Ford Falcon outsells Holden Commodore, first time in 4 years
November 13, 2009 by Matt Brogan
The Ford Falcon sedan outsold the Commodore sedan for the first time in almost four years in October.
An ecstatic Ford Australia president Marin Burela today announced that his company sold 2460 Falcon sedans compared to Holden’s 2425.
“We outsold them by only 35 or 36 cars but I’ve got to tell you, one would have been enough,” he said.
Burela said around one year ago he and his company made a pledge to “do something very special with the Falcon sedan”, and was especially pleased with the success of the XR6 Turbo and G6E Turbo and the special edition G-Series.
“I can’t tell you what a great celebration and a great delight it was that we were able to do this. We are now starting to really see that the Australian market, the consumers, are really rallying behind it.”
Market share of the Falcon sedan has continued to climb over the last 14 months, dropping to as low as 25 per cent and peaking at 37 per cent.
Total Falcon sales still trail well behind the Commodore (2841 versus 3455 in October) which has much to do with the success of the Sportwagon – which sold over 1000 units compared to the Falcon wagon’s sub-400 performance.
Burela said Ford is yet to make a definitive decision on the future of the wagon, but said one is due within the next two months and will be heavily influenced by the success and popularity of the new Mondeo wagon.
“The (Mondeo) wagon is now starting to attract an enormous amount of interest from fleets, from government, we’re seeing interest from small business and also the private buyer.
“With the two of them sitting side by side, we’re just letting the market tell us what they want and once we’ve received that … we will know then the direction we need to move in.”
Another battle Burela is watching with interest is the contest between the Falcon and Commodore based utes.
Ford won the sales by 150 units last year, but a solid October from Holden (1127 versus 978) has pushed it into the year-to-date lead in 2009 by just 46 cars.
“Between Holden and ourselves, what a great race. One month we beat them, the next month they beat us, then we beat them, they beat us, and right now we’re nose and nose.
“What a great success story for the Australian industry between two main competitors who are really going at it and competing out there,” Burela said.
by Tim Beissmann
Print it: 
Yeah, congrats to Ford…Commodore was on runout though. That blue Sportwagon pictured looks awesome.
Falcon wagon looks to be on life support.
No way will they continue with it.
Bingo.
Lots of people want the wagon option and I’m sorry to say it but the Sportswagon looks better than the BF III.
When Ford creates a FG Wagon, and hopefully an XR6T Wagon, they will gain massive market share. So long as they don’t give it a fat rear end!
A full range of Falcon wagons would sell gangbusters! A Falcon G6E wagon would probably get my money as it would be roomy, drive great and be good on fuel (plus being Australian made I could easily get 250,000km out of it with not much going wrong), i just want a big luxurious wagon which is stylish and can tow.
Also if Ford brought back the RTV, the Falcon ute would be already outselling the Holden
You are kidding aren’t you Sam? It is not just Aussie made cars that can easily get 250,000km without much going wrong with it. It is good being patriotic and all, but don’t let it blind you so much that you loose all sense of reality. We do make some of the most rugged and best value for money large vehicles in the world, but we are not the only ones out there that do. There are infact other manufacturers that can make rugged cars that last as well as fitting the profile you have given of a large, luxurious wagon that can tow. It sometimes just maybe an “SUV”, which of course is still the craze at the moment. Style on the otherhand is such a personal thing! :-)
No im not kidding, I have had a Nissan Maxima which was a throwaway after 120,000km and a Toyota Prado which cost me a fortune in repairs and parts. Although I do live on a farm and tow A LOT, my cars spend 80% of their time on dirt corrugated roads so its not typical use. My wifes BA wagon is approaching 280,000km and my VX Calais is almost at 230,000km, both cars have been incredibly reliable.
So what you are saying in reality, is that the Falcon sedan outsold the Commodore sedan?
Thats not really that big of a deal. The Ford is the far superior car in pretty much every area (appart from emotive reasons, and who can argue with emotions when buying a car). That and alot of private buyers are no doubt waiting for the Commodore facelift.
When the Falcon outsells the Commodore as a brand, ie including Holdens far super wagon and ute range, that will be something to brag about.
Lets see if they can string a few more months together…..
Ford have to be thrilled with that.
They wont be worried about the wagon, it virtually costs them nothing to have it there, the development costs would have been paid off a thousand times over by now.
From a business case view, why drop it??? Just keep filling the fleet void with it I reckon
The total Commodore and Falcon sales doesnt include ute sales and should be noted I think as it mis represents
Andrew it clearly states in the article that these numbers only relate to the sedans.
Read further on in the article Rhys and you will learn what else it clearly states……..
PART ONE
“2460 Falcon sedans compared to Holden’s 2425.”
Yep, it clearly says sedans, now read on….
PART TWO
“Total Falcon sales still trail well behind the Commodore (2841 versus 3455 in October)”
Now if Sportswagon sales were around 1000, and Falcon wagon sales around 400, the total Falcon and Commodore sales dont include ute sales as you would assume
I’d look at buying a XR6T wagon if it was an FG model. Also I think Ford would sell more utes if the sports variants had IRS instead of a live axle. One positive for Ford ute is the separate tray, allowing tradies to fit a custom back on the chassis.
Yeah but the leafs on the Falcon account for a lot of the customers it attracts.
Holden tried offering both but couldnt get the economics to stack up so they had to discontinue it.
The leafs handle pretty good anyway, they certainly arent to be confused with any jap ute springs
Yeah i guess your right – its either one or the other, and most Falcon utes I see on the road are working, with a load – in which case the live axle is better. $$$ dont allow for IRS in sports variants and live axle in the work utes.
Problem is, if you go the sportier Turbo or V8 Falcon ute, you lose carrying capacity. In fact, the SS can carry more weight over the rear than the equivalent Falcon ute, which defeats the purpose of the leaf sprung rear all together.
Techniclly thats true, but the main difference is not the actual legal load capacity, but the ruggedness of the leafs versus the coil overs.
put a bit of weight on the commy ute and your tyres will chew out bloody quick as when the rear of the commy squats, the wheels pick up a nasty camber.
Tyres and wheels are the big limiters too, thats also why load capacity drops off in the sporty models
Who cares if Ford Falcon outsold them. You do realise Commodore was in runout mode & was still selling the last of the old models. Commodore’s facelift can’t come soon enough. Anyone know when it’s due? I reckon it will debut at the Melbourne motor show in February. Lucky for International Commodore. It will improve sales for sure. Next month’s sales between Commodore/Falcon will tell us for sure. Go Holden!
it came out a month ago
SIDI
remember?
Talking about scrapping the barrel of statistics.
Wow, whats that now the Second time the Sedan has outsold Commodore sedan in 10 years?
a win is a win, no matter what language
Dont worry about him, he just made a fool of himself as only minutes earlier he was talking it up how the commodore was outselling the falcon….
Anyway who gives a toss about sales.
I dont have shares in the Ford motor company so it aint extra coin in my pocket.
Everyone seems to come up with the A is better than B because of X sales argument, but in all honesty it means jack.
Sure its interesting from a business stand point, but from a product stand point it doesnt really paint much
Andrew M:
The Commodore still did out sell the Falcon, it’s not my fault that the people at Ford don’t know how to meet customers needs and design a modern safe wagon is now ?
And of cause you don’t give a damn about sales, because Ford can’t match Holden’s.
i’m always amused when people use sales figures to say that the biggest seller is the better product.
using that logic, maccas would be making the best food in the world…
holden’s market share is just an indication that their advertisng department is a hell of a lot better than fords…
Yeah Phase3, making cars that appeal to their target market works for some companies and not for others
Actually I think you may be wrong.
Add the territory wagon to The ford Aus product range and that should more than make up the lacking Falcon wagon sales which would then see them sell more local product than Holden.
So if you want to get technical about it, Ford Aus sell more product than Holden, but I still couldnt give a toss, im just using that to stir you because you obviously have shares in Holden or something to get you knicker knotted up about it
Sure, well let’s logically then add Captiva sales to Commodore to provide some balance, but who gives a toss about sales? Probably the car companies do, bit of a sore point for Ford fanboys tho lol
Rhubarb, your comment about adding Captiva is just stupid. Captiva is imported. Sounds like your a blind loyalist who thinks every GMH vehicle is made here!
Adding the Territory comment made by Andrew M. had merit. He was pointing out that Territory is Australian made and that it is effectively a high riding SUV style vehicle built off the Falcon platform.
Most months when you add together Terri, Ute, Wagon & Sedan you would find that Ford outsells GMH and their Caprice, Ute, S/Wagon & sedan sales.
Personally more sales for the local industry is a great, great thing! I want all Australian made cars to do well, just want the Ford product to do the best!
lol so you want to inflate the Falcon figures by adding Territory, but not do the same for Holden?
makes sense…
Yep Andrew you are correct, Ford Australia builds the Territory.
Holden imports the Captiva from Korea. So rhubarb how many
jobs in the Australian, not Korean manufacturing industry does
the Captiva employ ?
He included territory to replace the MISSING falcon wagon, as territory’s are mostly RWD making then essentially a falcon wagon. and most people who wanted a falc wagon, woulda gone to the terry!
if u add captiva, ford can add something else.
Imagine how many Falcons they’d sell if they had a full range (eg an FG wagon with XT-G6ET variants)! Both cars are in run-out atm so they will sell well. I much rather seeing these on the road than Camrys, thats fo sho (for sure)! Falcons/Commodores drive well and they offer performance with out (too) much fuel consumption. So, yes the others can do large engine power/efficiency better, but they’re not doing too bad themselves (especially considering Comms use around only a litre more fuel per 100kms, but are much quicker).
Yeah Im sure there would be a market for the XR wagon for eg, but be realistic about it.
They already sell 400 wagons that pretty much costs them nothing to support.
Now holden on the other hand sell an extra 600 wagons, but to get those extra sales they have to have invested money in not only developing a new wagon, but also supporting it by way of advertising and varied production orders.
I just cant see the economics stacking up for Ford to do all that to achieve an extra 600 units.
What we are also forgetting is that Ford also has the Territory to support the lack of a sporty Falcon wagon
On local sales, Ford Aus as a whole would have to be ahead of Holden yeah???
Ford have only got to sell like a bit over 600 Terrys to take the local crown, surely they still are moving that many.
I really dont think the making a new Falcon wagon will prove to be a viable option. MB has already admitted before that they have no immediate plans to update it purely because it costs them nothing (virtually) and it still moves in reasonable numbers considering.
I doubt a refreshment will bring the growth of numbers to the wagon that ford would need.
Surely they would need to pull near 1200/month to make it worth while considering the current 400/month they are getting on it they will continue to get either way
Andrew M:
Sportwagon out sells Territory.
Sportwagon is build on the same platform as the Sedan, and all they had to do was market the sportwagon at first, it was only 200 million, which by now would be made back. Which is exactly the same as what Ford had to do at Territory’s launch.
Also Holden sells the most locally manufactured cars.
I also think you will find that those 400 sales are to fleet, where the majority of Sportwagon’s are to private.
How many Terrys were sold??
And yep, something like 99% of the Falcon wagons are sold to fleet, are you trying to say the sports wagon doesnt have any fleet sales???
Either way once again, a sale is a sale whether its at wholesale (fleet) rate or retail
So how many fleet sportswagon sales were made???
if majority were to private its mathmaticlly possible for 500 of them to have been fleet.
Yes it is mathematically possible:
And clearly i wasn’t trying to say that Holden don’t sell Sport wagon to fleet, there is about 20 CSU ones sitting outside my window atm.
But if they sell 500 to fleet and 600 to private it clearly justifies their investment, and proves that the BF mkIII is just a waste of time.
The sport wagon has outsold all SUVs (Captiva, Territory, Kluger and the like) every month since it has been on sale.
By the way i believe it was 890 Territorys.
Holden sold 880 Captivas and 883 Barinas . . .
Ford Aus sales = Falcon sedan & wagon = 2841
Falcon Ute sales = 978
Territory sales = 890
TOTAL = 4709
Holden sales = Commodore sedan and wagon= 3455
Commodore ute sales = 1127
Total = 4582
Also BF111 wagon a waste of time??????
money to develop another one would generate another 600/month in sales MAX
The waste of time would be developing a new Falcon wagon.
Dont get me wrong, ive seen CGI’s of a falcon XR wagon and it looks the goods, but being realistic about it, the economics wont stack up.
Ford would be thrilled to be getting 400/month on the current one as its basiclly the same one that was around since ‘02.
Telstra and the likes love them for their practicalities, I say let them have it.
Developing a less practical version may also even shut them out giving even more reason why developing a new mod wont pay off.
Holden only decided to do a sporty wagon because Ford wasnt going to update theirs. Holden probably wouldnt have if they thought they were going to fight over the same turf that only accounts for like 1500 sales
And once you add on Statesman and Caprice to the Holden figures, how does it look then?
Andrew M:
Rhubarb is right, it seems you have conveniently forgotten to adds Caprice and Statesmen (which off the top of my head o believe is about 450/month) to make your maths add up.
Remember to this is a BUMPER month for Ford too.
Also remember how the sport wagon was slated in 06 and released in 08, i could be wrong but seems so how Ford still don’t know what their doing with the BF mk III how would have Holden when they fist to decided to go Sportwagon, rather the box wagon.
Also when Cruze comes online next year you’ll want to be adding between 2500 and 3500 hundred cars to that list, as Cruze sedan already sells about 2500/ month (nearly out sells the Falcon aye) so it will sell more with it’s Hatch and possible Wagon variant.
buggered if I know where to find the current statesman sales,
But last months (sep) was…….
Holden Caprice – 112
Holden Statesman – 61,
a little way off your 450…….
see, nothing it it.
Also what do you mean ford had a bumper month???
They have been closing down on Holdens figures for some time. If you look back they have never been far off……
What it shows is both Holden and Ford Aus have a worth while share of the Aussie market.
Sure the Cruze will boost numbers, and thats good for jobs I suppose.
As a side note, isnt it only the hatch versioned Cruze being built here.
I thought the sedan was going to still come out of Korea??
Also with the BF111 wagon, Ford do know what they are doing with it, and the official word for ages has been it will continue to satisfy the fleets, and since it cost nothing for Ford, they have no reason to change it.
Ford knows whats happening, its only the public and fans with wishful thinking saying its up in the air.
Ford arent in a hurry to do anything with it, and Holden knew that.
Ill have to dig up an article where Holden said that since you dont believe me.
I dont see why that hastles you anyway
Andrew M:
So Holden does sell the most locally produced cars at 4,755
I call a bumper month when they sell more of (their heavily discounted) Falcons then usual, Commodores sales were down because it’s in run out.
Closing in is what the Cruze has been doing to Falcon’s sales since it went on sale. Falcon sales are not closing in Commodore. Commodores market share is still floating around 50% , Falcons 30% and Aurion and the rest are at 20%
People also forget when they say Commodores sales are down X % and Falcons down Y % that some Commodore has more sales, so that x percent may mathematically add up to be the same as Y % in units.
Pretty sure that they are ramping up full production of Cruze here as well so there are enough to meet global demand.
Yeah,
So it ends up Holden has the nose just in front, it doesnt hurt me to say it, but by bugger all. You better go buy a new HRT shirt to celebrate, but before you run off to the shop, tell me, what does it all count for??
Oh and what do you mean heavily discounted Falcons??
Do you honestly think Holden doesnt have discounts at the moment??
Also how can the Commodore be in run out??? they only just released their revised version with the U beaut tree saving motors remember……
Oh yeah,
I thought the hatch only was coming out of Aus.
maybe someone else can help out with that……
It would be silly to take production away from the cheaper source in Korea, and the strong Aussie dollar wont help the cause in them wanting to bring much production down here.
Reminds me of the old saying… “lie, damn lies, and statistics”
Go Burela, Ford sold the most cars locally made if you take out Sportwagon and add or take out utes and add or take out Statesman and best to add Territory that helps duck duck weave weave I just can’t keep up there’s so much fudging and exaggerating of Ford’s sales figues going on, but really who gives a toss about sales figures haha
Andrew M:
Heavily discounted is 36k for an XR 6, when usually they are 42k, where as an Sv6 is 39k, and usually 42k.
And the Ford comes with all these extra’s such as 17inch alloys (wow 17s) sports suspension and blue-tooth. And at only 36K drive away we will make your Christmas wish come true
And then there is the G6 SE and the International Commodore, same price, and once again the Holden has more standard features (and a better engine now according to some reports, on par according to others)
Have you not seen the add.
Oh and on another note when i was researching what i just said i came across a lovely little ads showing a G6ET and and an XT (both Fg’s) and one of the so many awards they have won was the 2008 V8 super-car championship …. hmmmm strange how that was a BF Falcon in a V8 which none of those cars are, oh wait im forgetting that a BR and FG are virtually the same car!
Local Cruze production will be Hatch only at lunch.
Cruze sedan will still be Korean designed and BUILT.
However look for a very strong marketing push by Holden emphasising the local production to convince all Australians that the Cruze is locally built, when it isn’t. I hear some very carefully worded adverts are in the pipeline, designed to to give the “message” whilst glossing over the “facts”.
Further down the road other Cruze variants may be built at Elizabeth, such as possible Volt/Cruze hybrid.
DE:
Like the vary carefully worded Ford ads to convince people they have a “European” range when in fact the majority of the cars they refer to as “European Engineered” are built in South Africa.
Andrew
Country of origin for design is far more important than country of build. Ford rightly claim European design for their small cars.
Holden currently import their Korean designed small car from Korea, and they make a point of not disclosing any of it publicly. (And don’t bother with the “but it was designed by opel” line either, because I KNOW it isn’t true).
Local production of the Cruze is a good thing, it’s just a pity that GMH didn’t have more of an engineering input into the whole program rather than just the hatch.
And finally, I don’t understand that whilst I was trying to put a positive spin on local Cruze production, and possible variants, you have to turn around and throw your usual biased anti-Ford jibes. Childish! Uni students used to be a little more mature.
is this still going……
So Andrew, how did the shopping trip for your new HRT shirt go???
Did you go for the red with white, or the white with red??
DE:
Its designed by GM to be a global car.
Designers included
GM Daewoo (which is under direct control of GM Holden, so Holden did have input, more so then Ford would have with the Focus, building form kit form)
GM Europe (Opel)
GM North America
So would you still buy your “European Engineered” Fords if they were built in China? Country of Manufacture is just as important as Country/Region of design.
And Holden do rightfully that it is GM’s new Global small car, built on the same platform as the new Astra, which strangely enough was engineered in Europe.
And whats with all the bashing of Uni students, i think you uys are the immature ones having a dig at me just because i got to uni, and i know about and have an opinion about cars.
Exactly. Cruze is designed by GMDAT as their world small car. GMDAT undertook the lead engineering design for the platform that underpins it. Opel then took that platform, tweaked the styling to suit that brand and presto; Astra.
Andrew you are grasping at straws to try to back up your mistaken belief that somehow Holden’s small cars can match it with Ford’s. It’s just not true, no matter what PR spin you’ve read.
Cruze is Korean designed and built by GM Daewoo – no amount of little stories or PR spin will change that. Now when we start to build some of the variants here, things may change.
OK then, lets talk country of design. Here’s one for you: The bulk of the detail engineering desing work for VF Commodore has been off-shored to India. Try to get your head around that little fact.
And yes I do know of the contract staff affected by the loss of local work!
What we really wanna know is: is Andrew M wearing his blue Ford socks that match his Ford Jimmie-jams
No, just my Ford Jocks,
Hope that answers your question,
Cheers
DE:
If that the case and you know them, then prove it.
And clearly you know S*&t all about cars , the Astra only shares it’s platform, its a lot more then tweaked styling you fool.
The simple reason the Cruze is out selling the Focus is it looks better in and out, is built well, is affordable and goes well.
OK so the slight understatement of “tweaked styling” got you a little upset, but when you consider the commonality of components under the skin, it doesn’t go a heck of a lot further.
You think I know “S*&t all about cars”, well it’s still alot more than you, but I also know a “S*&t” load more about engineering desing and the design industry than you obviously do.
If you think that I would even contemplate outing my source about Holden’s offshoreing design, then you are a bigger idiot that I gave you credit for.
DE:
You just have no proof, thats why you wont ‘out’ your ’source’.
I would never name somebody on an internet blog – don’t be so stupid as to even suggest it.
Nor would I quote details of my proof, as that would also identify the source, threaten his job and his company’s contractual aasociation with GMH.
I could drop hints to you, but your knowledge is so thin that it would be pointless.
I know it’s hard for a uni-student to grasp, but sometimes you just have to accept the sometimes others know more than you. Besides, it’s just your blind allegence that won’t let you believe the truth here.
Cmon all, some positive news here…how many said the Falcon would fail and fast!!!! I think its a great effort that the Falcon has a less range of vehicles yet it is still in the game. I think its fantastic, not as dominant as the BA was but still a great effort. Ford just needs to keep on top of their competition and they will do ok.
Well done Ford, keep at it!!!
Indeed this is an enormous achievement for Ford. There are many more Australians faithful to Holden than Ford – people who would buy Lada Samaras if Holden rebadged them and put an ad on TV with an akubra-wearing kangaroo eating vegemite on toast – so for Ford to get a win like this is quite astonishing.
Andrew M you’re right. Just about the only people who would buy an XR Falcon wagon are the people who have posted comments here. The hole left by not having a modern Falcon wagon are 80% filled by the Territory and Mondeo (especially when the TDCi wagon arrives), and building a wagon that puts style above space would isolate Telstra and other fleet buyers.
I read somewhere that the Mondeo wagon has more capacity than the Commodore wagon does anyway
the looks of holdens are consistant, maybe that’s why they sell so good. wagon, ute, sedan they all look great
Top Australian Vehicles October 2009
Vehicle – Sales
1. Toyota Corolla – 3724
2. Toyota Hilux – 3707
3. Holden Commodore – 3455
4. Ford Falcon – 2841
…
http://www.gminsidenews.com/fo.....ers-85849/
So which one is correct?
Both,
CA states those figures once wagon sales are included
Here are the top 10 of the German market in September 2009, just to show it’s a different world….. all over the world
# 1 VW Golf/Jetta: 37,785
# 2 Skoda Fabia: 10,785
# 3 Opel Astra: 10,578
# 4 Ford Fiesta: 8,848
# 5 Opel Corsa: 8,336
# 6 VW Passat: 8,189
# 7 Mercedes C-Class: 7,738
# 8 VW Polo: 6,796
# 9 Audi A3: 5,627
#10 Ford Focus: 5,542
And the UK
#1 Ford Fiesta: 8812
#2 Vauxhall Astra: 7415
#3 Fod Focus: 6618
#4 Vauxhall Corsa: 6632
#5 Volkswagen Golf: 4630
#6 Peugeot 207: 4397
#7 Renault Clio: 3613
#8 Hyundai i10: 3230
#9 Mini: 3120
#10 Fiat 500: 2989
Finally the USA
#1 Ford F-Series pickup: 39496
#2 Chevrolet Silverado pickup: 31754
#3 Toyota Camry: 30136
#4 Toyota Corrola: 25717
#5 Honda Accord: 23210
#6 Honda Civic: 15868
#7 Honda CRV: 15667
#8 Nissan Altima: 14773
#9 Toyota Rav4: 13971
#10 Toyota Prius: 13496
Who cares. TOYOTA killed them both.
Not on local figures.
what does the Aurion and Camry come in at??
And on world sales Volkswagen outsold Toyota .
Stats are created and people buy cars for numerous reasons – looks, performance, certain features or are conned by advertising tactics, so if people want to buy a Fiat Punto ro a Lamborghini Murcielago, then it’s their choice. Good on Ford for improving their products.
I think that is incorrect about Volkswagon out selling Toyota.
like I said, if Toyota take out the Hino and Daihatsu sales, I think it would be bloody close
Yep – the figures were cars produced, not sold
Must be plenty of grey nomads around still hey?
That is good news for Ford, I think the Falcon has out sold the Commodore by more then that. The total Falcon sales only include sales to consumers, where as Holden include all the cars sitting on the dealers yard as sales, even though they haven’t been sold to a consumer. Cars delivered to Dealers = Car Sales to Holden, even though those cars are yet to be sold to consumers.
I pretty sure you’ll find that this counts new registration, IE, Fleet Cars, Private Cars and Demonstrator cars.
Falcon is in trouble.
Ford Falcon – 2841
Holden Cruze – 2183
Cruze has a major back log of orders and the hatch isn’t even out yet… Even though i think the Falcon is a better car, how can they just sustain a non export program…
Agreed,
When local Cruze production comes online, i can see the Cruze making more sales with it’s Hatch and possibly;y (i hope, because Holden does design go ones) a wagon variant, and there is even talk of a HSV Cruze.
Commodore is in trouble – - When the new v8 and turbo 4 Falcons ars released next year,Ford will have a better v8(been on of the Commodores strong points over Ford),equal 6(with no DI yett) and a proper frugal engine option in the turbo 4,all rapt in a sleek,good looking body with no frontal blind spot.
Commodore is in trouble? lol that’s a big call. With Ford’s domestic-only policy i’d be more concerned about driving a Taurus XR4 in a few years time.
Remains to be seen whether anyone buys, literally or figuratively, a 4 cyl Falcon. Regards the V8, the current Chev V8 has ample potential for more power if required by Holden/HSV.
With Holdens decision to build the cruz in oz would have to put pressure on the commodore being built in oz.Could having 2 assembly plants in a country thats seen 2 manufacutres pack up in the last 20 years reaily just be a change over period for GM.On the turbo4,i think it will sell OK as it will do what its supposed to do,that is “save fuel”.From what i have read the 3.0 is no more frugal than the 3.6,makes it a bit irrelevent.The 3.0 needs a power cut so it can be what its ment to be,maybe down to 165kw.Back on the v8 I think HSV will sh-t bricks when they see and hear a 5.8 litre Coyote V8.
And then they’ll just add a walkinshaw supercharged variant . problem solvered
And then Ford will add a blower to the 5.8.problem came back
and watch it falcon sales skyrocket even more with the introduction of the turbo 4 engine
I think there is room for a Falcon wagon. Consider that 5 years ago Falcon, Com, Camry and magna wagons were on the market. Still lots on the road in an even ratio to sedans. Now there is only the Sportswagon really.
Keeping the BFIII going for fleets who want that basic ruggedness for work is a zero cost option really, like Ford US keeping their Panther platform going for cabs and police cars.
For family cars, I believe the Mondeo wagon has more room than the Commodore wagon… if people shop around and realise this I think Mondeo sales will shoot up.
Congrats to the local producers. This type of battle has been on our local automotive scene for decades, one moth Holden the next Ford. Its good to see this type of Healthy competition. Im still disappointed by the other local “big six” the Camrion. Cant beleive people still lay out their hard earned on it. Congrats to Ford(BTW IM A HOLDEN FANBOY). GO HOLDEN
Thank our lucky stars for the Aussie tax payer!
I have never been consulted whether I want to burn my tax money on these foreign companies!
You always have the option of starting your own party & speaking out against foreign investment before the next election!
I’m not a politician, I actually work for living!
And I enjoy my work too much, to bother.
Ah yes, Tax Payer. Happy to complain about what goes in our country, but equally happy to sit back and do nothing about it.
I find it funny the huge opposition that comes from paying to keep people in work, yet they dont seem to mention the mass of money paid to people for not working
Spot on Andrew M. Also, some of that money paid to keep people in work comes back to the government through income tax
So you are saying, either way the local automotive industry is a charity case. Since the workers within it are just too useless to do anything else?
Easy on Tax payer, you say that the workers are too useless to
do anything else. Most of the trades I work with, electricians and
fitters are some of the brightest blokes I know. What other industries
can you work on such diverse and complex machinery such as robotics,
PLC’s, complex conveyor systems,presses, motors, VSD’s,pumps ,hydraulic and pneumatic control systems.
Not everyone in the car industry is an assembly worker.
The Automotive industry isnt the only “Charity case” industry (as you put it)
take a look around then get yourself with reality.
So what do you do for a crust???
As SC says, the industry isnt just full of sh*t kickers like you imagine
XR6 ute for 33k D/A at the moment, should see them move a few move before Christmas!
For sure,
MB did say he wanted the Falcon ute to win again this year in sales.
I reckon the way he is jumping up and down he would sell them out at 20K just to get the bragging rights ha ha ha ha ha
Several times this year the Falcon sedan has gone close to outselling C’dore sedan. Since April when Ford got their advertising finger out, there has been quite a clear trend emerging which has the FG getting closer to the VE.
So, yes this is a once-off thus far, but the battle is clearly on.
PS If we add Ute to sedan/wagon for both Falcon and Commodore they would be 1 & 2 in overall sales. Also, if you added Camry 4cyl to Aurion 6cyl, then they would be up in th Top 5 too.
Its surprising that ute sales aren’t included as well. If they can include different body variants like sedan/wagon/hatch you’d think they could include utes as well.
I think Commodore Sales are going to be in the Doldrums until they significantly update the interior and freshen up the Exterior.(Unless Holden discounts heavily)
I for one was ready to buy the updated Commodore last month but with the lack of Interior and Exterior changes I just could not do it.(Even though the engine upgrade was a welcome update).
I think good on ford the falcon looks real good on the road .And next to the commondore it looks fresh the commondore is starting to look dated and tired looking.And lets not forget that horrible interior.Plus the ford is ahead of the commondore in a lot of areas so its only a matter of time before evryone sees this
topdog, They have failed to see this since the au falcon.
ford still suffers from the AU’s looks. It was still a better car than a VT commo, but the looks back then… um no.
About time the car buyers got smart
Reports have october being a slow fleet month, apart from rental, therefore a dip in Commy sales. Falcon sales have made a big shift towards private.
Falcon has been catching Commodore for a while now.
With the greatest respect to Holden fans, the fact that those Falcon sedan sales included less than 5% XTs shows Ford is reconnecting with private buyers and those willing to spend big on their cars. I wonder how many of those Holden sedan sales were in fact low profit margin Omega fleet sales?
Whos crying over it, I dont see anyone.