Ford boss slams grey import proposal

Ford Australia president Graeme Whickman has questioned plans to change Australia's grey import laws that could potentially allow consumers to buy cheaper cars.

Whickman, who is also a board member of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, asked why the changes were being proposed in the first place.

"I'm not supportive of it from a company point-of-view but also, more importantly the FCAI isn't supportive of it," Whickman told media this week.

"I'll speak on behalf of the [FCAI] board, let alone my own company, at the end of the day I'm trying to work out what we're trying to fix?"

The proposed changes would deregulate the importation of new cars with Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Jamie Briggs previously claiming that changes would allow access to cars "at the lowest possible cost."

But Whickman challenged that assertion, saying the competition in the Australian new car market means prices are already highly competitive.

"There have already been studies done," Whickman said.

"Benchmark a Ford or a Toyota or whatever you want to benchmark in other country, in terms the of the amount of money you put down as a consumer, and you'll quickly realise we're in a competitive market. You have to be a competitive market, the sheer number of models and the smallness of the industry. So it's not that. It can't be that. I don't get a sense of what the government is trying to achieve in that regard."

Whickman echoed sentiments from other car makers that the proposed changes would create safety concerns, with privately imported cars not covered by manufacturer's warranty or customer support.

"At the end of the day, if it's brought in, then I don't know how it's going to be enacted in certain parts," he said.

"What happens when a recall takes place? I'm worried about that. I've got no point-of-view around the history of the vehicle. It might be a near-new vehicle but what happens if it's been in a jam somewhere?"

He added: "I just see the whole thing [being] fraught. Again I go back to 'what the heck are we trying to fix?' The FCAI, I'm a board member of the FCAI and we chat about this, has put our representation to the department to try to understand, in a respectful manner, what are we trying to fix?"