Ford cuts 350 jobs
August 22, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Ford Australia has today announced that it will cut up to 350 jobs, or 15 per cent of its Australian manufacturing workforce from mid-November. The company blames a slump in large car sales for the downgrade.
Those affected will include workers from both the Geelong and Broadmeadows plants. However Ford spokeswoman Sinead McAlary said job losses would be voluntary and evenly split between the two plants.
Ford Australia believes the increasingly volatile price of petrol, plus economic factors such as interest rates have changed Australian’s desire for large cars.
The 350 jobs would result in a production slow down of about 20 to 25 per cent. Essentially this means instead of 52 Falcons and Territorys produced per hour, that number will be reduced to 40 units. The Blue Oval will now produce only 285 cars per day, as oppose to the current 365.
The Territory has seen a noticeable slow down with only 1028 of the SUVs sold last month, compared to 1555 in July 2007. Meanwhile Ford sold 3448 new FG Falcons last month, an increase of only 262 cars over the same month last year.
“We expect the total industry to soften for the second half of this year, It started in July and we anticipate that we’ll see more of these actions across the industry for the rest of this year.” McAlary said.
This is the second announcement of job losses by Ford, following the earlier announcement that 600 jobs would be lost when local six-cylinder engine production ends in 2010.
Ford’s announcement comes amid last week’s Government report into the Australian car manufacturing industry, which called for a reduction in import tariffs from 10 per cent to 5 per cent by 2010, as well as a move towards more environmentally friendly cars.
The report also suggested the federal government should bring forward its $500 million green car fund to start in 2009.
The good news however, is that Ford will hire at least an additional 300 staff when the company starts local production of the Ford Focus in 2011. Production is expected to increase by roughly 40,000/pa from 2011.
Print it: 
zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz ummmm zzzzz zzz zzz zzz zzz……if they dont wake up it will be deathknell! Thats depends on Dearborn as they are at the steering wheel whilst being stubborn and ship is sinking a painful death!
there is no future in exporting the falcon.
holden dont make shyte out of exporting the VE.
the better option would be to take the aussie grown falcon recipe and make it in the US as well as here in OZ.
mark my words that the commodore will only be exported until such time as they find a better proposition in terms of a place of manufacture.
the VE is only on an export program to test the waters and evaluate the situation to come up with the better proposition for manufacture.
but dont worry,
even if the commodore stops being exorted, it is still a win as it means the viability of our large aussie car is strengthened as the developmental costs will be shared
Zandit,
i too had heard the fiesta had been brought right forward
NM is still right though, as they do have a great stable, but unfortunately no one here at ford OZ has big enough testicles to demand a full 5 star range.
once again, where do i forward my resume to take over the basket ball and waffles guys job??
Well hope the Fiesta is mega brought forward. So too should Kuga! Hope the powertrains are also brought mega up to speed. Also hope weight reduction is truly sought and the favourite subject of TP’s might apply….skinny tyres to save fuel! LMAO!
You better be a frontrower and cart it up hard and full on… as Ford Aus needs to stand tall and strong and not wussy weak and gee hope you aint a basketballer with big mutton chops or big chompers like USA dude who jumped hoops! We need a dinky die to give it a real try!
A reduction on import tariffs will only make it harder for Aussie auto manufacturers,THANKS RUDD YOU SELLOUT making it eazyer for cheap junk from india and china.Rudd in chinese means servent.HA HA.
NM,
its no laughing matter.
skinny tyres are an absolute must for the family buyer who holds their families safety with such little regard.
Ill go alright in the captains chair i reckon.
if there is one thing i hate, its blue a r s e flies.
what i would bring would be a bucket of common sense coming from someone who hasnt been burried in the corporate world.
they need an outsider……
they need a “Can do man” in ford,
in the same way Brisbane got theirs
I know Holden don’t make that much out of their export program if anything at all…. but at least it got them noticed in both the USA UK and Middle East.
Look at all the positive comments/feedback the cars are getting from both internationally recognised journalists/ magazines and overseas car enthusiasts/customers.
As a Result Holdens position in GM World is much higher now than what both Fords and Toyotas is within their respective hierarchies – the fact Holden are so heavily involved in Design Research and Development etc of other GM projects/products proves this.
Whereas Toyota for example weren’t allowed [or weren't game enough] to go ahead and build a completely new 100% australian designed and built large sedan.. [like Holden did] instead they had to modify a car from the US with a platform thats almiost 5 years old.. which is weird considering they are the worlds wealthiest car company.
I mean Holden went it alone – with the VE; despite the financial problems their parent company was experiencing. and for that I congratulate them.. The boys at Holden knew they could build a better car themselves and they were right
However; I too suspect that when the new factory in Canada has fulfilled the advanced orders for the Camaro [which I doubt we will ever see here in Oz] that GM will start making G8s there too as the Camaro uses the Commodores Platform etc.
This will free up space at Holden and they will be able to make not only the new compact [Torana TT36] Sedan and Coupes] whilst the similar Pontiac G6 will also be made overseas
Wheelnut,
dont for one minute think holden is doing it (export program) on their own money.
im not saying holden exporting is a hopeless path,
im saying its not going to be the only path in that holden will make the GM’s world of cars. (if that makes sense).
Exporting out of OZ is merely testing the waters, and it is being done on behalf of GM.
yes,
they have a big head start on ford in that they will establish a familarity in different regions first.
that is the only reason exporting from OZ on holdens/GMs behalf is smart.
its all about working towards the bigger picture
When I said Holden went it alone.. I didn’t mean in relation to there export program. Of course a car company; like any other company is gouing to build it sproducts where its most financially vaible.
What I meant was Holden went it alone in regards to putting forward a business plan to GM for the VE instead of Taking the Sigma platfrom from Pontiac.
Then when the VE was released Holden showed how good the car is it ratified GMs decision to give the project the green light which was a bit of a risk given their financial situation at the time.
Which is why I said Holdens position in GM World is much higher now than what both Fords and Toyotas is within their respective hierarchies
Overall my point was if Ford said To Detroit we can build a World Class RWD Car/platform than maybe their position in Ford World would be equal to that of Holdens..
You never know unless you ask or unless you try.
Well, ford is down sizing. All this can mean is less sales and lets face it, Ford…. they have the best product on the road at present. Holden are just re-selling backrupt Daewoo stuff that sent them bust. If Ford can hold out people will come around, back to a product that is made to last and made to drive. Lets face it koren cars are cheap and thats it and now holden is mostly Korean made. Must say I think Ford will out last holden in Aust. GM in USA is almost reay to shut shop….. maybe holden will be with out parent comapany to help them out soon.
EVERYONE KNOWS FORDS GO WAY BETTER…..in every way
Real Aussie come on buy real cars….. get back to the show room. Really who wants to fill a differnt counties pocket!!!!. BUY FORD BUY AUSTRALIA
By anything else and the rest is anything else(not real true AUSSIE)
GO FORD
GM are close to going bankrupt…………so where does that leave Holden if they do ? Nowhere I guess…….
I don’t want Holden or FordOZ to shut shop or it’s goodbye thousands of jobs. Goodbye to good RWD family cars that average people can afford. Goodbye to V8Supercars. Goodbye to decades of heritage, etc, etc, etc.
Yes well agree – its time to stand up and morph into new market. Its like the seasons…..cant always be the same and its same with cars! Ford are morphing and looks like fastracking its arsenal…..with diminishing petroleum products and an ever increasing increase in its cost to the public, means big, brawn and brash cars are simply on the slide or wane! If one does buy one – well to fill up a V8 costs over $100 would imagine and when I can fill up my BF LPG ute for $48…..well its not hard to imagine who are silly with there money. Geepers I like V8’s too. But they are slowly dieing off and seems Holden and Ford are obsessed with HUGE KW’s and HUGE TORQUE which I say is shyte dumb!
The cost of living constraints hit us all. Iam like an albatross…..every time I look in front of me there is a bill! There is only so much $ to go around and we should be peeved that the cost of living has skyrocketed as Dudd Rudd said he would bring it down at last election (thats what he stood for and was his foundation and did “NOT” happen).
Sorry to rain on your parade NM but the Kuga is not coming to australia any time soon, unless they can build it side by side with the aussie built focus, we will be stuck with the “new” escape!! Ford’s really on the ball with this one especially after all the rave reviews its getting in europe.
FORD management here is zzz zzz zzz. Like really seriously truly who would bother buying the Escape when Kuga woruld be available. Nobody as Escape is tacky shyte!
Keep up the good work Ford Aus…….get Basketball Bro to buy shares in Slumberland mattresses as FORD here is run with zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz zzz.
Why bother having Escape in stable when Kuga is available overseas! FORD’s trouble here is they still stuck in vortex thinking cool designs are previous KA – when new KA is light years hot! FORD here is……..zzz zzzz zzzzzzz zzzz. May as well get a chrogenic chamber and put them in there as deathknell as too slow to act!
I know what you mean about gas NM. I always have a work-taxi hack on gas for daily running (good old EB) and my future F6 is purely for weekend fun.
Phooooly sik uleh !!!!! WRX all da way ulehz !!!!!!
Gibberish??
It’s all about how manufacturers imprint their cars on buyers’ heads. Just look how the worthless Commodore can still manage to top the sales charts. In its class, it’s the worst in performance, economy and possibly reliability, but the nation still patronises it. The Falcon is a better car, miles better in fact. It’s a possibility that the Aussies think of Ford as an American brand, unlike Holden which is ‘exclusively Oz’ (even if they simply rebadge Daewoos or stitch up parts from who knows where to come up with your beloved Omega or SS).
NM – “May as well get a chrogenic chamber and put them in there as deathknell as too slow to act!”
hahahaha
Quote [Al Juraj]: It’s all about how manufacturers imprint their cars on buyers’ heads. Just look how the worthless Commodore can still manage to top the sales charts. In its class, it’s the worst in performance, economy and possibly reliability,
How many Commodores from VB to VE have you owned/driven? Because if you look at how the Commodore has evolved over the years from being a modified Rekord to a 100 % aussie designed and built family sedan you will see the substantial improvements Holden has made in terms of safety performance etc and still managed to keep the proce so that a family with 2 adutls 2 kids and perhaps even a dog can afford one.. particularly with all the new high tech safety devices such as ESP ABS TC etc that were once exclusive to the luxury euros
BTW there is only one other Australian Built RWD 6 cylinder family sedan on the market – The Falcon.. therefore; you can’t compare it to a FWD Cum-ry or Aurion -which I take it is what you had in mind. as the different platform configuration RWD/FWD has an impact on performance and handling etc
And yes the Falcon is a good car but it too has had its fair share of problems over the years
Now you have done it Al Juraj,
didnt you know critisizing a holden mans pride is worse than touching a black mans stereo???
Fact is the Commodore is not worthless. Maybe in your area if you have a Tata, Mahindra or some other sheepish gimp offering then could understand what is worthless…. your opinion for starters! Gee bro, get jiggy with it!
Its got nothing to do with Pride Andrew… its just that how can anyone say that a car that has been around for 30 odd years; not to mention was the best selling car in Australia for 10 years straight is unreliable..
I mean there are just so many Commodores out there – well over 10 years old that are still going strong and that’s NOT including the ones car enthusiasts have modified and turned into Street Machines
Yet if the Commodore is unreliable as Al Juraj thinks then surely there would only be as many Old Commodores as there are 5 year old Camrys.
settle down wheelnut,
i was only fishing for a bite from you ;)
part of what he does say is true though, and that is
QUOTE>.
“It’s all about how manufacturers imprint their cars on buyers’ heads.”
that also explains how toyota can be a sales leader whilst not having 100% class leading gear.
If commodores are so damn reliable why do taxi drivers drive falcons. Because commodores fall to bits.?
Ken G – Why does every Highway Patrol officer rather a Commodore SS than a XR Falcon?
Horses for courses…
GhisGT,
Most highway patrols don’t have a choice, because the fleet is iether one or the other. It has nothing to do with choice, rather which state supplies the cars to the force, eg SA is virtually 100% Holden police to support local manufacturing, although the high-end unmarked persuit cars do use Falcons too.
Bret, so that means an officer can’t decide which one he or she PREFERS to drive? I never implied they do the buying