Comments on: Ford Australia post $87.2m loss for 2007

By: AhMaDh

AhMaDh — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:26:18 +0000

i agry your word

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:11:55 +0000

I agree with you there starky – in a couple of years I expect that GM will decide to build LHD Holdens/Pontiacs in Canada whilst RHD Holdens will continue to be built in Elizabeth.

This will then free up some space on the line which will enable Holden to build other new cars such as the Sandman and Torana [which I think will be renamed the Commodore when it is finally released in a couple of years]

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:06:36 +0000

the reason we should be prepared to prop up the automotive industry is simple..

Because its less of a cost to have 10-15 million [working] taxpayers contributing towards the payments made by the gummint to keep the car industry here and maintain jobs.. than it would be to have 4-9 million people contributing towards the same amount if not more because approx 6 million people lost their jobs due to the flow on effect should we lose such a major industry.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:17:04 +0000

Bret,
ive tried that line before too.

isnt it sad that we are in the minority that is up with reality in this world?

By: Bret

Bret — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:46:45 +0000

But it isn’t just the motor industry.
Its wines, paper mills, mining and exploration, whitegoods (no not the toyota type), glass products etc etc etc ad infin-bluddy-nitum.

By: No Name

No Name — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:35:06 +0000

Point well made Wheelnut but remember in the 70′s the UK government propped up the ailing motor industry. I failed to work and cost the tax payer millions. Subsequently the manufacturers were forced to go it alone. It hurt for a bit but now The UK has many foreign car owned manufacturing faciliities providing much employment. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot, amongst many prop up what is now big business. Although European subsidies encouraged these companies here they only got initial funding and now stand on their own feet. Nissan for example are know to produce better built vehcles than the originators in Japan.
So why should the tax payer continually prop up the motor inductry.

By: realcars

realcars — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:14:26 +0000

u are right wheelnut. We are a developed country should be encouraging high tech manufacturing.

By: Me

Me — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:29:42 +0000

Hahahah , sucks to be FORD!!

By: Starky

Starky — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:14:41 +0000

Hehe, Holden’s will be worst. Polites (god rest his soul) saw the oil crisis coming (he supposedly gave a green light on a diesel Falcon, which was cancelled by Gorman), and was prepared. Ford is able to keep the losses minimized – these deficits are nowhere near as bad as what Holden’s will be. With Holden continuing to make these ~$150 mil losses, don’t be suprised if the Commodore is built in the US within 10 years if the G8 is popular and the US dollar stays at rock bottom – GM bosses are thinking “Why export from another country with minimal profit (possibly deficit) when you can export it there with a HUGE profit?”. Ironically, seeing that Ford doesn’t make exports to the US, limiting itself to it’s own country could be a smart move, at least for the Australian operations.

By: Me

Me — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:52:15 +0000

Hahahaha, sucks 2 be FORD!!!!