Reckless1, (suitably named)
still doesnt read articles though.
if he did he would not say things things that make him look silly.
a few facts for him, (if he had read)……

1. yes this focus will consume 300 of the job losses and from earlier reports some would already be consumed with in fords existing workforce (could be the other 300 there alone)

2. ford is also going to design the new ranger ute here more jobs there too.

3. ford will also have a diesel up and running here by 2010. yep more jobs.

you see people love to dig negatives on ford.

ford wasnt ready to announce plant closure because it would get people jumping the gun (which it has) they would have been waiting to announce the new structure as a whole. do you think the headlines will read tomorrow that “ford has actually created 600 more jobs” (even after the 600 lost were made up? so that could be like 1200 jobs)

so finally the big fords will have v6 diesels which is great. Ford looks like they have already got jobs waiting for the 600 engine builders.

Now I wonder if Holden, Toyota or even Mitusbishi are thinking of building one of their small cars here ?

Adam :)

My thoughts too..it hurts to lose the I6…its a part of Australian Automotive history…probably Australia’s longest standing engine that has been able to match newer generation engines tit for tat. Having said that, Ford need to change to take more advantage of the international parts bin. Time and Time again, we hear how Fords components out do GM’s own. We will hear more of that come 2010-11 I believe.
Australia is reknowned for having a vocal blue collar segment and sticking it to “the man” so the outbursts that we are seeing are to be expected. Even when Ford announces more jobs that effectively counteract the Geelong plant shut down, people will still whinge…
It appears Holdens Export Demand for the Pontiac G8 won’t be as big as initially thought.

And for the Record. Isn’t Newcastle Already Exporting Coal? Oh thats Right…the Pasha Bulker was a Pleasure Cruiser!

Ford will sell/export 40,000 (i think quite easily) with Exports to both Sth Africa and NZ.
Fords PR Department should have released this News in conjunction with the Ford Focus + and RWD Platform developments to counteract the new about Geelong.

Yes we are pal. No dreaming here.

Sometimes it’s hard to please everyone. What is it that would make you happy?

Business is business. If we are to secure Ford’s future here, then the sacrifice was the engine plant.

“This is good news, but hardly as exciting as portrayed buy those above.”

You have to wonder if people actually READ the comments before commenting.

And we are to believe that while we now import Focus from South Africa, we are suddenly going to ship coal to Newcastle from 2011 – dream on.

If Ford re-employ some of the 600 job lost with the inline 6 going and they create another 300 with local assembly of focus, how is that a total loss?

They also said they will export the focus, which would logically help make up the 40,000 odd units, make sense yet?

And you know what, tuff titties about re-locating from Geelong, thats life and reality, we all have to change when things do ‘change’, nothing is forever.

As for local build quality, how about you wait and see? it’s not 2011 yet.

“Beginning in 2011, the locally made Focus will be sold in Australia as well as exported to regional markets, including New Zealand and South Africa.”

That 40,000 isn’t just for OZ.

First, 600 jobs are gone from Geelong, which has beaches, boating, Ocean Rd, Grampians all within easy reach for lifestyle.
I can see how thrilled 300 of those workers will be at relocating to somewhere near Broadmeadows, (a delightful residential area, NOT) which is close to the following amenities – 1) ? 2) ? errr – the area has nothing going for it. Oh – It’s closer to Sydney than Geelong…..But they could commute every day, which wouldn’t cost much…….

Second, they claim they’ll sell 40,000 Focus vehicles, but they’ve never sold that many yet, and a reduced quality local build will not suddenly make people like the vehicle more. I think that estimate is rubbish, probably being used to help get money from the Government to build the new assembly line. But then Mitsubishi has had a massive hand in Aussie taxpayer pockets in the past, so why not Ford as well?