Ford Bronco still on the menu for Australia

Global Ford CEO Jim Farley has revealed that the Jeep Wrangler-rivalling Ford Bronco could still be sold in Australia.

Speaking to journalists at the official unveiling of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang this week, Farley was asked whether the smash-hit Ford Bronco would ever be built in right-hand drive – either from the factory or via the new Aussie conversion facility that will see the Ford F-150 pick-up launch here next year.

And his response was positive.

“We can do Bronco and Bronco Sport for the globe, for sure, but we have, like, a year or two order bank so we have a lot of work to do on our capacity before we can even consider something like that,” he said.

“Of course, it can be engineered just like Mustang but you have to invest in the capacity and it’s the first or second innings of building up the Bronco line-up.

“There’s going to be a lot of iterations, so give us some time.”

No timings were disclosed on when the retro-inspired 4x4 off-roader – which is built on the same Australian-developed platform as the Ford Ranger ute – might head Down Under, or that of its smaller Sport sibling that’s based on the Ford Escape.

However, Farley’s upbeat assessment came just hours after Ford Motor Company’s chief financial officer John Lawler told journalists that the Australian Ford F-150 RHD conversion program being established with RMA Automotive could pave the way for other models to be converted – including Bronco.

This echoes similar sentiments expressed by Ford Australia chief Andrew Birkic, who previously confirmed to carsales that the door was now open for other vehicles hitherto unavailable to Australian buyers because they remain produced exclusively in left-hand drive.

“We’re not walking away from right-hand drive. We know they’re important but we may go about doing it a bit differently,” said Lawler, who has close connections with Australia as the former CFO for the Ford Asia-Pacific and Africa region.

“I like what we’re working on with the F-150, you know, we could we do something beyond F-150.

“I think this opportunity in working with RMA to create [RHD products] could really provide some opportunity for us, not just Australia, but some of the other right-hand drive markets.”

Instead of targeting high-volume models, Lawler suggested high-margin vehicles like the Ford F-150 made more sense for conversions, which are costly.

“I think that this opportunity we have with RMA is our first shot at understanding what we could do, not just in Australia, but potentially the other markets,” he said.

“We’re on the right path … with this.”

Might we suggest a Ford Bronco Raptor is placed at the top of the list…

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