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NEWS
More Fords for Australia
Ford boss says model range will grow by 30 per cent... But that's only three modelsFalcon will go in 2016 but Ford says it will expand its model range Down Under.
Although understandably the end of local production grabbed the headlines yesterday, Ford boss Bob Graziano, revealed the brand would boost its model portfolio by 30 per cent between now and the ‘retirement’ of Falcon.
But don’t get too excited about the 30 per cent figure. Based on Ford’s current portfolio, that’s just three new models – and we already know about two!
Ford’s current model range boasts nine nameplates including Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory. A 30 per cent boost would suggest three new models – with EcoSport and the SUV version of Ford’s Ranger ute (still to be named for local consumption) the two that are already locked in.
Speaking to motoring.com.au, Graziano was coy about the details of the expanded line-up.
“It’s probably too early to divulge that... We just continue to look at where the market is going and what kinds of products customers are asking for, and so this [the extra models] will begin to address that for us going forward,” he told motoring.com.au.
EcoSport will be built in India and will go on sale later this year. The Ranger family of vehicles are Thai-sourced with the wagon – called Everest in some markets – due Down Under in the second half of 2014. Logical additions to the Ford range after those include the Focus-based Transit Connect and Euro-sourced MPVs such as C-Max and S-Max.
In the face of our questioning, the Ford boss was guarded around Ford Australia’s philosophy on model sourcing. Companies like Hyundai and Kia place the Australian market midway between USA and Europe – hence in Hyundai terms the mix of named (US) and ‘i’ (European) models. Ford to date has categorised Australia more along European lines. USA market entries have been spectacular failures – think Taurus, Explorer, the Probe sports coupe and Mustang.
On the balance of probabilities, we think it’s likely Ford Australia will strength its Thai-sourced portfolio before any ‘exotics’ arrive. Thus clues to the likely local offering will come from the models that are slated for addition to the company’s Thai production roster.
Follow other Ford news on www.motoring.com.au:
Ford Australia to cease local production
Falcon nameplate dead, Territory undecided
Ford research and development to continue
Holden issues official statement
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Written byMike Sinclair
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