Ford Australia rents ship to reduce Ranger and Everest wait times

Ford Australia has taken out an exclusive three-year lease on a car-carrying ship to expediate local deliveries of the Ford Ranger and Everest from Thailand, in turn reducing customer wait times for the popular Australian-developed models.

The Grand Quest cargo ship has a maximum capacity of 2600 vehicles and will operate exclusively between Australia, New Zealand and Thailand for the next three years, in addition to the vessels Ford Australia previously used.

While it’s understood to be the first time Ford Australia has leased its own ship for an extended period, it’s not a new move in a local auto industry that has struggled to receive adequate supplies of new vehicles for almost four years, due firstly to the global semi-conductor crisis, then the COVID-19 scare and now quarantine delays.

MG Motor Australia landed its first dedicated ship-load of (3100) vehicles direct from Shanghai in May, while Tesla often fills entire ships with EVs from China and Toyota occasionally does the same with new vehicles from ports in Thailand and Japan.

Bottlenecks at major Australian ports due to biosecurity checks are extending wait times for new vehicle deliveries by many auto importers. Because biosecurity risks like stink bugs can infect vehicles in overseas holding yards and most car-carrying vessels transport vehicles from various car-makers and ports, one such outbreak can delay the treatment of an entire ship-load of vehicles at local docks.

It’s been several months since Ford provided customers with an update on delivery delays for any of its models via the availability page on its Australian website, instead encouraging prospective customers to contact their preferred dealer for a more accurate ETA.

However, we understand Ranger and Everest buyers are still waiting up to 12 months for delivery, and up to two years for a Ranger Raptor.

But today’s announcement is expected to reduce wait times for Ford’s two most popular models, even in the face of unprecedented demand.

“We are investing significantly in tackling the ongoing supply chain issues head-on, with a focus on ensuring customer cars are delivered as quickly as possible,” said Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic.

“Securing an exclusive three-year lease of the Grand Quest will allow Ford Australia to deliver more vehicles to both Australia and New Zealand as we continue to face unprecedent levels of demand.”

The Blue Oval has also started transporting some new Ranger and Everest vehicles in shipping containers, opening up more unloading options that “might” speed up the delivery process by avoiding port congestion, says Ford.

“In a time of great logistical uncertainty, taking the initiative to lease our own ship gives Ford the ability to determine shipping routes and volumes by port, allowing us greater control in very challenging conditions,” said Ford Australia vehicle logistics manager Iris Moreno.

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