Ford Set to Announce Future of Geelong Engine Plant
July 18, 2007 by Paul Maric
Ford Australia will today announce the future of the Geelong engine plant where all of its inline-six cylinder engines are currently produced.
Speculation began last week when GoAuto ran a story that rumored a V6 engine would be used in the local Falcon by 2010 to meet emissions regulations. From there, serious hype was built which sent workers into frenzy.
Despite an appropriation of over $52-million from the Howard Government last year to further develop Territory and Falcon, along with $28-million to improve fuel efficiency in 2005, Ford still insists that a V6 engine is the only way for the local manufacturer to meet impending Euro IV emissions regulations.
Ford spokeswoman – Sinead McAlary – hasn’t confirmed the fate of the workers, but confirmed to News.com.au that a decision with regards to the fate of workers is imminent and after employees were informed, the announcement would be made to the market.
With that, the closure of Ford Australia’s 82-year old engine plant is likely, from there the fate of 600 workers jobs remains uncertain.
Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks today said:
“We have invested in Ford and invested in new production, we’ve invested in making sure they can produce long term in this state and we’d be very disturbed to see any job loss,”
Mr Bracks also said that the Victorian Government would stand by Ford employees and make sure assistance and support is provided in the event of change.
Mr Bracks then went on to say:
“We haven’t had the details yet because, I understand, the workforce is being briefed by Ford today and the company will make an announcement,”
CarAdvice will keep you informed with the latest developments and any further news that comes to hand.
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It’ll be a sad, sad day to see the I6 dissapear. I guess we can only hope that by the end of the day we’re shocked (plesantly) to hear that Ford has worked out an alternative deal. It’ll be a shame to see yet another part of Australia’s auto industry dissapear.
Also, can anyone confirm if this is the V6 engine being considered? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cyclone_engine
It was only a matter of time this was going to happen. The faithfull inline 6 has been great in DOHC form in recent years and hopefully it will be remembered for years to come.
What will be great is if the replacement engine is built at the Geelong plant. That would enable us to have greater control over it’s outputs and general tuning.
hopefully, ford germany will send over the blueprints for the engine, so then we can control and even upgrade the V6 engine, i’m pretty sure that ford oz, will put the power of the euro 6 to keep up or overtake toyota and holden. Everything is crossed that ford will keep making my favourite engine for years to come.
End of an era.
It is sad day indeed.
No doudt the new V6 developed in the US will find it’s way here.
I suppose that is the way of the world now, if you can’t import or export it and it’s unique.
I just hope the new V6 is’nt the like the piece of crap holden has.
About bloody time, sorry for the workers though
The IL6 is well passed its use-by date, V6 is the way to go, i feel the driveability [low down grunt] will never been seen again though.
Look on the bright side, NO MORE PUCKED CYLINDER HEAD and gaskets!
The SMART thin to do, would be do a deal with GMH and use its engine in the Falcon, why bother going to all the trouble to import a Yank job?
Cheers
O/A
Hey OttoAU
What about smoothness, longevity, refinement and HVH.
Take a Holden V6 for a spin then jump in the Falcon then you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Only a complete moron would suggest putting the GM V6 into a Falcon, hey, better still why don’t we just put a Ford badge on a VE. Re-badgeing has fooled Holden buyers for years.
Theres nothing that sounds as good as a ford straight 6, it sounds great, i have a EL falcon, god i love the sound of the engine.
But one good thing is the engine ford is looking at is actually in the top 10 best engines in the world so it must pretty good to be with the likes of BMW, Audi, and ther like.
Twin Turbo Typhoon anyone.
There is nothing like a straight 6. Now they too are getting rare. :(
A sad day, for a lowly, under powered, ultra reliable engine. And a sadder day for the Australian workforce. 600 people, all unemployed due to a simple upper management decision. I wonder how they will sleep at night hugging their warm money? I doubt it will affect them at all that households won’t have a steady income, can’t afford food and rent, bills and rates.
Welcome to globalisation.
Steve
Good riddance. My sympathies go to the workers: management have failed to keep the company competitive (producing sub-standard non-environmentally friendly cars that nobody wants) and the workers suffered. If the management of Ford were as responsible as any decent car manufacturer (say, Toyota, VW, Honda, ANYONE) the workers wouldn’t have to have their continued employment on whether management can convince the government to give them money that they took from the employees in the first place.
“Despite an appropriation of over $52-million from the Howard Government last year to further develop Territory and Falcon, along with $28-million to improve fuel efficiency in 2005″
Ford (an American company) received $80m of Australian taxpayer handouts as an incentive to develop a ‘green’ engine that they should have made in the first place. Cry me a river.
Remove all tariffs, stop taxpayer handouts and let the market sort ‘em out. May the best car manufacturer win, whoever it may be. None of this holding workers jobs to ransom stuff.
Paul, Paul, Paul.
What a silly thing to say without clarification. I had a BA SR Falcon for 3 years. Consistent mileage was 9.6L/100km. My old man has a Fairmont….his is even better with sub 9L/100km. So I ask you, do you own one ? Have you actually been in one ? The performance/realiability you get is astonishing for the outlay of dosh. Not to mention the beautiful XR6T. How on earth Ford can drop this motor is beyond me. Make it consistent with Euro standards cannot be more expensive than importing an engine. I mean get real. You will lose a loyal I6 buyer here. My next vehicle will be a V8 as a V6 is just laughable.
Paul, if we had it your way we’d all be driving Toyotas and there would be no Austalian car industry.
What will happen in 20 years when China catch up (and they will) and can sell cars here for half the price because there paying some poor sod $20 for a 12 hour day.
And where are the green engines from other manufactures, as far as I know they all STILL have internal combustion engines that emit CO2.
is there any news, its killing me, have the axed or not, or have they come out with a surprise and they building a alloy I6
Well said Westy!!
Blue Blood that was another Paul… but I have to say I agree with him 100%. Cry me a river about the inline 6, the V6 is the superior configuration, people should be rejoicing… this is a step forward for Ford. Now I just wanna hear the end of these payouts to Holden and Ford and keep them on a level playing field to the rest, because currently they have the advantage in this Aussie market yet their products aernt exactly reflecting this (Im thinking just like Holden pocketed some of that 1 billion on their vehicle they are doing the same with hand outs!).
QUOTE = You will lose a loyal I6 buyer here. My next vehicle will be a V8 as a V6 is just laughable.
Lol V6 is better mate… and its kinda stupid saying your not going to buy their car because its a V but 6 cylinders and then say instead your next car will be a V but 7 cylinders… if its such a format config then dont buy it, the Holden Epica is inline 6 get that POS
Retarded sentence, meant…
* 8 cylinders
* if its such a bad config then dont buy it
Re: DeathByPizza comment about whether the ford duratec 35 engine will be used, my opinion is that it will be the engine of choice after reading the ages’s drive column today. 196kW sounds good, but then only 336 Nm! Apparently there’s a 285bhp version (3.7 litre) with about 366 Nm but i don’t know…
IF and only IF all the speculation about the closure of the geelong ford engine plant is true, It will be sad day for the aussie motoring industry to see the i6 engine go.
G’day Falcon. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) said it had been advised by shop stewards at Ford’s Geelong Engine Plant of meetings set down for 1pm today. Will keep you posted as I hear more. Matt.
Yep, we have a man on the scene, actually we have a man IN the building, so the second we know, you’ll all know!
Agree with Westy, it’ll be a sad day to see the I6 go. Generally it’s only the people that haven’t owned one that sh!tcan them.
And to the globalisation nazi’s, why stop at just reducing tariff protection on our industries. You bleat about making our industries competitive, hell why not drop all protection not just the tariffs for industry but also any protections on the labour market, so we can really allow our local businesses compete on a global stage? Oh hang on a minute…they might decide to replace you in your job with a more cost-effective worker from thailand or brazil…Hmmm better no do that then.
Thanks matt, so as i’m typing its about to start, i’m actually starting to have tears well up in my eyes, thats how much this engine.
PLEASE FORD SAVE THIS ENGINE
thats how i love this engine i was ment to say
And you haven’t driven a Ford or owned one Paul I take it ? No defence there then you are talking from your ‘where the sunshines’.
I find if amusing V6 is the superior configuration. That’s like saying pushrods are the future of V8’s.
And what configuration do Porsche use if it is so superior ? a v6 is it ? and BMW ?? v6 no doubt….surely a v6 ? Nope was I6 until recently they changed to have some models on small capacity V8’s. I have to laugh at your knowledge. You crack me up.
Go JW totally agree there. Makes sense to me.
EPICA = Every Piece Is Coming Apart!!
To compare Korean I6 to Aussie I6 is like comparing a Zircon to a Diamond.
Agreed, losing jobs is not a good thing.
I too would like to see the engine remain (in an upgraded form) but the reality is it that it is old by anyones book and it should not be a suprise that production would a some point cease..
WJ in relation to your globalisation theory, its already happening champ… call centres etc in India.
Anyway if you think its good for consumers to have some manufacturers being taxed more while others are getting taxes, then I think you need to have a look at yourself. We are not talking about the entire labor market here which your example conveniently exaggerates the situation over, there aernt that many works in our industry and nor do I think they get the sack if they opened the market up. What will happen though is more competitive prices, better features, safer cars etc.
Mike it should cease because why ?? It’s not world class ? It doesn’t produce performance with great mileage ? It is so smooth and has power/torque figures as standard that overseas car makers dream about ?
Or because it is old ?? Old as you mean this is the same motor that was in the old XK falcon ?? They are poles apart in terms of development.
Me no understand.
it good that use are anouncing it!!
For the purposes of easing readability i’ll call myself PaulOne.
I want to see Australian industry thrive and I believe the best way of achieving this is competition. I believe that all the taxpayer handouts in the world won’t help Ford if they don’t want to help themselves. Holden have the right idea: build a great car (VE) and export it to larger markets.
To echo the words of Ford CEO Alan Mulallay, making a great car requires Bold Moves. So far, the management of Ford Australia haven’t made any. They’re content making cookie-cutter engines and depending on tariffs (a tax on choice) to keep out competition.
I wholeheartedly agree with Mike: losing jobs is not a good thing. But neither is sustaining a company that refuses to innovate or improve. Refusing to improve doesn’t help Autralia’s auto industry thrive.
It’s terrible workers lose because of a lack of leadership and mismanagement. If anything, it’s the management of Ford Australia that should be having a meeting at 1pm today.
Ford: Build a great car and export it to the world. Stop taking taxpayer money and make some Bold Moves like Ford US. Don’t hide behind tariffs and jingoism.
Globalization is inevitable, my concern is Fords corporate 3.5-3.7 V6 will be just like Holdens HF V6, if this is the case i’ll be buying the very last of the inline 6cyl barra engine. The inline six beats Holdens HF for refinement, fuel economy and power, while being bigger!
It Ford can do a better job than Holden with V6s i won’t worry.
Now, inline 6 designs are inherently better balanced than V6 engines, but harder to package under the bonnet. I don’t car what configuration is used provided Ford has an engine just as suitable if not more capable than the barra inline 6.
Drive a VE and BF and you will easily see the difference between the two 6 cyl engines. Ford is current leader for 6 cyl power while Holden does better V8s, lets hope Ford can continue too stay ahead for 6 cyl power.
Ok Westy lets have a look at your reply in detail:
QUOTE = And you haven’t driven a Ford or owned one Paul I take it ? No defence there then you are talking from your ‘where the sunshines’.
No I havent personally owned one but I was brought up being driven in them! A modern day example, the Aurions V6 is a much better unit then the Falcon I6 in terms of everything (power, refinement etc)… so WELL DESIGNED V6s are hardly that bad as portrayed by some people here.
QUOTE = I find if amusing V6 is the superior configuration. That’s like saying pushrods are the future of V8’s.
That was abit of a gee up… I would say both have their adv and disadv. At the end of the day most manufacturers are going to V6s as they offer benefits such as a more compact unit, cheapeer to build and lower emissiosn while these days being prity well refined (so the balance adv of the i6 really isnt that huge)
QUOTE = And what configuration do Porsche use if it is so superior ? a v6 is it ? and BMW ?? v6 no doubt….surely a v6 ? Nope was I6 until recently they changed to have some models on small capacity V8’s. I have to laugh at your knowledge. You crack me up
Oh so the Falcons inline 6 was comparable to a Porsche or BMW? And do I really have to point out all the Europeans and the V engines used…. YOU crack me up.
PaulOne,
have you ever been a CEO or held a management position in a world wide auto company before?
I guess not, so you wouldn’t have the information available to you to provide any sort of reliable decision when it comes to what moves should be made by Ford AUS or any auto company for that matter…
You could blame the impending emission standards for the demise of the inline 6 or the fact Ford has to progres and simplify it’s world wide operations, you made the decision needed to keep the company alive and in existence, i’m tired of arm chair CEO typing on a computer keyboard claiming they know how auto companies work.
Easy solution, become the CEO of Ford and you can do anything you want!
Paul…
Please tell me where Toyotas V6 is made? or the fact its FWD, not RWD…
Toyota has NO affordable RWD platform that can match a VE or BF platform for handling dynamics, V8 performance, for the same price.
Lexus, yes, but nowhere near the same class or price point.
Also VE abd BF were wholey designed and developed here, not overseas then just assembled here.
Ford and Holden deserve credit for one thing, they never had their hands held by the parent company.
It’s only just now that Holden and Ford are being intergrated into the GM and Ford world.
Also remember Fords ZF 6 speed auto beats Toyota 6 speed auto in the aurion, while only giving up .03 of a litre in fuel economy, while maintaining a big torque advantage, yes torque is a lot higher than Aurions 10 kw power advantage.
So far real world figures put the aurion on the same gas guzzler class as the VE and BF.
imagine if Holden and Ford produced a FWD car? Toyota is nowhere near perfect or any better than the american players.
Paul name me a list of performance V6 cylinder engines used in Europe that come close to the ones I mentioned. I am listening ?
Adam answered your Toyota retort.
And yes I do believe the Aussie I6 to be Australian made and world class. Especially behind the silky smooth 6 speed auto. I have just bought a Territory with the 6 speed box and they are the dux nuts. Nothing in Australia comes close for the bucks you outlay.
Cheers.
Oh and give me those power/torque figures from your current VE please…..from the standard VE that is.
The Billion dollar baby has how much bang for your buck in the standard model….remind me please. Aurion leaves the imported Holden V6 for dead!
Waiting…….
adam,
I am not a CEO, neither armchair or real.
Whenever I read about the Australian car industry, I seem to be reading articles about either Toyota’s success or Ford’s misery. On one hand, I read about a company whose cars are push the envelope in fuel efficiency, keep ahead of emissions regulations, produce environmentally friendly cars that I can buy today, all built in our own backyard (Altona, Melbourne)
On the other hand, I see a company that begs the government to leave tariffs in place, asks for taxpayer bailouts (and states that it ‘may be forced’ to cut jobs if ‘conditions aren’t suitable’), needs taxpayer ‘incentives’ (read: free R&D money) to build green cars they should be producing in the first place, and whose CEO is ‘considering’ an increased emphasis in exports.
Tell me again, which company should I be excited about?
The Aurion, 380, and VE are the only Australian cars that make the grade. I’m looking forward to the Orion: we’ll see whether it brings Ford back into the game.
@Westy
I agree with you re engine quality, I simply state that it should not be a suprise that it would cease production as it becomes harder to meet emmision targets.
Fiscally i can understand that at some point you stop investing in it and focus your energy elsewhere.
PaulOne…
Again, where is Toyotas RWD vehicle, to fully counter the VE and BF? V8s? turbos? utes? wagons? longwheelbase versions…NONE.
Also, Ford is not the only local manufacturer getting goverment handouts…Holden, Mitsubishi AND Toyota recieve handouts…so you can stop that complaint.
I think you need to open your mind up a little and stop buying into everything thats dramatic and propganda in relation to Ford and Holden, Toyota doesn’t even make the same sort of local profits Ford and Holden do…Toyota HQ funds Toyota AUS otherwise they wouldn’t exist at all.
Ford at least has made engines here for the past 40 years unlike Toyota, Holden assembles the HF V6 here.
I think you need to drive a VE, aurion and BF11 falcon back to back to fully understand what your talking about…me, myself have driven all of them as i work in the motor industry.
Toyota still can’t make a vehicle handle.
Toyota and Holden both focus heavily on exports! consider Ford AUS only exports 7000 units a year and they managed to survive this long, longer than what Holden or Toyota would have if they did export 50-70,000 units a year.
toyotas marketing machine works very well it would appear.
Why the big complaint if Ford axes 600 jobs assembling an engine? when Toyota doesn’t assemble engines here at all…isn’t Ford going to be playing the same manufacturing game as Toyota?
Oh, and did most people miss the rumour Ford may add another line to it’s broadmeadows plant? It would appear Ford is not closing up shop, simply doing better buisness for the long run, anyhow this is all speculation, how about we all wait for Fords ‘official’ announcement.
Also, if Ford AUS does exports it’s means more jobs here! anyhow i’m finished i think!;)
Its simple, the Falcon days are over.
Sales have plumeted, Fairlane/LTD Dead, resale is shot, its the first of killing off the vehicle
No sales // No export = No point!
They CANNOT survive with the small amount they are building, at the great exchange rate, Ford will find something to fit the spot in RWD for the small amount that want a large RWD.
Its sad but its reality, Mitsu 380S4 will be next to go
Leaves the Aurion/Camry and VE as the last standing….for how long?
Regards
F-O
adam, very well said.
PaulOne,
don’t be so naive.
Toyota, Holden and Mistu have all played politics and had there hand in the cookie jar as well.
Aurion and 380 Australian Cars??? I always thought they where Japanese parts assembled here.
Now why do you think they do that- Hand outs, incentives.
announcement : http://www.caradvice.com.au/39.....l-details/
Westy…thank you.
How much would it cost to get it up the the new standards?
The can get the technology from their other divisions surely.
If it does go then buy yourself the last run of the 2010 Turbo Model and garage it. It will be worth a fortune in 20 years time.
Porsche dont have a i6 they have a flat six theres a difference bmw have stopped making their i6 for a v8. i am excited of the fact that ford aust will get the twin force upgrade. thats an engine with twin turbos with better fuel consumption
Bob,
And as I said they don’t have a V6 and I also said BMW have taken on board a small capacity V8. So thanks for restating what I said.
people dont be so sure about the reduced fuel consumption. toyota and holden have proven you dont get better economy from a 3.5L or 3.6L. ford gets pretty much the same as a toyota 3.5L and better than a commy 3.6L. and the I6 is a 4L!!
Paul no idea. i think you only like what you know (and it doesnt seem to be much) just because most manufacturers use V6’s doesnt mean they are better. have a look i dont see many advantages with the V6’s
This whole bloody global warming thing is a load of crap!!!!!!!!!!! No one has yet proved to me that what is happening around the world with the weather is due to us driving big bloody cars………I am with Jeremy Clarkson on this one. Its a load of shit……..Talk to farmers ,similar climate changes have happened over 100s of years.Bloody emission levels,phoooo.
BMW M3 went to a V8 cause there was only so much grunt they could get out of the 3.2 litre. Remember they started with a 3 litre in E36 M3 in 1995 then up graded to 3.2 with 236 kw then increased the grunt to 253kw in 2000. They have only gone to V8 in the M3. The range from 323i-335i still have inline 6 . Ford have made the wrong move here ,no advantage for a V6 except for Fords pocket!
QUOTE= Please tell me where Toyotas V6 is made? or the fact its FWD, not RWD…
Toyota has NO affordable RWD platform that can match a VE or BF platform for handling dynamics, V8 performance, for the same price.
Lexus, yes, but nowhere near the same class or price point.
Also VE abd BF were wholey designed and developed here, not overseas then just assembled here.
Who friggin cares if its not made here (like the Commodores engine) or its FWD…. FWD vs RWD argument is bullshyte anyway, both are equal overall, they both only power one set of wheels!
QUOTE= Ford and Holden deserve credit for one thing, they never had their hands held by the parent company.
It’s only just now that Holden and Ford are being intergrated into the GM and Ford world.
Yeah cos the parent company wants to stay clear of its subsidiaries which are making losses lol
QUOTE= Also remember Fords ZF 6 speed auto beats Toyota 6 speed auto in the aurion, while only giving up .03 of a litre in fuel economy, while maintaining a big torque advantage, yes torque is a lot higher than Aurions 10 kw power advantage.
Hardly, the Aurion accelerates marginally faster then the Falcon, although yes it has less torque… torque is PULLING POWER, the Aurion weighs less, you dont need as much pulling power.
QUOTE=So far real world figures put the aurion on the same gas guzzler class as the VE and BF.
imagine if Holden and Ford produced a FWD car? Toyota is nowhere near perfect or any better than the american players.
Ok for starters no real world the Aurion wins… the VE is WAY off the Falcon is closer, but every CREDIBAL report has the Aurion better. I also know a few Aurion owners and they have returned good fuel efficiency. As for no better then the Amercian players, you have to be kidding me mate, Toyota, the brand that sells the most cars IN THE WORLD, competes in many motorsport competitions (thnx advert lol) and on top of this returns survey after survey favourable results in terms of reliaiblity isnt any better? Where did the Holden and Co come in a recent survey on reliablity… I believe it was something like last and second last.
“50 years young.” Then it is overdue that an efficient compact all alloy 24valve twincam V6 of 3 litres able to run on LPG or 3.5litres for those who want “peformance” on speed monitored freeways.Won’t suit the petrol heads of the Bathurst variety but they are a dying breed that will be killed off by the next petrol price shock.
The Falcon is something out of the ark which has had its basic design dictated by this 50 year old engine for the last 40years.Holden was no better,the nasty 3.8V6 was ancient with that 4speed clunker,a legacy from another age.Tried both,I bought a Subaru wagon instead & I am not alone.
The local market is larger & potentially more profitable for the right product today than ever before yet for decades this market has supported the production of these relics & all have taken the profits without investing R&D$$ so that a vesatile world class engine as described above can be produced right here in Australia.The enormous market that is now enjoyed by GM,Ford,Toyota & Mitsubishi in Australia should be able to support the 100% local manufacture of a world class product.
Boardroom decisions overseas are ruthless,they seek to control costs above all else.I understand the engine plant is in LIMA.It is dangerous to have an enormous concentration of global production in one location.Australia is as stable politically as anywhere with a willing,healthy,skilled workforce.This has been exploited by other manufacturers for producing exports to other markets.What is wrong with the Austrlian Ford management? No capacity for thinking outside the confines of that boardroom in Detroit?Mr Howard has said the government can’t do anything,wrong electorate I guess.The engine plant could be retooled well before his 70th birthday if there was a will to do something.Being part of the coalition of the willing should have pay offs & this is an opportunity to show gratitude rather than the unbelievably weak & flipant platitudes of AH WELL MARKET FORCES…oh they have a business to run etc etc.