

The head of Federal Government-funded car lobby group Automotive Supplier Excellence Australia, Linsey Siede, organised the tour of the Thai delegation.

Skilled workers 'not stealing jobs', report says

Duangjai Asawachintachit, deputy secretary general of the Thai board, said yesterday she wanted Australian car suppliers to take advantage of opportunities in Thailand.

"Wages are significantly lower than they are in Australia, the minimum wage is 300 baht a day, which is about $A9 for an eight-hour day. We hope that's our competitive advantage," she said.

"This is a very good opportunity for Australian companies particularly with the market growth in Thailand."
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/s...-1226445137821

Thankfully Mr. Thai worker who earns a measly AU$1.12 per day doesn't have to deal with Australian cost of living.

Talk about sensationalism.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by tempted

$1.12 an hour. If that's not slave labour then I don't know what is...

It just highlights how badly the Australian consumer is getting reamed by paying first class prices for a product that is built by slave workers in a third world country.

It's bordering on criminal.

I do not see it like that but rather part of the free trade agreements, which both sides of politics support. if we dont like it then dont buy the products or lobby you local member for change.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by tempted

$1.12 an hour. If that's not slave labour then I don't know what is...

It just highlights how badly the Australian consumer is getting reamed by paying first class prices for a product that is built by slave workers in a third world country.

It's bordering on criminal.

Oh dear, the old crock of directly comparing another countries economy to our own and whinging about things like labour costs.

Why do you think so many Australians go to Asia on holidays? Why do so many retire there? It's because we have a high cost of living and high wages, and comparably those countries have low cost of living and low wages for locals to suit that cost of living.
However you cannot in any way directly compare a factory worker here making $25+ an hour to a factory worker in Thailand making a few bucks an hour or less. From their point of view, your quoted wage per hour would, for them, be a good figure, a great job to aim for, because the cost of living is so much lower there.
It's a completely false comparison that is totally meaningless. You simply cannot directly compare the two.

Without calling it "slave labour", I do however want to know why the Ranger costs so much damn more than other twin cabs when most of them are spat out of similar factories all over Asia...I mean by the time you spec it to a half decent level you're looking at well over fifty grand, easily. No wonder the roads around here are chockers with things like Tritons...if you're badge blind it just makes sense to look elsewhere when Ford is demanding so much for a vehicle that others do equally well for far less moolah...and I'm afraid that smug adverts on TV saying Americanised crap like "It just looks like a truck should" to try and justify the price gap, won't win friends when people see the price tag.

Most car makers here need a healthy dose of realism...and they're getting it.

[WindsorXR]

See, now you're going off topic onto the subject of Australian companies competing with the likes of China and Thailand. It's not slave labour, but something which Australian companies are going to have to compete with or use to their advantage. Unfortunately it is the way the world is going and has been for a number of years.
As much as I think this is a crap situation to be in, Thailand, China and Mexico, etc. have been used for many many years.
Unfortunately, our government, as well as the global exchange rates has forced car companies production lines hand in Australia to close up shop and car parts manufacturers are the ones that get hurt also.

They are tough times, but I think Ford as well as everyone else are doing the best they can to pull through to ensure that many people still have a job........including me.

[WindsorXR]

It's not slave labour. Every country has there own rules on what is allowable by law. Even America looks like "slave labour" compared to what we get paid.

This is now a different subject.

Now back to the original thread subject please.

[GTMOND]

You have to remember that the cost of living is far below what it is in Australia, so what may seem like slave labour to us may not be to them.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by tempted

$1.12 an hour is appalling even by Thai standards.

You need to get out more, or at least Google a bit more if nothing else, before making Slave labour rants.


http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/20...d-controversy/
Thailand Adopts Nationwide Minimum Wage Policy Amid Controversy
Share
January 30, 2013
By Sarah Alexander, Véronique Salze-Lozac’h, and Arpaporn Winijkulchai
From January 1 of this year, Thailand’s employers must pay all employees at least 300 baht (about $10) a day.
If they don’t, they will face six months in jail and/or a 100,000 baht fine for not complying.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

You need to get out more, or at least Google a bit more if nothing else, before making Slave labour rants.[/I]

No, no, no you're missing the point GasOLane. Slave labour is OK but only if we get cheap Everests and Rangers.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by tempted

And your point is?

$1.12 an hour x 8 hours = $8.96 per day. Close enough to the $10 a day which your link states.

My point was that you think it's slave labour, in Thailand it's a fair days wage.