Ford Australia will continue to employ 1500 Australian workers even though the company won’t build cars here. Making the announcement to close the Broadmeadows and Geelong factories, Ford Australia president Bob Graziano confirmed the local operation would remain a global development centre beyond 2016.

With the writing on the wall for the locally-built Falcon and Territory models, Ford Australia has been taking on an increasing workload for design and engineering projects for global cars.

Ford Australia’s Broadmeadows-based team was responsible for the development for the ‘T6’ Ranger ute which is built in Thailand and exported around the world.

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It also developed a small car for the Indian market, the Figo, and played a hand in the creation of the Escort concept car unveiled at the 2013 Shanghai motor show in April.

It is currently working on a seven-seat SUV variant of the Ranger which will almost certainly be built in Thailand.

Graziano said this type of work will be the future of the blue oval’s local operation - which includes its You Yangs proving grounds in Victoria.

“Ford will remain a significant employer in Australia, with more than 1500 team members, as will our network of more than 200 dealers around the country,” said Graziano. “The Australian team’s role as a global centre of excellence for vehicle development also will continue to be an important focus for us.”

The end of local manufacturing will leave Ford Australia reliant on the company’s global vehicles to fill the gaps left by Falcon sedan, Falcon ute and Territory SUV.

Graziano said there were already plans in place to expand the local range by 30 per cent by the time the final locally-built cars roll off the production line.

“We will be introducing a number of exciting new vehicles and technologies during the next few years that will excite our Australian customers,” said Graziano. “The breadth of our line-up will increase by more than 30 per cent, ensuring we continue to offer our customers an outstanding range of cars, SUVs and light trucks long into the future.”

Source: smh.com.au

What Next For Ford?
Ford Australia go out with a Bang, Retro the XW body.. It will not happen the next Falcon will be a facelift and thats all. So Sad...

I could seriously cry......... my heart dropped when I heard the news.

Don't owe your "passionate loyalty" to any car company. They'll screw anyone over these days and give no loyalty in return...so this isn't a dig at Ford alone.

Love your steed, mod it, polish it, be proud of it - it will end up being Your Handiwork, with your personality stamped over the top of the badge anyways. But don't love the company that made it...little "c" used on purpose.

Vale to the Falcon. Ford can go get F....

we should of got the mustang 10 years ago or they should of made a 2 door falcon,just food for though

make that thought

Ford needs to fit the 5.8L 'Stang engine into the next FG to match the VF GTS supposed power output.
I'll die a happy man knowing that happened.

Does anyone reckon that fpv will remain beyond 2016 to rehash taurus and mustang for aussies?
I hope they do that would be the only saving grace.

I have read now that the facelift of 2014 may also be scrapped?

I would love for Ford to start building Mustangs here. They could do a CBU like they used to with the laser and meteor and the telstar. I would most ASSUREDLY buy one V6 or V8.

yer nice idea smurf but it all comes down to the dollar i think full factory right drive import would be the cheapest option for ford

RohCR hit the nail on the head. All manufacturers have only one priority....... the bottom line. Have been in the trade long enough to know if a car can be built with one less bolt in a component or a shorter wiring harness to somewhere to save a few dollars then thats what they will do. Ultimately someone at the top being paid the big bucks has to make the decisions. Unfortunately they have'nt been very good for Ford. The bright side is if you own a Falcon then it may be going up in value.

here is what they is saying stateside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzXrvQl_Zz8 ,turns out fords factory didnt meet new regulations and they didnt want to spend the dosh to re do it.dont blame them losing 600 million in 5 years

Its not the factory at all that doesnt meet regulations.
The regulations they are talking about are Euro 5 which the I6 is never going to meet.

yup true story,right on mat

But wasnt the i6 never going to meet Euro 4 regs ??