Ford Falcon and Territory still on sale

If you’ve got a last-minute hankering for some Aussie automotive history then hit the phone to Ford dealers because there are still Falcons and Territorys in stock.

Local manufacturing by Ford finished last October but in February there were 354 Territory SUVs registered for sale, 50 Falcons and 18 Falcon Utes.

Ford Australia president Graeme Whickman told motoring.com.au that the last locally-built Fords could take months to disappear from stock.

“We don’t have an endless supply,” he said. “We are running low on Falcon now and we have very few Falcon utes.

“We have a few more Territorys, but like any run-out of any product you are always going to have different flavours and the like.

“So, there will be a few around over the course of the first six months. But at some point, we will finish [selling] those vehicles.”

Whickman played down the impact diminishing supply of Territory and Falcon is having on Ford’s sales results, despite February being the first month since 2015 the company has had a year-on-year sales dip.

It sold 5669 vehicles in February 2017 versus 6656 in February 2016. Back then it sold 580 Territorys, 421 Falcons and 198 Utes. So, the end of local production accounted for 777 units in a downturn that all-up totalled 987.

“I don’t think it’s an indication we are seeing any impact of Territory or Falcon,” Whickman insisted. “There were 13,000 Territory, Falcon and Falcon Utes sold last year, so you might argue we might have 13,000 units less. But we don’t see it that way.

“Last year was the first year in 12 years we grew volume, so I don’t see why we can’t achieve a similar sort of volume year-over-year.

“We have a full year of Mustang, we have extra derivatives we are bringing in on Everest, we have just launched the new Escape, we have brought in extra derivatives of Ranger. There is a lot in our cycle plan and showroom there to be thankful for at the moment and we will get the full-year effect of some of those things.”

Whickman also revealed that Ford Australia expects increased supply of Mustang in 2017. The sports icon was one model to lift sales this year, despite the ignominy of its recent two-star ANCAP rating. He also predicted increased supply of the top-selling Ranger.

Also coming from Ford this year, but unstated by Whickman, is a new Transit in quarter two, a facelifted EcoSport with a new drivetrain in quarter four and further Ranger updates, including the potential for the FX4 to become a full-time member of the range.

“We have a view of what out volume might be in any given month, because we have to program it out, we have to make sure we have cars arrive on time, the flavour of cars,” Whickman added.

“So, I think it’s safe to say every month we are not going to hit record or build, build, build, build [sales] because the industry doesn’t work that way.

“Obviously your cycle plan has some impact on what you sell and the way you go about it -- the dealership experience.”